Matt Wells (boxer)

Matthew "Matt" Wells (14 December 1886 – 27 June 1953) was a British born professional boxer in the lightweight and welterweight divisions. In 1911, he held the Lightweight Championship of Great Britain, and in 1914 he claimed the Welterweight Championship of Britain and the Welterweight Championship of the World.

Mat Wells
Wells in 1911 as Lightweight Champ
Statistics
Weight(s)Lightweight
Welterweight
Height5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
NationalityBritish
Born(1886-12-14)14 December 1886
Walworth, London
Died27 June 1953(1953-06-27) (aged 66)
London
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights86
Wins50
Wins by KO7
Losses30
Draws3
No contests3

Biography

He was born in Walworth, London on 4 December 1886 and died in London on 27 June 1953.

Amateur career

During his amateur career, he held the British Amateur Lightweight crown from 1905–7.[1]

Competing in the Olympics

He competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. In the lightweight event he was eliminated in the quarter-finals after losing to Frederick Grace who later won the gold medal.

Professional career

Taking the lightweight championship of Great Britain
Freddie Welsh

Wells turned pro in 1909. On 27 February 1911, at the National Sporting Club in London he defeated Freddie Welsh in a twenty-round bout to win the lightweight championship of Great Britain and take home the Lonsdale belt, becoming the first Jewish boxer to hold the honor. The win simultaneously bestowed the EBU's (European Boxing Union) lightweight championship.[1][2][3]

On 2 June 1911, he defeated the great Jewish New York boxer Leach Cross at the Harlem Casino in New York by newspaper decision. The Montreal Gazette noted that the "bout went the full ten rounds, Wells having all the better of it." The New York Times agreed with the decision of the Gazette.[3] Wells delivered two hard blows in the ninth that proved his hitting power against a boxer who was noted for exceptional defensive skills.[4]

Remarkably, only three weeks after defeating Leach Cross, Wells defeated highly rated boxer "Philadelphia" Pal Moore on 24 June 1911 in a twelve round points decision at the Armory in Boston.[3] Moore fought a host of champions in his career.

Wells defeated "Knockout" Brown before an enthusiastic crowd as large as 14,000 on 30 August 1911 in a ten round newspaper decision at New York's famed Madison Square Garden. The bout was so popular, swarms of onlookers waiting to get in broke through the windows to gain entry. Wells employed a cool, well calculated defense which baffled Brown throughout the bout. Brown could not defend against Wells's left jab which played about his face at great speed, helping Wells to take as many as seven rounds.[5][6] The match was one of the first legal boxing matches in New York that allowed the purchase of tickets rather than a membership in a club, and the Garden was packed with fans. A near riot occurred as those who were turned away rushed into the auditorium to try to purchase additional tickets to obtain seating. Ten thousand were inside the Garden, with an additional five thousand outside hoping to obtain seats.[7] Wells used his right almost at will throughout the bout, and dodged the blows of Brown by shifting his body or back stepping with exceptional speed. Brown used an effective left and got in some strong blows to Wells's face, but they rarely fazed Wells, nor slowed his attack. He wisely crowded Brown in the tenth to avoid a long range haymaker that might cause a knockout.[8]

On 26 April 1912 he lost to the exceptional American boxer Packey McFarland at Madison Square Garden, in Manhattan, New York City. The Boston Globe considered McFarland the better boxer in each of the ten rounds, scoring with frequent right uppercuts to the face and body. As he repeatedly but cautiously found openings to use his right, McFarland allowed Wells to remain the aggressor with head down through much of the fight.[9] In major competition, McFarland was nearly undefeated, yet never managed to win a title.[10][11]

Abe Attell

Wells impressively defeated reigning World Featherweight Champion Abe Attell on 20 September 1911 in New York. Attell was nearing the end of his ten-year reign as champion and his bout with Wells was not made a title fight partly because he was outweighed by Wells. The Pittsburgh Press wrote the fight was "the greatest exhibition of scientific boxing that has been seen here in years. The Press went on to note that "although Attell was clearly outpointed, his defeat was not a disgrace or anything like it for Wells was heavier, stronger, taller, and had a longer reach."[3][12]

Wells defeated British boxer and former claimant of the 1907 British sanctioned World Bantamweight championship Owen Moran on 27 September 1913 in Sydney Stadium in Australia. Moran was a former contender for the World Featherweight championship against Abe Attell on New Years Day 1908 in Colma, California, but failed to knockout Attell in 25 rounds.

Wells defeated American Ray Bronson, former holder of the World Welterweight Championship, in a seventh round technical knockout in Sydney, Australia on 28 February 1914. Wells "inflicted severe punishment on the American" and his seconds threw in the towel at the end of the seventh round. Bronson, who considered retiring after the loss, would not fight again for a decade, and then retire.[13][14]

Tom McCormick

Taking the World Welterweight Championship and Welterweight Championship of Britain, 21 March 1914

On 21 March 1914 he won the Welterweight Championship of Britain and Welterweight Championship of the World by defeating Tom McCormick in a 20-round points decision at Sydney Stadium in New South Wales, Australia. On 1 June 1915, he lost the welterweight title to Mike Glover in a twelve-round decision at the arena in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe noted that Wells lacked the power he usually showed in his punch but was ready to mix with Glover, who had he been fighting less cautiously may have scored a knockout.[15] Wells competed for the British title again unsuccessfully against Johnny Basham on 13 November 1919 in Holborn Stadium in London.[3]

Wells lost decisively to future World Feather and Junior Lightweight champion Johnny Dundee in a twelve round points decision in Boston on 16 May 1916. In the one sided affair, Dundee jabbed and hooked Wells to the face and body throughout the bout. Dundee showed great blocking during the infighting where he also scored frequently and used fast footwork to elude punches.[16] Wells had previously lost to Dundee in a twelve round points decision before 3,500 fans on 10 December 1915 in New Haven that featured skilled blocking and countering throughout, but in which Dundee, the aggressor, always seemed to have the advantage.[17]

Wells succumbed to his only knockout on 11 July 1916, from the talented Chicago lightweight Charley White. In the fifth round, Wells' manager Danny Morgan stepped in to stop the fight. Wells was dazed by a left to the chest in the third round, though he fought on. At the end of the fourth, White caught Wells with a right hook as he rushed forward, putting him on the canvas for a count of five. He was down again for a count of eight from a left to the jaw. On the opening of the fifth, White went after Wells holding him with his right and battering him with his left. Wells's manager ended the bout a minute into the round.[18]

Failed attempt at the BBofC Welterweight Championship against Johnny Basham, 13 November 1919

Wells lost to Johnny Basham for the BBofC Welterweight Championship and the Commonwealth Welterweight Championship in a twenty round points decision in Holborn, England on 13 November 1919. The bloody affair involved too much clinching by Basham, and a too frequent use of head butts by Wells. By the eleventh, Wells, the older boxer by four years, was beginning to show signs of fatigue, but he never failed to mix when required. With a clear advantage, Basham excelled in long range fighting, having a reach advantage of several inches, but he seemed to have the better of the infighting as well. The eighteenth through twentieth rounds were all Basham's, who added to an already significant advantage in points, and though Wells took a beating and his face was bloody by the later rounds, he remained on his feet throughout the match.[19] Wells had formerly lost to Basham in a fifteen round points decision at the London Opera House on 22 March 1915. Welsh had gained a bit of weight prior to the match which may have affected his speed, and Basham had continued to improve his skills in the previous year.[20]

Ted "Kid" Lewis

On 26 December 1919, Wells lost to the accomplished English boxer Ted "Kid" Lewis in twelve of twenty rounds at Royal Albert Hall in Kensington. Lewis and Charley White became the only two boxers in Welles's career to stop him before the end of a fight.[1][3] Taking a serious beating, Wells's face was cut badly and his nose was broken, before he gave up the unequal struggle in the twelfth.[21]

He was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.



Professional boxing record (incomplete)
Professional record summary
53 fights 31 wins 19 losses
By knockout 7 2
By decision 22 15
By disqualification 2 2
Draws 2
No contests 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
34 Loss 20–12–2 Lockport Jimmy Duffy PTS 10 May 25, 1917 Hamilton
33 Loss 20–11–2 Charley White TKO 5 (10) Jul 11, 1916 Boston
32 Loss 20–10–2 Johnny Dundee PTS 15 May 16, 1916 Arena, Boston
31 Win 20–9–2 Eddie Murphy PTS 15 Apr 18, 1916 Armory, Boston
30 Loss 19–9–2 Charley White PTS 15 Apr 06, 1916 Kansas City
29 Win 19–8–2 Charley White PTS 12 Jan 04, 1916 Hippodrome, Boston
28 Loss 18–8–2 Johnny Dundee PTS 12 Dec 10, 1915 Italian Riverside Club, New Haven
27 Loss 18–7–2 Mike Glover PTS 12 Jun 01, 1915 Arena (Atlas A.A.), Boston Lost lineal welterweight title
26 Loss 18–6–2 Johnny Basham PTS 15 Mar 22, 1915 London Opera House, Kingsway
25 Win 18–5–2 Gus Platts PTS 15 Jan 21, 1915 Liverpool Stadium, Pudsey Street, Liverpool
24 Win 17–5–2 Young Nipper PTS 15 Oct 12, 1914 The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark
23 Win 16–5–2 Tom McCormick PTS 20 Mar 21, 1914 Sydney Stadium, Sydney Won lineal welterweight title
22 Win 15–5–2 Ray Bronson TKO 7 (20) Feb 28, 1914 Sydney Stadium, Sydney
21 Loss 14–5–2 Herb McCoy PTS 20 Jan 17, 1914 Sydney Stadium, Sydney
20 Loss 14–4–2 Harry Stone PTS 20 Nov 29, 1913 Sydney Stadium, Sydney
19 Loss 14–3–2 Hughie Mehegan PTS 20 Nov 03, 1913 West Melbourne Stadium, Melbourne
18 Win 14–2–2 Owen Moran PTS 20 Sep 27, 1913 Sydney Stadium, Sydney
17 Win 13–2–2 Hughie Mehegan PTS 20 Aug 09, 1913 Sydney Stadium, Sydney
16 Win 12–2–2 Hughie Mehegan PTS 20 Feb 24, 1913 National Sporting Club, Covent Garden
15 Win 11–2–2 Johnny Basham KO 7 (15) Dec 26, 1912 Theatre, Swansea
14 Loss 10–2–2 Freddie Welsh PTS 20 Nov 11, 1912 National Sporting Club, Covent Garden Lost EBU lightweight title
13 Loss 10–1–2 Hughie Mehegan DQ 14 (20) Sep 16, 1912 National Sporting Club, Covent Garden
12 Win 10–0–2 Billy Donovan KO 5 (10) Oct 05, 1911 Olympic B.C., Toronto
11 Win 9–0–2 Philadelphia Pal Moore PTS 12 Jun 24, 1911 Armory A.A., Boston
10 Win 8–0–2 Philadelphia Pal Moore PTS 12 Jun 24, 1911 Armory A.A., Boston
9 Win 7–0–2 Freddie Welsh PTS 20 Feb 27, 1911 National Sporting Club, Covent Garden Won EBU lightweight title
8 Win 6–0–2 Jimmy Howard DQ 9 (10) Sep 13, 1910 Fairmont A.C., Bronx
7 Draw 5–0–2 Young Nipper PTS 6 Apr 14, 1910 King's Hall, London Road, Southwark
6 Win 5–0–1 Jack Turner PTS 20 Mar 14, 1910 Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End
5 Win 4–0–1 Sid Stagg PTS 10 Feb 19, 1910 Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End
4 Draw 3–0–1 Dick Lee PTS 6 Jan 10, 1910 The Empire, Holborn
3 Win 3–0 Gunner Hart PTS 6 Jan 01, 1910 Surrey Music Hall, Southwark
2 Win 2–0 Bob Russell PTS 10 Dec 20, 1909 The King's Hall, London Road, Walworth
1 Win 1–0 Battling Lacroix PTS 10 Nov 01, 1909 King's Hall, London Road

See also

Major titles
Achievements
Preceded by
Freddie Welsh		 British lightweight championship
27 February 1911 – 11 November 1912		 Succeeded by
Freddie Welsh
Preceded by
Tom McCormick		 British welterweight championship
21 March 1914
Vacated		 Vacant
Title next held by
Johnny Basham
World Welterweight Champion
21 March 1914 – 1 June 1915		 Succeeded by
Mike Glover

References
  1. Silver, Mike (2016). Stars of the Ring, Published by Roman and Littlefield, Los Angeles, pps. 86-7.
  2. "Twenty-round Fight. Matt Wells Lightweight Champion of Great Britain". The Gazette. 28 February 1911. Retrieved 7 November 2010. Matt Wells won a twenty round fight tonight from Fred Welsh for the lightweight championship of Great Britain and the Lonsdale belt The ...
  3. "Mat Wells BoxRec record". BoxRec. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  4. "Mat Wells Won", The Gazette (Montreal), Montreal, Canada, pg. 4, 3 June 1911.
  5. "Wells Victor in the Fight", El Paso Times, El Paso, Texas, pg. 7, 31 August 1911.
  6. Brown took as many as seven rounds, K.O. Brown No Match for Wells, The Post-Star Gazette, pg. 1, 31 August 1911
  7. "Mob Battles in Rain to See Prizefight", The New York Times, New York, New York, pg. 1, 31 August 1911
  8. Rice, Thomas, "Wells, Most Versatile of Boxers Easily Outpoints K.O. Brown", The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Brooklyn, New York, pg. 10, 31 August 1911
  9. "McFarland Makes Wells Appear Like a Novice", The Boston Globe, Boston, Massachusetts, pg. 6, 27 April 1912
  10. "Packey M'Farland Whips Matt Wells. English Lightweight Champion Outclassed by Chicago Stock Yards Boxer". The New York Times. 27 April 1912. Retrieved 7 November 2010. Packey McFarland of Chicago removed all doubts as to how he compares as a boxer with Matt Wells, the English lightweight champion, at Madison Square Garden ...
  11. Packey McFarland
  12. "Attell Beaten in Classy Bout with Matt Wells", The Pittsburgh Press, pg. 38, Pittsburgh, PA., 21 September 1911.
  13. "Matt Wells Hands Bronson A Bad Beating", Vancouver Daily World, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, pg. 10, 2 March 1914
  14. Bronson retired in "Ray Bronson Retires", Evening Star, Washington, D.C., pg. 18, 31 March 1914
  15. "Glover Whips Matt Wells", Boston Globe, Boston, Massachusetts, pg. 6, 2 June 1915
  16. "Wells Gets Lacing From Johnny Dundee", The Boston Globe, Boston, Massachusetts, pg. 8, 17 May 1916
  17. "Dundee Winner Over Matt Wells", The Bridgeport Times and Evening Farmer, Bridgeport, Connecticut, pg. 8, 11 December 1915
  18. The Boston Globe, Boston, Massachusetts, pg. 6, 12 July 1916
  19. "Boxing at the Stadium", The Times, Greater London, England, pg. 32, 14 November 1919
  20. "Wells Anxious to Gain Crown", Great Falls Tribune, Great Falls, Montana, pg. 17, 21 March 1915
  21. "Stop the Bout to Save Wells", The Bridgeport Telegram, "American Fighters Clean Up in London Bouts", The Bridgeport Telegram, pg. 18, 27 December 1919
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