Ingemar Johansson with legendary light heavyweight Archie Moore,"The Old Mongoose." Archie Moore was temporarily foregoing his fight career to play the runaway slave "Jim" in his first movie, "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," and had a ready contract for Ingemar Johansson for the World's Heavyweight Boxing title. Johansson, also in costume while playing his first movie role in "All the Young Men," visited the set where Moore was working. The contract for the fight was not signed though, since Johansson had to fight Patterson first.
Floyd Patterson feels the power of Ingemar Johansson's right hand. It's interesting, Floyd Patterson was asked who the hardest puncher he ever faced was and he credited two men, Sonny Liston and Ingemar Johansson.
Speaking of Sonny Liston, here's a couple of photos of Ingemar Johansson with Sonny, Johansson actually promoted some fights for Liston in Sweden. Just look at the size of Liston's fist, the man was a freak of nature.
I love this image of Johansson in the spotlight, this photo was taken at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach after Ingo lost the title back to Floyd Patterson in 1960. Frank Sinatra asked Johansson to stand and speak to the crowd and this image was captured as he approached the podium to speak.
This image shows Ingemar Johansson training on the roof of the Commodore Hotel in New York City on April 29, 1959, with his fiancée Birgit Lundgren watching, Ingo was training for his first bout with Floyd Patterson.
''Every penny I have earned is blood money, it’s an old expression but that’s what it is. Every penny has been taken out of my blood and face and body; the trauma, the punches to the brain and body, it definitely takes it's toll on a man.
It is called 'blood money' for a reason, whatever fighters earn - going hand to hand in combat and fighting for their lives - they deserve a million times more. No matter what they earn it is minimum wage for what they have done.
Boxing doesn’t take any prisoners, it just takes casualties; that’s a fact. You look at all these great world champions from the past, they’re all broken into pieces today.''
Arturo Gatti's appetite for slugfests backfired on him at the Atlantic City Convention Center on January 17th, 1998, when he was stopped in the eighth round with a badly cut eye after a brutal battle with Angel Manfredy.
"He was bleeding into the socket of his eye", referee Wayne Hedgepeth said. The cut was real deep. It takes 12 muscles to move that eye around and it just wasn't working."
"I can't be stopped" said Manfredy. "When I cut him in the first round, I knew it was a bad cut. But I knew they wouldn't stop it, because it's in his home town. He showed the class of a warrior."
"At the end of the first round I felt blood dripping and I knew I was in trouble," said 25-year-old-Gatti. "His right hand never hurt me, but the damage was already done. He's a true champion. I was cut and that's the only reason I lost the fight. I would have knocked him out in the later rounds."
23-year-old Manfredy, fighting the last three rounds with a broken hand, was ahead on two scorecards at the time of the stoppage.
Ray Mercer reveals what really brought on that devastating, still replayed knockout of Tommy Morrison. It started with him discovering that he was only being paid $50,000 more than Morrison despite being the reigning world champion. When Mercer called Bob Arum to question it, Arum told him plainly that the reason was because Morrison was white.. From that moment on, Mercer said he took the fight personally, and that feeling followed him straight into the ring and into one of the most brutal knockouts boxing has ever seen.
Mercer told No Standing 8: “It was actually a personal thing for me because, I was WBO champion, and my trainer told me that I’m only getting $50,000 more than Tommy Morrison.. and I was the champion! That pi**ed me off.
“So I called Bob Arum, and I asked him.. ‘I’m champion how am I only getting $50,000 more dollars than Tommy Morrison,’ and he told me, and I respect him for this, he told me ‘because he’s white.’ And when he told me that, I said ‘ok.. thank you,’ because he was honest, and I hung the phone up and from that phone call I was taking it personally.”
Mercer carried that phone call into the ring, and Morrison felt it in every punch on the way down to the canvas.
"I didn’t win a world title but I came mighty close and I’m respected within the sport.
In the build up to a championship fight something always seemed to happen, whether it was girl trouble, or trouble in training camp. In the end, it just wasn’t meant to be."
I mentioned Len Wickwar earlier in the thread but didn't get into detail, he holds the record for most fights of all-time and it's really astonishing how active this guy was.
Credit: Dan Morley Boxing
The 20 Greatest Records in Boxing History in My Opinion
20 Len Wickwar 🏴 342-86-43 (94 KO)
In the 1920’s, Leicester’s Len Wickwar began a career you could only describe as busy! Never has there been a fighter as active or game as Wickwar. Whilst his win column isn’t as dominant, nor his resume as stacked with elite level talent as other fighters on this list, what makes Wickwar stand apart, is just the sheer quantity.
Upwards of 470 fights, he holds the official record for most fights and wins of any professional boxer ever.
In a career spanning 19 years, you would be forgiven for thinking that Wickwar may have engaged in four round battles. However, he was consistently fighting ten, 12 & 15 rounders, completing over 4000 rounds by his retirement. What’s most amazing about his record, is the fact that he took a 6 year hiatus, promoted by world war 2, meaning that 469 of his fights occurred within 12 years. Had the war not prevented his activity, he would’ve been well into 700 contests.
UNSURPASSABLE
By: Southpaw Jab
He turned professional in his teens, boxed for almost 20 years, has more knockout wins than most boxers have had bouts and yet you’ll likely not have heard of this Guinness World Record holder. No, he’s not from Guadalajara.
From Skegness to Glasgow it is a career almost impossible to comprehend and that’s how I came to Len Wickwar, during a debate about who had the most professional boxing bouts. Thank you Google, I owe my life to you, you own my life. How did one man fight 473 times? Here’s his story, it’s fascinating and today’s scene can learn much from it.
Born in 1911 and hailing from Leicester, competing from featherweight to (allegedly) welterweight, Len Wickwar officially fought four hundred and seventy three professional fights. His ledger takes an age to scroll on BoxRec and makes for interesting insight into an age where fighters with 0-6-0 records rocked up and won ten rounders. An era when punters just turned up to watch fights. No social media hype, no YouTube, just spit, sawdust and stick your dukes up.
Today's Small Hall supporters are the descendants of those everyday boxing fans, people who just want to see well matched combat. We’re just blinkered at every fan level into a zero losses means good fighter thought process.
Following a no contest with Tommy Cann in his debut on October 16th 1928, Wickwar stopped Jim Young Shepherson in the fourth of six, just a week later. Two weeks after that, whatever of a rematch there was to be had took place and Wickwar beat Cann on points over six. This habit of fighting every week or so is both astonishing and not surprising given his ultimate tally; the geezer had longevity and took a break during World War Two.
After his first loss in November 1928, in his third legitimate fight, on points to Norman Snow, who retired 110-34-13 (57) himself by the way, Wickwar raced to 17-1-2 (1) before losing a disputed eight rounder to Jack Bradshaw. That was in April 1929. In that short period Wickwar bested Bobby Wood six times, and Tommy Cann was a victim twice more. These guys fought with the devotion of road warriors but in constant 50/50 fights; protecting the 0 wasn’t a concept.
It was not uncommon for fighters to end their career with more than one or even two hundred fights back then, something which today’s comparatively paltry output is probably for the better in terms of looking after the long-term health of the athlete. Should today’s fighters care less about their ledger and fight more often with greater risk to their record? Yes, I believe they should. Even today’s world champions could up their workloads in terms of keeping fans happy and maintaining a “legacy”.
Len Wickwar began his career just before the Lonsdale Belt and British Boxing Board of Control existed. Back then “World” Champions were mostly American, an inward looking system the Americans invented and still apply unchallenged in some sports. Baseball has never gone truly global because it is a nonsensical, dull, imitation of cricket- an innately boring sport itself only the Commonwealth really waste time on.
The WBA predecessor was born in Massachusetts and called the National Boxing Association. The NYSAC was and is just that- the New York State Athletics Commission. They had no right to be declaring World Champions but both did.
The first lightweight “World Champion” was Jack McAuliffe in 1896. Welshman Freddie Welsh who moved to Philadelphia when he was 9 years old and might have been leaning on his birthplace as a USP given he was born Frederick Hall Thomas, won the accolade in 1914 and held it until 1917. Welsh is credited as a UK fighter. Between 1917 and 1962, every fighter called “World Champion” was American, bar two Mexicans: Juan Zurita 1944-45 and Lauro Salas 1952.
Wickwar went on a 14 stoppage winning streak between March 1938 and, erm, December 1938. This ended with a disqualification against Tommy Hyams (retired 106-67-23) in the 5th round of 15. Bonkers, isn’t it, fourteen consecutive early wins in nine months. No title.
In 1939 Len lost on points after twelve in a Southern Area eliminator bout against Benny Caplan. It was Caplan’s 73rd fight and Wickwar’s 462nd. Let’s say that again- two men with a combined fight total of 535 outings contested a Southern Area Eliminator. After this glamorous loss in Butlin’s Arena, Skegness, Len fought just 8 more times, losing one, his last. Danny Cunningham halted Wickwar in the fifth of eight and for once, Len didn’t see revenge; the loss bookended his superb career.
Wickwar’s time fighting boasts a rough average of 24 times a year including a six year break between 1940 and 1946. It’s almost as if there were other things going on then. Most of the world was either preoccupied, or just occupied, between 1939 and 1945. Wickwar’s return was not prolific, six fights after the war while boasting five wins were finished with that stoppage loss in February 1947. After four hundred and seventy three professional boxing fights, Len Wickwar retired, but what can he teach us today?
Fight all the time if you want chances, take every opportunity. Prospects should have no such thing as a “camp”, they should always be ready. Why get to 34 years old and 10-0-0 (0) then get stopped for the Southern Area, where are you going from there? Life will pause your career without you adding arbitrary training limits. It’s an expensive hobby fighting twice a year and paying your opponent and manager and promoter before taking a chunk yourself. Box, fight and box again, if you have ambition and belief.
Easy for me to say, sure, but look at British Champion Denzel Bentley who has taken everything from dinner shows to world title fights at short notice. It pays to stay ready, and you’re not a champion until you’ve won something. Fans need to keep supporting the fighters, tickets aren’t cheap but cheer the whole show and get your money's worth. Don’t watch your mate’s highlights on Instagram; pay to go see him and the other talent on the bill.
After 4,020 rounds fought in his 19 year career, Len Wickwar, despite beating a British Champion (Len Walsh, points, December 1938), left the sport with no titles and his biggest night being the loss to Eric Boon in front of 14,000 fans back in 1939. Working for Bentley Engineering after boxing, Len Wickwar, the world record holder with no belts who you’ve never heard of, died aged sixty nine in 1980. A record as yet unbeaten and unsurpassed.
Ten bells, Len, it was an honour telling your story as best I can.
One more great write-up on Len Wickwar, cause why not?
Boxing News Online
The busiest fighter in boxing history
Matt Bozeat finds out the story of Len Wickwar, the busiest fighter in all of boxing history
By: Matt Bozeat
14th December, 2019
THE family of record-holder Len Wickwar want him to be remembered in his home city. The Guinness Book of Records and every boxing encyclopedia includes Wickwar’s name. He’s there because he had more professional fights than anyone else.
BoxRec and The Ultimate Encyclopedia of World Boxing can’t agree on the exact number – the former reckons 470, the latter says 460 – but they are agreed that nobody had more.
Turning pro at 17 in 1928, Wickwar fought until 1947 and with a six-year gap for World War II, he fought on average around every nine days throughout his 12-and-a-half active years. BoxRec record him fighting an astonishing 58 times in 1934.
“If it wasn’t for the War,” said son-in-law Bryan Spencer, “I’m sure Len would have had 600 fights.”
Spencer wants Wickwar to be remembered in Leicester, where he lived his 69 years until his death in 1980. Spencer says that with factories built on the area in the East Midlands city where Wickwar grew up, the rugby ground on Welford Road, home of Leicester Tigers, is an option for a plaque. That was where Wickwar fought then-British lightweight champion Eric Boon in a non-title fight in front of 14,000 fans in July, 1939. Brief footage of the fight is available on YouTube. Wickwar lost in nine rounds – and blamed the weather.
“Len was never one for excuses,” said Spencer, “but it was throwing it down with rain during the fight and he always said they should have stopped the fight.
“The canvas was so wet, Len said it was like an ice rink.”
Spencer had known Wickwar since 1964, when he met Len’s daughter Pearl, until his death and regarded him as “the best mate I ever had.” They worked together at Bentley Engineering – Wickwar was a packer and labourer – and were neighbours on the New Parks estate in Leicester. Spencer says Wickwar had little interest in boxing once he had retired. “People would ask him to help out at the gym,” he said, “but Len never wanted to know.
“I’m sure he could have been a good trainer, but Len used to say: ‘I’ve done my time, I’m finished with boxing.’
“He never went to any shows. He had seen it all and done it all. He was glad to walk away from boxing.”
There was bitterness towards his former manager, George Biddles. He wrote of the “adventures” they had together, but Wickwar remembered things differently. “I remember Biddles coming round the house one Christmas and Len didn’t want to know,” said Spencer. “Biddles wanted to come in for a couple of hours to chat and Len told him to p**s off.”
Biddles told Boxing News in his memoirs that he discovered Wickwar at a gymnasium above the Friar Tuck pub, not far from where Rendall Munroe would learn to box years later. Biddles remembered seeing “a quite clever and experienced boxer sparring with a young lad who was in his short sleeves and long trousers and who to my utter surprise, was completely outboxing the experienced professional.
“I waited until the sparring was over and then called the young unknown across to me.”
The “young unknown” gave his name as “Leonard Arthur Wickwar” and Biddles asked him where he had been training to become so accomplished.
“Nowhere, I often box with Bill (Newbold),” answered Wickwar. “He lives next door to me.”
Leicester was, still is, a hard city and when Wickwar turned pro, times were especially tough. “Fellows would fight because they needed the money badly,” wrote Biddles – and there were thousands of professionals.
Biddles kept his stable busy. Bert Tiger Ison had 335 fights – including 16 against Wickwar. Len won 15 of their fights. Wickwar also lost over 12 rounds to Chelsea bus conductor Billy Bird, who had a reported 356 fights, and proved he could compete at the highest level.
There was a 12-round points loss to Freddie Miller, who held a version of the world featherweight championship in the 1930s, a disqualification loss to Jack ‘Kid’ Berg and Wickwar edged his five-fight series with British welterweight champion Pat Butler 3-2.
Wickwar fought regularly on Biddles’ shows and one night in February, 1929, at the Tramways Institute in Leicester, he fought three times, outpointing Tommy Cann, Len Swinfield and Bobby Wood over three, four and six rounds respectively.
“He was only getting a pittance for fights,” said Spencer. “He probably got more than he did for working a day in a factory, but not much more. I’m sure he boxed because he enjoyed it, not for the money.”
Wickwar didn’t appear to end his boxing career with much money. He pawned one of his belts, Len won a Midlands featherweight belt competition and the Midlands Area welterweight title, and another was stolen from the Ragdale pub where he was happy to drink anonymously in retirement.
Spencer is too young to remember Wickwar boxing, but Harold Varnham saw him a few times towards the end of his career. Varnham says his father started taking him to boxing shows in the city in 1946 and he remembers Wickwar as “a superb boxer.”
He said: “Len was skinny, all his family were skinny, and it looked like you could blow him over like a feather. But he was a superb boxer. He went in there with the intention of not getting hurt.”
Those who remember Wickwar remember a quiet, modest man who liked the occasional flutter on the horses – and had a strong work ethic. “Len never wanted to retire from his job,” said Spencer, “but they made him.
“He liked being there with the lads. When they took his job off him, they took away a big part of his life. I remember Len coming home from work on his last day and throwing his bike in the shed – he was forever cleaning and oiling that bike – and he went downhill after that.”
Wickwar was happiest when spoiling his grandchildren, Wayne, Mark and Mitchell, who had “two or three” for Belgrave Amateur Boxing Club. Spencer says Wickwar’s family ties meant he turned down the chance to fight in the States. The offer was made, but Wickwar didn’t want to be away from wife Phyllis and children Leon, who passed away a few years ago, and Pearl, who celebrated her 75th birthday recently.
Spencer says in the years he knew Wickwar he only rarely struck a boxing pose or showed off a move, but he was happy to reminisce with Boon when his former opponent came to Leicester in 1974. In retirement, Boon travelled the country raising money for charity by showing films of big fights and when he brought his projector to a social club in the city he shared memories with Wickwar of the time they fought in front of 14,000 fans on a rainy night at the rugby ground.
Cut under his left eye early on, Boon took charge and dropped Wickwar for a count of ‘nine’ in the fifth. Wickwar toughed it out and briefly threatened a rally that was halted by a short right hand in the ninth round. This time, he didn’t beat the count. Boon afterwards revealed he had hurt his right hand earlier in the fight and the following morning, Wickwar drove him to the hospital for an X-ray.
This story backs up every other testimony of Wickwar. He was a decent man. Biddles did hope for a rematch with Boon, but the fight didn’t materialise and Wickwar spent the war working in a clothing factory. He would fight only four times after the war, retiring after a five-round knockout defeat against Danny Cunningham in Newcastle in February, 1947, a month shy of his 36th birthday.
“There were young lads who were handy with their fists who were coming out of the Army and thought boxing was an easy way to make money,” said Spencer. “Len decided it was a good time to finish.”
Len Wickwar on the cover of the December 29, 1937, issue of Boxing magazine, the print reads: Leicester lad who conquered Champion Jimmy Walsh and has backing for title match.
Teddy "Red Top" Davis, tough lightweight/featherweight journeyman, fought the best from the late 1940's into the early 1960s. Holds wins over Paddy DeMarco, Percy Bassett, Charley Riley, Tommy Collins, Armand Savoie, and George Araujo. In one of his best performances, he gave the great Willie Pep all he could handle in 1948, he lost 46 to 49 on the lone scorecard. Davis could be a handful for anyone on any given night.
A photo of the dangerous heavyweight knockout artist David Tua looking on at a splayed out former light heavyweight & heavyweight world champion Michael Moorer after doing away with him inside the first round back in 2002.
Wesley "Wes" Ramey, 1930s lightweight dubbed the "Uncrowned Champion of the Lightweights". Although he was ranked as a top-10 lightweight contender for 10 consecutive years, he was never given a chance to fight for a world title. Holds wins over Tony Canzoneri, Benny Bass, Cocoa Kid, and Lew Jenkins.
Born Andrew Wesley Ramey on De 17th, 1909, in Everett, Michigan.
One of the star lightweights of the 1930s, Ramey turned pro in 1929 following a brief amateur career. Fighting primarily in his hometown of Grand Rapids, Ramey was a busy fighter, fighting 21 times in 1930 alone. In 1932 hr defeated former featherweight and junior lightweight champion Benny Bass (W 10). 1933 saw Ramey score wins over future junior welterweight king Batting Shaw (W 10), former junior welterweight champion Johnny Jadick (W 10) and one of the biggest victories of his career, a 10-round win over lightweight champion Tony Canzoneri in a non-title affair. Ramey continued to rack up wins over top-notch competition, including Cocoa Kid (W 10), but a title bout eluded him. The Michigan stylist became known to boxing aficionados as the "Uncrowned Lightweight Champion." In 1934 and 1935 he traveled the globe plying his trade, registering wins in Australia, South Africa and England. Upon returning to the states, he continued his winning ways over the likes of Jadick (W 10), Lew Jenkins (W 10, W 10) and Leo Rodak (W 12, W 10). Unable to land a coveted title bout, the clever boxing Ramey, who combined speed and finesse to beat his opposition, retired in 1941 with a record of 158-26-11 (9 KO). In retirement he trained amateur and professional fighters in Grand Rapids.
Although lacking in knockout power (he had only 9 knockouts in 158 wins), Ramey possessed excellent lateral movement skills; which allowed him to dart in and out of range. This, coupled with his excellent conditioning gave him a critical edge outpointing his opposition.
Reporter Bill Farnsworth, Jr. wrote, "Wes Ramey … came to Fort Hamilton last night and haunted Joey Costa, the New Jersey lad. Ramey was the ghost. He was so elusive for eight of the rounds that Joey couldn’t have struck him with a handful of buckshot." After retiring from the sport, Ramey ran two successful bars while concurrently training amateur and professional fighters. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2013.
Wesley Ramey was an American professional boxer renowned as a lightweight contender during the 1930s, often called the "Uncrowned Champion" for defeating six world champions without ever securing a title shot of his own. Born in Everett, Michigan, he turned professional in 1929 after a brief amateur career and primarily fought out of Grand Rapids, amassing a record of 158 wins (9 by KO), 26 losses, 11 draws over 195 bouts before retiring in 1941. Ramey's career highlights included a string of victories against elite opponents, such as a 10-round decision over lightweight champion Tony Canzoneri in 1933, as well as wins against former champions Benny Bass, Johnny Jadick, and Battling Shaw. He was celebrated for his technical prowess, including exceptional speed, finesse, lateral movement, and conditioning, which allowed him to outmaneuver taller and heavier fighters in a highly competitive era. Despite ranking in the top 10 lightweights for a decade and competing internationally in Australia, South Africa, and England, Ramey was denied title opportunities, partly due to opponents often exceeding weight limits. In retirement, Ramey became a respected trainer in Grand Rapids, mentoring amateur and professional fighters with an emphasis on character, education, and long-term well-being over immediate success, notably training Johnny Butler to become Grand Rapids' first Golden Gloves National Champion in 1953 and helping keep local youth engaged through boxing. He also owned a local business and was remembered as a kind family man and community figure. Ramey's contributions to the sport were posthumously honored with induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2013, recognizing his skill and enduring legacy as both a fighter and coach.
Early life and background
Birth and family
Wesley Andrew Ramey was born on September 17, 1909, in Everett Township, Kent County, Michigan, a rural area in the western part of the state. He was the son of Andrew Ramey, born around 1867, and Bertha Elmira Smith, born around 1889, who were part of a large family; Ramey had eleven siblings, making twelve children in total. Limited records detail the family's circumstances, but they resided in a working-class community amid the agricultural economy of early 20th-century rural Michigan, where opportunities were shaped by farming and local labor.
Ramey's early years unfolded in this modest Midwestern setting, during a period of economic transition in the years preceding the Great Depression, fostering the resilience that would later define his path.
Introduction to boxing
Growing up in this setting, Ramey encountered boxing through local community activities in nearby Grand Rapids, where the sport was gaining popularity among working-class youth in the 1920s as a means to build discipline and potentially escape poverty. His initial involvement came around age 15 to 18, reflecting the era's trend of young men from modest backgrounds turning to boxing gyms for training and camaraderie before entering amateur competitions. Ramey's motivations were rooted in the economic hardships of rural Michigan during the 1920s, with boxing offering a structured path for physical development and social mobility amid the Great Depression's precursors. He began his training informally with local trainers in Grand Rapids-area facilities, honing skills that led to a brief but formative amateur career prior to his professional debut in 1929. This early exposure bridged his rural upbringing to the competitive world of boxing, setting the stage for his rise as a lightweight contender.
Amateur career
Early amateur fights
Wesley Ramey began his amateur boxing career in local circuits in Michigan around 1927, at the age of 18, shortly after being introduced to the sport in his hometown of Grand Rapids. His early bouts took place primarily in regional tournaments within the state, where he competed in the lightweight division, honing his skills against fellow Midwestern fighters. These initial experiences emphasized a steep learning curve, as Ramey adapted to the demands of organized competition while building his defensive footwork and counterpunching style. A notable formative fight occurred during the 1929 National AAU Championships held at the Boston Arena from April 8 to 10. Representing Grand Rapids in the 126-pound (featherweight) class, Ramey advanced to the semi-finals after defeating John Dube by points in the preliminaries and Emil Miller by points in the quarterfinals on April 9. He was then defeated by Robert Merritt of Buffalo over three rounds in the semi-finals, falling short of the final where Merritt lost to the eventual champion. This national exposure marked a key step in his development, showcasing his potential despite the loss. Ramey's overall amateur tenure was brief but active, comprising 49 fights before turning professional in August 1929. While specific win-loss details from his early period remain sparse, these bouts in Michigan's local scene laid the groundwork for his transition to the professional ranks, with his compact frame—standing at 5 feet 4 inches with a 67-inch reach—proving advantageous in close-range exchanges.
Key amateur achievements
Wesley Ramey's most notable amateur success came in the 1929 United States National Amateur Boxing Championships, organized by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and held in Boston from April 8 to 10. Competing in the 126-pound featherweight division, Ramey advanced through the preliminaries by defeating John Dube on points and the quarterfinals by outpointing Emil Miller of San Francisco. In the semifinals, Ramey faced Robert Merritt of Buffalo, New York, and lost a three-round decision, preventing him from reaching the final where Merritt would fall to champion Martin Zuniga. This performance marked Ramey as one of the top amateur lightweights in the country, showcasing his technical skill and elusiveness in a field of regional qualifiers. Over his amateur career, which spanned approximately 49 fights primarily in Michigan, Ramey built a strong record that highlighted his potential as a professional prospect. The visibility from his national semifinal appearance, combined with local successes in Michigan tournaments during the late 1920s, drew attention from promoters and directly influenced his decision to turn professional. Ramey made his pro debut on August 14, 1929, defeating Young McFarland by decision in a six-round bout in Grand Rapids.
Professional career
Debut and early bouts
Wesley Ramey transitioned from a brief amateur career to professional boxing in 1929, leveraging his foundational experience to launch a promising start in the lightweight division. His debut occurred on August 14, 1929, when he earned a six-round newspaper decision win over Packy McFarland at Island Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan, marking his entry into the paid ranks with a display of technical skill. In the ensuing years from 1929 to 1931, Ramey rapidly built his professional record through a series of bouts primarily held in Midwest venues, focusing on decision victories that showcased his endurance and ring craft. He fought frequently, including 21 contests in 1930 alone, often against regional opponents in six- to eight-round affairs, accumulating an early string of wins that solidified his reputation as a reliable performer. These initial fights, mostly decided by judges' points rather than knockouts, helped him compile a strong foundation, with losses kept minimal during this period.
Based in his hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Ramey trained under local auspices and was promoted by regional organizers who capitalized on his growing appeal. This setup allowed him to establish a dedicated local fanbase, drawing crowds to venues like the local armory and parks where his fights became regular attractions for the community's boxing enthusiasts. His early success in these familiar surroundings fostered loyalty among Grand Rapids supporters, setting the stage for broader recognition.
Rise to contender status
In the early 1930s, Wesley Ramey began his ascent in the lightweight division, leveraging a series of impressive victories to establish himself as a formidable contender. By 1932, he had entered the top-10 rankings among lightweight fighters, a position he maintained for the next decade despite never securing a world title opportunity. His elusive, defensive style—characterized by quick footwork and counterpunching—played a key role in frustrating opponents and building his reputation during this period. A pivotal win came on March 9, 1932, when Ramey defeated former featherweight champion Benny Bass by unanimous decision over 10 rounds in St. Louis, Missouri, showcasing his ability to outmaneuver technically skilled fighters. This victory over an established champion elevated Ramey's profile, signaling his transition from regional bouts to national contention. Additional mid-level successes in 1932 and 1933, including decisions against Battling Shaw and Johnny Jadick, further solidified his standing among the division's elite.
Ramey's growing recognition prompted expanded travel beyond his Michigan base, with fights on national circuits that increased his exposure. The 1932 Bass bout marked his first major outing outside the state, followed by appearances in Illinois, New York, and Louisiana by mid-decade, drawing larger crowds and media attention. In 1934 and 1935, he competed internationally, securing wins in Australia, South Africa, and England, which tested his adaptability against diverse opposition and enhanced his global profile. These opportunities not only tested his adaptability but also highlighted his consistency, as he compiled a strong win record against varied opposition across diverse venues.
Major victories and rivalries
Wesley Ramey's most notable victories came against several International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees, establishing him as one of the premier lightweights of the 1930s despite never securing a world title shot. In April 1933, he earned a unanimous 10-round decision over reigning lightweight champion Tony Canzoneri in Grand Rapids, Michigan, outboxing the future Hall of Famer with superior speed and ring generalship in a non-title bout. Later that year, in August 1933, Ramey defeated Hall of Famer Cocoa Kid (Herbert Lewis Hardwick) via 10-round decision, showcasing his technical prowess against another elite contender known for his aggressive style. These upsets highlighted Ramey's ability to compete at the highest level, as both opponents were established champions with extensive records of success.
Ramey's triumphs extended into 1938 with back-to-back decisions over another Hall of Famer, Lew Jenkins, in Dallas, Texas. In April, he won a 10-round bout where Jenkins was knocked down 11 times, demonstrating Ramey's relentless pressure and durability. Their December rematch, also a 10-round decision, awarded Ramey the Texas Lightweight title, further cementing his regional dominance while avenging any prior perceptions of Jenkins as unbeatable. His career was marked by intense rivalries that tested his endurance and consistency. Ramey faced former junior welterweight champion Johnny Jadick multiple times, securing 10-round decisions in 1933 and again in January 1937 in Syracuse, New York, outpointing the veteran in grueling affairs that underscored his stamina against a durable opponent. Similarly, he engaged in a brief but competitive series with Steve Halaiko, winning 10-round decisions in May 1935 in New Orleans and October 1935 at Madison Square Garden, where his footwork and combination punching prevailed in high-stakes lightweight clashes. These victories and rivalries propelled Ramey into consistent top-10 lightweight rankings throughout the decade, earning him the enduring nickname "Uncrowned Champion" for repeatedly besting elite competition—including multiple Hall of Famers—without a world title opportunity. His success against such foes, who collectively held world titles across divisions, affirmed his status as a gatekeeper of the era, influencing matchmaking and elevating the lightweight division's competitive depth.
Title pursuits and setbacks
State title wins
In 1931, Wesley Ramey captured the Michigan State Lightweight Title by defeating Lou Saunders via technical knockout in the eighth round of a scheduled ten-round bout held in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on July 14. Earlier that year, he had notable wins over Herman Perlick on March 26 in Kalamazoo, Maxie Strub on April 15 in Grand Rapids, Sammy Dorfman on May 15 in Grand Rapids, and Johnny Jadick on May 25 in Chicago, though these were not title fights. These victories solidified Ramey's reputation as a dominant force in regional boxing, enhancing his standing among national contenders. The duration of his Michigan title reign is unclear, with no recorded defenses or loss detailed after the Saunders bout. Later in his career, Ramey won the Texas State Lightweight Title on December 16, 1938, securing a ten-round points decision against the defending champion Lew Jenkins at the Sportatorium in Dallas, Texas. This victory, coming against a highly regarded opponent, elevated Ramey's profile and positioned him for greater national recognition in the lightweight division. No successful defenses of the Texas title are recorded in his subsequent fights.
World title opportunities
Ramey's most prominent world title opportunity came on July 5, 1939, when he challenged Maxie Berger for the vacant world junior welterweight championship, as recognized by the Montreal Athletic Commission, at the Montreal Forum in Canada. The bout, contested over 10 rounds, ended in a unanimous decision loss for Ramey, who was knocked down multiple times but rose quickly each time. This fight marked his only sanctioned world title bid, though it was limited to regional recognition rather than universal sanctioning bodies like the NYSAC or NBA. Throughout the 1930s, Ramey was consistently ranked among the top 10 lightweights by major outlets such as The Ring magazine, earning him the moniker "Uncrowned Champion of the Lightweights" due to his skill and victories over future champions like Tony Canzoneri, Benny Bass, and Lew Jenkins. Despite this standing and a record that included defeating six world titleholders at various points in their careers, he was repeatedly denied shots at the recognized lightweight crown, often attributed to his lack of knockout power—which saw only 11 stoppages in over 140 wins—making him less marketable to promoters in an era prioritizing drawing power over technical prowess. Political dynamics in the divided lightweight division, including favoritism toward established contenders like Lou Ambers and Henry Armstrong, further sidelined his challenges despite high rankings sustained for nearly a decade. His state-level successes, such as the Michigan lightweight title in 1931 and the Texas version in 1938, served as crucial stepping stones that elevated his profile but ultimately fell short of propelling him to undisputed world contention. Ramey's professional career, spanning 1929 to 1941 with 182 documented bouts across North America, South Africa, and England, highlighted his international exposure, including tours there in 1934–1935 and the pivotal Montreal matchup.
Notable defeats
Throughout his professional career Wesley Ramey suffered 28 losses, four of which were by knockout, underscoring occasional lapses in his otherwise solid defensive technique. These defeats, while setbacks, often prompted tactical refinements that contributed to his longevity in the ring. One of the most decisive early knockouts came against Pedro Montañez on July 27, 1937, at Gilmore Stadium in Los Angeles, where Ramey was stopped in the first round after 2 minutes and 40 seconds by a clean punch to the head. This rapid defeat exposed Ramey's vulnerability to aggressive pressure fighters and led him to emphasize quicker footwork in subsequent bouts to avoid similar early traps. Another significant knockout occurred against Joe Boscarino on January 3, 1939, at Convention Hall in Rochester, New York, where Ramey was stopped in the fifth round following multiple knockdowns in a grueling encounter. Despite the loss, Ramey avenged it later that year with a points victory over Boscarino, demonstrating his ability to adapt by improving his recovery from being hurt and tightening his guard against body shots. Ramey also faced tough decision losses to top contenders like Sammy Angott, whom he lost to twice in 1938—first on May 6 in Louisville, Kentucky, and again on September 16 in Dallas, Texas—highlighting challenges against slick boxers who neutralized his lateral movement. These setbacks, totaling the bulk of his non-KO defeats, influenced Ramey to incorporate more feints and angle adjustments in training, enhancing his outboxing style and enabling him to reverse several losses in rematches over his career. His relative lack of knockout power occasionally factored into these prolonged fights, where endurance became key.
Fighting style and attributes
Technical approach
Wesley Ramey's technical approach in the ring was defined by his elusiveness, relying on superior lateral movement and quick darts in and out of punching range to evade opponents' attacks. Boxing matchmaker and historian Bruce Kielty described this aspect of Ramey's style as masterful, noting that he "knew how to get in and out" with "great lateral movement," allowing him to control distance effectively against top competition. This defensive prowess was a hallmark of his "Michigan stylist" reputation, emphasizing finesse over aggression. Offensively, Ramey focused on accumulating points through precise jabs and combinations rather than pursuing power shots or knockouts, aligning with his clever boxing philosophy of outmaneuvering foes with speed and accuracy. His low knockout ratio—only 9 in 158 professional victories—underscored this decision-oriented tactic, where he prioritized technical superiority to wear down and outpoint adversaries like world champions Tony Canzoneri and Lew Jenkins.
Ramey's style evolved significantly from his brief amateur career into professionalism starting in 1929, incorporating refined footwork gained from international tours in 1934 and 1935 across Australia, South Africa, and England. These experiences abroad honed his ring mobility, blending global influences into a more adaptive and elusive approach that sustained his status as a top-10 lightweight contender for a decade.
Physical conditioning and limitations
Wesley Ramey, competing primarily in the lightweight division, stood at 5 feet 4 inches (163 cm) tall with a reach of 67 inches (170 cm), measurements that provided him an advantage in close-quarters exchanges against similarly sized opponents but exposed him to challenges from taller fighters who could leverage greater distance and leverage.
His physical conditioning was marked by exceptional endurance, enabling him to maintain a high pace across extended bouts and recover quickly from adversity, as evidenced by his ability to rebound from multiple knockdowns without apparent lasting damage in several fights. This stamina supported a demanding schedule, including 21 professional bouts in 1930 alone, contributing to a career total of 195 fights from 1929 to 1941.
A key limitation in Ramey's arsenal was his modest knockout power, with only 9 knockouts among his 158 professional wins, a rate of approximately 5.7%, which left him vulnerable to aggressive punchers who could press the action without fear of early stoppages. This reliance on accumulation of points rather than decisive power shots was partially offset by his elusive footwork and ring generalship.
Retirement and later life
Career end
Ramey's professional boxing career concluded on June 20, 1941, with a 10-round points decision victory over Maurice Arnault at the Civic Auditorium in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This bout marked the end of a 12-year run that began with his debut on August 14, 1929, encompassing 195 official professional bouts.
At age 31, Ramey retired amid the cumulative physical toll from over 195 fights, including numerous high-stakes encounters that left lasting wear on his body. The onset of the United States' involvement in World War II further shifted personal and societal priorities, contributing to his decision to step away from the ring permanently. Despite never capturing a world title, his exit solidified his reputation as an uncrowned champion of the lightweights.
Business ventures and training
After retiring from professional boxing in 1941, Wesley Ramey established himself as a prominent local businessman in Grand Rapids, Michigan, by operating two successful sports bars in the Heartside neighborhood. Known as Wes Ramey's Bar and Wes Ramey's Lounge, these establishments were located just south of the Cody Hotel on South Division Avenue and served as popular watering holes for over 27 years, contributing to the area's vibrant entertainment scene during the mid-20th century. In addition to his bar ownership, Ramey owned and operated Wes Ramey's Gym, where he coached both amateur and professional fighters, sharing his extensive boxing knowledge with the next generation. Alongside his son, Wesley Ramey Jr.—himself an accomplished boxer—Ramey trained local talent, fostering a community hub for sports development in Grand Rapids. Ramey's business acumen and ongoing involvement in boxing earned him lasting respect in the community, where he remained active in local sports until his later years. Following the closure of his bars, he briefly worked with the Godwin Heights School System, likely in a coaching capacity, before fully retiring. Ramey passed away on March 10, 1997, at the age of 87.
Legacy and honors
Hall of Fame induction
Wesley Ramey was posthumously inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) in 2013 as part of the old-timer category, recognizing his significant contributions to lightweight boxing during the 1930s. The induction honored his record of 158 wins, 26 losses, and 11 draws over 195 bouts, as well as his reputation as the "Uncrowned Lightweight Champion" for defeating notable opponents like Hall of Famer Tony Canzoneri without securing a world title shot. The induction ceremony took place on June 9, 2013, in Canastota, New York, during the IBHOF's annual weekend festivities. Ramey's son, Wes Ramey Jr., accepted the honor on behalf of his late father, who had passed away on March 10, 1997, at age 87. In his acceptance remarks, Ramey Jr. highlighted his father's unfulfilled pursuit of a title opportunity, stating, "Wesley Ramey never got a title shot he so richly deserved."
No other formal hall of fame inductions for Ramey in Michigan or regional boxing organizations have been widely documented in credible sources.
Historical significance
Wesley Ramey is regarded as one of the most prominent figures in 1930s lightweight boxing, earning the moniker "Uncrowned Lightweight Champion" for his sustained excellence without ever securing a world title opportunity. Despite being ranked among the top 10 lightweights for 10 consecutive years from the early 1930s onward, Ramey was denied a shot at the championship, a circumstance attributed to the era's political machinations within the sport, including promoter preferences and contractual disputes that favored other contenders. Ramey's influence on the lightweight division was profound, as his victories over multiple world champions in non-title bouts—such as Tony Canzoneri, Benny Bass, and Johnny Jadick—raised the competitive standard and showcased the depth of talent during a golden age for the weight class. With an official career record of 158 wins, 26 losses, and 11 draws across 195 bouts from 1929 to 1941, Ramey's consistent success against elite opposition underscored the division's intensity and helped bridge the gap between American and international fighters through his global tours in 1934 and 1935.
In modern assessments, Ramey is appreciated for embodying technical mastery and strategic finesse in an era dominated by power-punching sluggers, prioritizing speed, footwork, and ring intelligence over raw knockout ability. His 2013 induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame serves as validation of this enduring legacy, highlighting his role in elevating boxing's emphasis on skill during the pre-World War II period.
Professional boxing record
Official record
Wesley Ramey's official professional boxing record, as listed on BoxRec, totals 182 fights. Of these, he recorded 142 wins (11 by knockout/TKO and 131 by decision), 28 losses (4 by knockout/TKO and 24 by decision), and 12 draws, with no no-decisions or disqualifications noted. This verified tally, based on sanctioned bouts recognized by standard boxing authorities, underscores his endurance in the lightweight division. Note that historical records for pre-1940s boxers can vary; the International Boxing Hall of Fame reports a record of 158 wins (9 by KO), 26 losses, and 11 draws over 195 bouts.
In the pre-modern era of professional boxing, prior to the widespread standardization of ringside judging in the late 1930s and 1940s, many bouts—particularly non-title fights in certain jurisdictions—were classified as "no decision" affairs to circumvent legal restrictions on official verdicts. In such contests, outcomes were often determined retrospectively by consensus among ringside newspaper reporters, resulting in so-called newspaper decisions that provided informal assessments of winners based on round-by-round scoring. These decisions, while not officially recognized by sanctioning bodies, offer valuable insight into fighters' performances during a transitional period in the sport's regulation.
Wesley Ramey, great fighter, great person. Wish there was film of him.
Grand Rapids fight legend Wes Ramey to get his due in International Boxing Hall of Fame
Published: Dec. 17, 2012, 10:31 a.m.
By: Cory Olsen
GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Grand Rapids boxing great Wes Ramey will finally be recognized at the highest level for everything he accomplished in his fight career: the International Boxing Hall of Fame has come calling.
It was announced Monday, Dec. 10, that Ramey, who died in 1997 at age 87 of heart failure, will be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in June, the highest post-career honor a boxer can be bestowed and many would say, a long time coming.
Ramey started his professional boxing career in 1929 by defeating Young McFarland in a six-round bout and ended his professional career on June 20, 1941, in Grand Rapids with a win against Marice Arnault. In those 12 years, Ramey's accomplishments are second to none in Grand Rapids history.
He was ranked as one of the top 10 lightweight fighters for 10 consecutive years, beating six world champions along the way. Unfortunately Ramey was never able to claim one of those belts for himself due to opponents coming in over-weight for their respective titles.
He was a father and a husband, a fighter and a trainer and even a local business owner. The IBHOF will add Hall of Famer to that list during an induction ceremony the weekend of June 6-9, 2013, in Canastota, N.Y.
Johnny Butler, Grand Rapids' first Golden Gloves National Champion said Ramey's inclusion in the hall of fame has been overdue.
"We had a lot of interaction over the years and much of it centered around being a good person, and that's something I really enjoyed about him," Butler said. "Even to this day, whatever I made in boxing I have to give him credit for that. There were trainers around that couldn't care less about you, but he was in it for the people."
That sentiment is echoed by Ramey's son, Wes Ramey Jr., who followed his father into both boxing and training and owns Top Level Gym in Indianapolis, Ind.
"He got the kids to like boxing by treating them all fair," Ramey Jr. said. "He harped on education and staying in school. It didn't always work but that's what he wanted. If you wanted to box with us, you had to stay in school."
Ramey Jr. said his father was able to keep some kids off the streets by putting them in the ring, letting them work out their energy on positive activities while working on who they were as human beings.
"He treated them all with respect, he did that well," Ramey Jr. said.
Bruce Kielty, a West Michigan boxing matchmaker and historian said Ramey's fight career takes precedence over his time training, but both were noteworthy.
"He certainly was one of the few great boxers who was able to teach," Kielty said. "Wes Ramey was different. He did not try to convert people to his style, which is a big weakness of being a great boxer turned trainer, you try to make everyone like yourself. Everyone will tell you that Wes was a master technician and boxer yet one of his most well-known boxers, Johnny Butler, was known as a very aggressive puncher."
Butler was Ramey's greatest accomplishment as a trainer. And, as Golden Glove National Champ in 1953, Butler also was the trainer's star pupil.
"He was my dad's favorite, yes, he was," Ramey Jr. said. "He was my dad's favorite fighter of all the ones he's trained. He was so proud of him with his accomplishments in the ring, in school and in life."
Butler recalls the friend he had in Ramey as difficult choices arose his senior year in high school.
"After winning the national championship, I started to get all these letters from colleges that had boxing programs, wanting me to come there, and on the other side everyone wanted me to turn pro," Butler said. "That was going to be my plan with Wes, but my mom wanted me to go to school."
"So I talked to Wes about it, and that's one of the things I liked so much about him. He was more concerned about what happens after boxing, the long-term. Boxing was not a sure thing and back in those days, it wasn't paying a lot of money. He said to me, 'If your mom wants you to go to school, you go to school.' That meant a lot to me because here I was, the first national champion from Grand Rapids and I could have been promoted and done pretty well, but he was more concerned about me as an individual and my future than making some bucks off of me and my career."
Kielty said even though Ramey was never considered a knockout artist, it was his ring style that made him such a successful fighter.
"He knew how to get in and out, he had great legs and conditioning," Kielty said. "Ramey could get out of range and had great lateral movement."
"He was such a spectacular boxer and was in the top 10 in the world. In the era he boxed in, there were quality guys in every city in the U.S. If you look at his record it's just phenomenal. He was fighting quality people almost immediately. It was a different era, much more difficult to succeed and he succeeded."
Ramey Jr. said the number of fights his father had is sometimes debated, but he's cleared the numbers up after going through his father's diary for the fight totals.
"My dad had 259 fights," Ramey Jr. said. "He fought 49 times in the amateurs and had 210 professional fights, losing 22 of those. Of those losses, he reversed 11 of them on rematch."
Ramey's most memorable matchup came in front of his hometown of Grand Rapids on April 29, 1933. Paired up with fellow top lightweight Tony Canzoneri, Ramey dominated him in a 10-round victory using his speed and precision.
"After that fight was over my father had a big black and white photo of he and Canzoneri together before the fight," Ramey Jr. said. "But my father realized that he didn't have (Canzoneri's) autograph on it, so my father went to the elevator in the hotel where he was staying and went up."
"As the doors opened, Canzoneri was standing there, waiting to get on the elevator, and my father said, 'Well, hi there, Tony, haven't I seen you somewhere else tonight?' And Tony took his dark sunglasses off and he was all bruised and he said, 'Yes you have, Wes, and this is the first time I've seen you all night!'"
For Butler, Ramey will always be more than a boxer and trainer, but without those, the two may have never met.
"Wes was famous for saying, 'Keep your hands up, your chin down and your butt off the floor,'" Butler said, laughing. "It was good advice, It worked for me."
Butler knew one thing about Ramey after spending thousands of hours in the gym with him: The man knew what he was talking about.
"We always had a great relationship, there were never any disagreements over anything," Butler said. "I always thought of it this way: He knew and I was learning, so I was listening."
“When he was in training camp, he was as clean as can be. I never saw him give in to any temptations, though I know he had his demons and they got the best of him. But he was a great fighter, without a doubt. When I had a chance to work with Johnny, I jumped at it because I knew he was a hard worker, and I love hard workers.
He loved to win. The word ‘loss’ wasn’t in his vocabulary. Sometimes his personal life got more attention than what he did in boxing, which is unfair; I had him for seven or eight fights, and I know how dedicated he was to boxing.
He was great, I had a lot of fun with him. My favorite Johnny Tapia story was when I was talking to him between rounds of a fight. I can’t recall the opponent, but Johnny was getting away from the game plan.
He wasn’t listening to me, so I slapped him in the face to get his attention. Then he listened to me, and won the fight. When it was over, I went to shake his hand. He wouldn’t do it. I said, ‘What’s wrong? You won’t shake my hand?’ Then he slapped me. He said, ‘Now we’re even.’ He was a real character.”
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Ingemar Johansson with legendary light heavyweight Archie Moore,"The Old Mongoose." Archie Moore was temporarily foregoing his fight career to play the runaway slave "Jim" in his first movie, "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," and had a ready contract for Ingemar Johansson for the World's Heavyweight Boxing title. Johansson, also in costume while playing his first movie role in "All the Young Men," visited the set where Moore was working. The contract for the fight was not signed though, since Johansson had to fight Patterson first.
Archie Moore giving music lessons to Ingemar Johansson.
Ingemar Johansson with Muhammad Ali.
Ingemar Johansson with legendary heavyweights Joe Louis and Jack Dempsey.
Ingemar Johansson with the legendary German heavyweight Max Schmeling.
Great shot of Johansson.
A focused Ingemar Johansson takes a break from training, nice shot with the lights in the background.
Floyd Patterson feels the power of Ingemar Johansson's right hand. It's interesting, Floyd Patterson was asked who the hardest puncher he ever faced was and he credited two men, Sonny Liston and Ingemar Johansson.
Speaking of Sonny Liston, here's a couple of photos of Ingemar Johansson with Sonny, Johansson actually promoted some fights for Liston in Sweden. Just look at the size of Liston's fist, the man was a freak of nature.
A day at the office for a prizefighter.
Great shot of Johansson with the world heavyweight title belt.
I love this image of Johansson in the spotlight, this photo was taken at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach after Ingo lost the title back to Floyd Patterson in 1960. Frank Sinatra asked Johansson to stand and speak to the crowd and this image was captured as he approached the podium to speak.
Ingemar Johansson with Floyd Patterson and Jackie Gleason on The Jackie Gleason Show.
Ingemar Johansson on the cover of Sports Illustrated, if I'm not mistaken he appeared on the cover four times.
Johansson working the speed bag.
Ingemar Johansson with legendary light heavyweight Willie Pastrano and legendary trainer Angelo Dundee on the far left.
This image shows Ingemar Johansson training on the roof of the Commodore Hotel in New York City on April 29, 1959, with his fiancée Birgit Lundgren watching, Ingo was training for his first bout with Floyd Patterson.
I can't get over how broad Ingo's shoulders were, his upper body was like a tree trunk.
Dr. Francis Benson taking Boxer Ingemar Johansson's pulse during training.
Johansson pounds the heavy bag during training.
Love this photo of Johansson jogging, the isolation and peacefulness of the surrounding environment.
Ingemar Johansson holding up his right fist, one of the most devastating weapons in boxing history, "The Hammer of Thor."
Ingemar Johansson, brutal puncher.
''Every penny I have earned is blood money, it’s an old expression but that’s what it is. Every penny has been taken out of my blood and face and body; the trauma, the punches to the brain and body, it definitely takes it's toll on a man.
It is called 'blood money' for a reason, whatever fighters earn - going hand to hand in combat and fighting for their lives - they deserve a million times more. No matter what they earn it is minimum wage for what they have done.
Boxing doesn’t take any prisoners, it just takes casualties; that’s a fact. You look at all these great world champions from the past, they’re all broken into pieces today.''
Arturo Gatti's appetite for slugfests backfired on him at the Atlantic City Convention Center on January 17th, 1998, when he was stopped in the eighth round with a badly cut eye after a brutal battle with Angel Manfredy.
"He was bleeding into the socket of his eye", referee Wayne Hedgepeth said. The cut was real deep. It takes 12 muscles to move that eye around and it just wasn't working."
"I can't be stopped" said Manfredy. "When I cut him in the first round, I knew it was a bad cut. But I knew they wouldn't stop it, because it's in his home town. He showed the class of a warrior."
"At the end of the first round I felt blood dripping and I knew I was in trouble," said 25-year-old-Gatti. "His right hand never hurt me, but the damage was already done. He's a true champion. I was cut and that's the only reason I lost the fight. I would have knocked him out in the later rounds."
23-year-old Manfredy, fighting the last three rounds with a broken hand, was ahead on two scorecards at the time of the stoppage.
Ray Mercer reveals what really brought on that devastating, still replayed knockout of Tommy Morrison. It started with him discovering that he was only being paid $50,000 more than Morrison despite being the reigning world champion. When Mercer called Bob Arum to question it, Arum told him plainly that the reason was because Morrison was white.. From that moment on, Mercer said he took the fight personally, and that feeling followed him straight into the ring and into one of the most brutal knockouts boxing has ever seen.
Mercer told No Standing 8: “It was actually a personal thing for me because, I was WBO champion, and my trainer told me that I’m only getting $50,000 more than Tommy Morrison.. and I was the champion! That pi**ed me off.
“So I called Bob Arum, and I asked him.. ‘I’m champion how am I only getting $50,000 more dollars than Tommy Morrison,’ and he told me, and I respect him for this, he told me ‘because he’s white.’ And when he told me that, I said ‘ok.. thank you,’ because he was honest, and I hung the phone up and from that phone call I was taking it personally.”
Mercer carried that phone call into the ring, and Morrison felt it in every punch on the way down to the canvas.
"I didn’t win a world title but I came mighty close and I’m respected within the sport.
In the build up to a championship fight something always seemed to happen, whether it was girl trouble, or trouble in training camp. In the end, it just wasn’t meant to be."
This is such a cool image of Herol "Bomber" Graham, with sparklers.
Music break.
I mentioned Len Wickwar earlier in the thread but didn't get into detail, he holds the record for most fights of all-time and it's really astonishing how active this guy was.
Credit: Dan Morley Boxing
The 20 Greatest Records in Boxing History in My Opinion
20 Len Wickwar 🏴 342-86-43 (94 KO)
In the 1920’s, Leicester’s Len Wickwar began a career you could only describe as busy! Never has there been a fighter as active or game as Wickwar. Whilst his win column isn’t as dominant, nor his resume as stacked with elite level talent as other fighters on this list, what makes Wickwar stand apart, is just the sheer quantity.
Upwards of 470 fights, he holds the official record for most fights and wins of any professional boxer ever.
In a career spanning 19 years, you would be forgiven for thinking that Wickwar may have engaged in four round battles. However, he was consistently fighting ten, 12 & 15 rounders, completing over 4000 rounds by his retirement. What’s most amazing about his record, is the fact that he took a 6 year hiatus, promoted by world war 2, meaning that 469 of his fights occurred within 12 years. Had the war not prevented his activity, he would’ve been well into 700 contests.
UNSURPASSABLE
By: Southpaw Jab
He turned professional in his teens, boxed for almost 20 years, has more knockout wins than most boxers have had bouts and yet you’ll likely not have heard of this Guinness World Record holder. No, he’s not from Guadalajara.
From Skegness to Glasgow it is a career almost impossible to comprehend and that’s how I came to Len Wickwar, during a debate about who had the most professional boxing bouts. Thank you Google, I owe my life to you, you own my life. How did one man fight 473 times? Here’s his story, it’s fascinating and today’s scene can learn much from it.
Born in 1911 and hailing from Leicester, competing from featherweight to (allegedly) welterweight, Len Wickwar officially fought four hundred and seventy three professional fights. His ledger takes an age to scroll on BoxRec and makes for interesting insight into an age where fighters with 0-6-0 records rocked up and won ten rounders. An era when punters just turned up to watch fights. No social media hype, no YouTube, just spit, sawdust and stick your dukes up.
Today's Small Hall supporters are the descendants of those everyday boxing fans, people who just want to see well matched combat. We’re just blinkered at every fan level into a zero losses means good fighter thought process.
Following a no contest with Tommy Cann in his debut on October 16th 1928, Wickwar stopped Jim Young Shepherson in the fourth of six, just a week later. Two weeks after that, whatever of a rematch there was to be had took place and Wickwar beat Cann on points over six. This habit of fighting every week or so is both astonishing and not surprising given his ultimate tally; the geezer had longevity and took a break during World War Two.
After his first loss in November 1928, in his third legitimate fight, on points to Norman Snow, who retired 110-34-13 (57) himself by the way, Wickwar raced to 17-1-2 (1) before losing a disputed eight rounder to Jack Bradshaw. That was in April 1929. In that short period Wickwar bested Bobby Wood six times, and Tommy Cann was a victim twice more. These guys fought with the devotion of road warriors but in constant 50/50 fights; protecting the 0 wasn’t a concept.
It was not uncommon for fighters to end their career with more than one or even two hundred fights back then, something which today’s comparatively paltry output is probably for the better in terms of looking after the long-term health of the athlete. Should today’s fighters care less about their ledger and fight more often with greater risk to their record? Yes, I believe they should. Even today’s world champions could up their workloads in terms of keeping fans happy and maintaining a “legacy”.
Len Wickwar began his career just before the Lonsdale Belt and British Boxing Board of Control existed. Back then “World” Champions were mostly American, an inward looking system the Americans invented and still apply unchallenged in some sports. Baseball has never gone truly global because it is a nonsensical, dull, imitation of cricket- an innately boring sport itself only the Commonwealth really waste time on.
The WBA predecessor was born in Massachusetts and called the National Boxing Association. The NYSAC was and is just that- the New York State Athletics Commission. They had no right to be declaring World Champions but both did.
The first lightweight “World Champion” was Jack McAuliffe in 1896. Welshman Freddie Welsh who moved to Philadelphia when he was 9 years old and might have been leaning on his birthplace as a USP given he was born Frederick Hall Thomas, won the accolade in 1914 and held it until 1917. Welsh is credited as a UK fighter. Between 1917 and 1962, every fighter called “World Champion” was American, bar two Mexicans: Juan Zurita 1944-45 and Lauro Salas 1952.
Wickwar went on a 14 stoppage winning streak between March 1938 and, erm, December 1938. This ended with a disqualification against Tommy Hyams (retired 106-67-23) in the 5th round of 15. Bonkers, isn’t it, fourteen consecutive early wins in nine months. No title.
In 1939 Len lost on points after twelve in a Southern Area eliminator bout against Benny Caplan. It was Caplan’s 73rd fight and Wickwar’s 462nd. Let’s say that again- two men with a combined fight total of 535 outings contested a Southern Area Eliminator. After this glamorous loss in Butlin’s Arena, Skegness, Len fought just 8 more times, losing one, his last. Danny Cunningham halted Wickwar in the fifth of eight and for once, Len didn’t see revenge; the loss bookended his superb career.
Wickwar’s time fighting boasts a rough average of 24 times a year including a six year break between 1940 and 1946. It’s almost as if there were other things going on then. Most of the world was either preoccupied, or just occupied, between 1939 and 1945. Wickwar’s return was not prolific, six fights after the war while boasting five wins were finished with that stoppage loss in February 1947. After four hundred and seventy three professional boxing fights, Len Wickwar retired, but what can he teach us today?
Fight all the time if you want chances, take every opportunity. Prospects should have no such thing as a “camp”, they should always be ready. Why get to 34 years old and 10-0-0 (0) then get stopped for the Southern Area, where are you going from there? Life will pause your career without you adding arbitrary training limits. It’s an expensive hobby fighting twice a year and paying your opponent and manager and promoter before taking a chunk yourself. Box, fight and box again, if you have ambition and belief.
Easy for me to say, sure, but look at British Champion Denzel Bentley who has taken everything from dinner shows to world title fights at short notice. It pays to stay ready, and you’re not a champion until you’ve won something. Fans need to keep supporting the fighters, tickets aren’t cheap but cheer the whole show and get your money's worth. Don’t watch your mate’s highlights on Instagram; pay to go see him and the other talent on the bill.
After 4,020 rounds fought in his 19 year career, Len Wickwar, despite beating a British Champion (Len Walsh, points, December 1938), left the sport with no titles and his biggest night being the loss to Eric Boon in front of 14,000 fans back in 1939. Working for Bentley Engineering after boxing, Len Wickwar, the world record holder with no belts who you’ve never heard of, died aged sixty nine in 1980. A record as yet unbeaten and unsurpassed.
Ten bells, Len, it was an honour telling your story as best I can.
Awesome photo of Len Wickwar, I would love to own the original.
Another good shot of Len Wickwar.
One more great write-up on Len Wickwar, cause why not?
Boxing News Online
The busiest fighter in boxing history
Matt Bozeat finds out the story of Len Wickwar, the busiest fighter in all of boxing history
By: Matt Bozeat
14th December, 2019
THE family of record-holder Len Wickwar want him to be remembered in his home city. The Guinness Book of Records and every boxing encyclopedia includes Wickwar’s name. He’s there because he had more professional fights than anyone else.
BoxRec and The Ultimate Encyclopedia of World Boxing can’t agree on the exact number – the former reckons 470, the latter says 460 – but they are agreed that nobody had more.
Turning pro at 17 in 1928, Wickwar fought until 1947 and with a six-year gap for World War II, he fought on average around every nine days throughout his 12-and-a-half active years. BoxRec record him fighting an astonishing 58 times in 1934.
“If it wasn’t for the War,” said son-in-law Bryan Spencer, “I’m sure Len would have had 600 fights.”
Spencer wants Wickwar to be remembered in Leicester, where he lived his 69 years until his death in 1980. Spencer says that with factories built on the area in the East Midlands city where Wickwar grew up, the rugby ground on Welford Road, home of Leicester Tigers, is an option for a plaque. That was where Wickwar fought then-British lightweight champion Eric Boon in a non-title fight in front of 14,000 fans in July, 1939. Brief footage of the fight is available on YouTube. Wickwar lost in nine rounds – and blamed the weather.
“Len was never one for excuses,” said Spencer, “but it was throwing it down with rain during the fight and he always said they should have stopped the fight.
“The canvas was so wet, Len said it was like an ice rink.”
Spencer had known Wickwar since 1964, when he met Len’s daughter Pearl, until his death and regarded him as “the best mate I ever had.” They worked together at Bentley Engineering – Wickwar was a packer and labourer – and were neighbours on the New Parks estate in Leicester. Spencer says Wickwar had little interest in boxing once he had retired. “People would ask him to help out at the gym,” he said, “but Len never wanted to know.
“I’m sure he could have been a good trainer, but Len used to say: ‘I’ve done my time, I’m finished with boxing.’
“He never went to any shows. He had seen it all and done it all. He was glad to walk away from boxing.”
There was bitterness towards his former manager, George Biddles. He wrote of the “adventures” they had together, but Wickwar remembered things differently. “I remember Biddles coming round the house one Christmas and Len didn’t want to know,” said Spencer. “Biddles wanted to come in for a couple of hours to chat and Len told him to p**s off.”
Biddles told Boxing News in his memoirs that he discovered Wickwar at a gymnasium above the Friar Tuck pub, not far from where Rendall Munroe would learn to box years later. Biddles remembered seeing “a quite clever and experienced boxer sparring with a young lad who was in his short sleeves and long trousers and who to my utter surprise, was completely outboxing the experienced professional.
“I waited until the sparring was over and then called the young unknown across to me.”
The “young unknown” gave his name as “Leonard Arthur Wickwar” and Biddles asked him where he had been training to become so accomplished.
“Nowhere, I often box with Bill (Newbold),” answered Wickwar. “He lives next door to me.”
Leicester was, still is, a hard city and when Wickwar turned pro, times were especially tough. “Fellows would fight because they needed the money badly,” wrote Biddles – and there were thousands of professionals.
Biddles kept his stable busy. Bert Tiger Ison had 335 fights – including 16 against Wickwar. Len won 15 of their fights. Wickwar also lost over 12 rounds to Chelsea bus conductor Billy Bird, who had a reported 356 fights, and proved he could compete at the highest level.
There was a 12-round points loss to Freddie Miller, who held a version of the world featherweight championship in the 1930s, a disqualification loss to Jack ‘Kid’ Berg and Wickwar edged his five-fight series with British welterweight champion Pat Butler 3-2.
Wickwar fought regularly on Biddles’ shows and one night in February, 1929, at the Tramways Institute in Leicester, he fought three times, outpointing Tommy Cann, Len Swinfield and Bobby Wood over three, four and six rounds respectively.
“He was only getting a pittance for fights,” said Spencer. “He probably got more than he did for working a day in a factory, but not much more. I’m sure he boxed because he enjoyed it, not for the money.”
Wickwar didn’t appear to end his boxing career with much money. He pawned one of his belts, Len won a Midlands featherweight belt competition and the Midlands Area welterweight title, and another was stolen from the Ragdale pub where he was happy to drink anonymously in retirement.
Spencer is too young to remember Wickwar boxing, but Harold Varnham saw him a few times towards the end of his career. Varnham says his father started taking him to boxing shows in the city in 1946 and he remembers Wickwar as “a superb boxer.”
He said: “Len was skinny, all his family were skinny, and it looked like you could blow him over like a feather. But he was a superb boxer. He went in there with the intention of not getting hurt.”
Those who remember Wickwar remember a quiet, modest man who liked the occasional flutter on the horses – and had a strong work ethic. “Len never wanted to retire from his job,” said Spencer, “but they made him.
“He liked being there with the lads. When they took his job off him, they took away a big part of his life. I remember Len coming home from work on his last day and throwing his bike in the shed – he was forever cleaning and oiling that bike – and he went downhill after that.”
Wickwar was happiest when spoiling his grandchildren, Wayne, Mark and Mitchell, who had “two or three” for Belgrave Amateur Boxing Club. Spencer says Wickwar’s family ties meant he turned down the chance to fight in the States. The offer was made, but Wickwar didn’t want to be away from wife Phyllis and children Leon, who passed away a few years ago, and Pearl, who celebrated her 75th birthday recently.
Spencer says in the years he knew Wickwar he only rarely struck a boxing pose or showed off a move, but he was happy to reminisce with Boon when his former opponent came to Leicester in 1974. In retirement, Boon travelled the country raising money for charity by showing films of big fights and when he brought his projector to a social club in the city he shared memories with Wickwar of the time they fought in front of 14,000 fans on a rainy night at the rugby ground.
Cut under his left eye early on, Boon took charge and dropped Wickwar for a count of ‘nine’ in the fifth. Wickwar toughed it out and briefly threatened a rally that was halted by a short right hand in the ninth round. This time, he didn’t beat the count. Boon afterwards revealed he had hurt his right hand earlier in the fight and the following morning, Wickwar drove him to the hospital for an X-ray.
This story backs up every other testimony of Wickwar. He was a decent man. Biddles did hope for a rematch with Boon, but the fight didn’t materialise and Wickwar spent the war working in a clothing factory. He would fight only four times after the war, retiring after a five-round knockout defeat against Danny Cunningham in Newcastle in February, 1947, a month shy of his 36th birthday.
“There were young lads who were handy with their fists who were coming out of the Army and thought boxing was an easy way to make money,” said Spencer. “Len decided it was a good time to finish.”
Len Wickwar on the cover of the December 29, 1937, issue of Boxing magazine, the print reads: Leicester lad who conquered Champion Jimmy Walsh and has backing for title match.
Wicked image of Len Wickwar (on the right).
Teddy "Red Top" Davis, tough lightweight/featherweight journeyman, fought the best from the late 1940's into the early 1960s. Holds wins over Paddy DeMarco, Percy Bassett, Charley Riley, Tommy Collins, Armand Savoie, and George Araujo. In one of his best performances, he gave the great Willie Pep all he could handle in 1948, he lost 46 to 49 on the lone scorecard. Davis could be a handful for anyone on any given night.
A photo of the dangerous heavyweight knockout artist David Tua looking on at a splayed out former light heavyweight & heavyweight world champion Michael Moorer after doing away with him inside the first round back in 2002.
The David Tua knockout of Michael Moorer. I think the first right hook that landed flush is what ultimately did Moorer in.
Love this image of Jack Dempsey, "The Manassa Mauler", his face has an eerily intimidating look to it.
Wesley "Wes" Ramey, 1930s lightweight dubbed the "Uncrowned Champion of the Lightweights". Although he was ranked as a top-10 lightweight contender for 10 consecutive years, he was never given a chance to fight for a world title. Holds wins over Tony Canzoneri, Benny Bass, Cocoa Kid, and Lew Jenkins.
Born Andrew Wesley Ramey on De 17th, 1909, in Everett, Michigan.
One of the star lightweights of the 1930s, Ramey turned pro in 1929 following a brief amateur career. Fighting primarily in his hometown of Grand Rapids, Ramey was a busy fighter, fighting 21 times in 1930 alone. In 1932 hr defeated former featherweight and junior lightweight champion Benny Bass (W 10). 1933 saw Ramey score wins over future junior welterweight king Batting Shaw (W 10), former junior welterweight champion Johnny Jadick (W 10) and one of the biggest victories of his career, a 10-round win over lightweight champion Tony Canzoneri in a non-title affair. Ramey continued to rack up wins over top-notch competition, including Cocoa Kid (W 10), but a title bout eluded him. The Michigan stylist became known to boxing aficionados as the "Uncrowned Lightweight Champion." In 1934 and 1935 he traveled the globe plying his trade, registering wins in Australia, South Africa and England. Upon returning to the states, he continued his winning ways over the likes of Jadick (W 10), Lew Jenkins (W 10, W 10) and Leo Rodak (W 12, W 10). Unable to land a coveted title bout, the clever boxing Ramey, who combined speed and finesse to beat his opposition, retired in 1941 with a record of 158-26-11 (9 KO). In retirement he trained amateur and professional fighters in Grand Rapids.
Although lacking in knockout power (he had only 9 knockouts in 158 wins), Ramey possessed excellent lateral movement skills; which allowed him to dart in and out of range. This, coupled with his excellent conditioning gave him a critical edge outpointing his opposition.
Reporter Bill Farnsworth, Jr. wrote, "Wes Ramey … came to Fort Hamilton last night and haunted Joey Costa, the New Jersey lad. Ramey was the ghost. He was so elusive for eight of the rounds that Joey couldn’t have struck him with a handful of buckshot." After retiring from the sport, Ramey ran two successful bars while concurrently training amateur and professional fighters. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2013.
Great in-depth look at Wesley Ramey.
Wesley Ramey was an American professional boxer renowned as a lightweight contender during the 1930s, often called the "Uncrowned Champion" for defeating six world champions without ever securing a title shot of his own. Born in Everett, Michigan, he turned professional in 1929 after a brief amateur career and primarily fought out of Grand Rapids, amassing a record of 158 wins (9 by KO), 26 losses, 11 draws over 195 bouts before retiring in 1941. Ramey's career highlights included a string of victories against elite opponents, such as a 10-round decision over lightweight champion Tony Canzoneri in 1933, as well as wins against former champions Benny Bass, Johnny Jadick, and Battling Shaw. He was celebrated for his technical prowess, including exceptional speed, finesse, lateral movement, and conditioning, which allowed him to outmaneuver taller and heavier fighters in a highly competitive era. Despite ranking in the top 10 lightweights for a decade and competing internationally in Australia, South Africa, and England, Ramey was denied title opportunities, partly due to opponents often exceeding weight limits. In retirement, Ramey became a respected trainer in Grand Rapids, mentoring amateur and professional fighters with an emphasis on character, education, and long-term well-being over immediate success, notably training Johnny Butler to become Grand Rapids' first Golden Gloves National Champion in 1953 and helping keep local youth engaged through boxing. He also owned a local business and was remembered as a kind family man and community figure. Ramey's contributions to the sport were posthumously honored with induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2013, recognizing his skill and enduring legacy as both a fighter and coach.
Early life and background
Birth and family
Wesley Andrew Ramey was born on September 17, 1909, in Everett Township, Kent County, Michigan, a rural area in the western part of the state. He was the son of Andrew Ramey, born around 1867, and Bertha Elmira Smith, born around 1889, who were part of a large family; Ramey had eleven siblings, making twelve children in total. Limited records detail the family's circumstances, but they resided in a working-class community amid the agricultural economy of early 20th-century rural Michigan, where opportunities were shaped by farming and local labor.
Ramey's early years unfolded in this modest Midwestern setting, during a period of economic transition in the years preceding the Great Depression, fostering the resilience that would later define his path.
Introduction to boxing
Growing up in this setting, Ramey encountered boxing through local community activities in nearby Grand Rapids, where the sport was gaining popularity among working-class youth in the 1920s as a means to build discipline and potentially escape poverty. His initial involvement came around age 15 to 18, reflecting the era's trend of young men from modest backgrounds turning to boxing gyms for training and camaraderie before entering amateur competitions. Ramey's motivations were rooted in the economic hardships of rural Michigan during the 1920s, with boxing offering a structured path for physical development and social mobility amid the Great Depression's precursors. He began his training informally with local trainers in Grand Rapids-area facilities, honing skills that led to a brief but formative amateur career prior to his professional debut in 1929. This early exposure bridged his rural upbringing to the competitive world of boxing, setting the stage for his rise as a lightweight contender.
Amateur career
Early amateur fights
Wesley Ramey began his amateur boxing career in local circuits in Michigan around 1927, at the age of 18, shortly after being introduced to the sport in his hometown of Grand Rapids. His early bouts took place primarily in regional tournaments within the state, where he competed in the lightweight division, honing his skills against fellow Midwestern fighters. These initial experiences emphasized a steep learning curve, as Ramey adapted to the demands of organized competition while building his defensive footwork and counterpunching style. A notable formative fight occurred during the 1929 National AAU Championships held at the Boston Arena from April 8 to 10. Representing Grand Rapids in the 126-pound (featherweight) class, Ramey advanced to the semi-finals after defeating John Dube by points in the preliminaries and Emil Miller by points in the quarterfinals on April 9. He was then defeated by Robert Merritt of Buffalo over three rounds in the semi-finals, falling short of the final where Merritt lost to the eventual champion. This national exposure marked a key step in his development, showcasing his potential despite the loss. Ramey's overall amateur tenure was brief but active, comprising 49 fights before turning professional in August 1929. While specific win-loss details from his early period remain sparse, these bouts in Michigan's local scene laid the groundwork for his transition to the professional ranks, with his compact frame—standing at 5 feet 4 inches with a 67-inch reach—proving advantageous in close-range exchanges.
Key amateur achievements
Wesley Ramey's most notable amateur success came in the 1929 United States National Amateur Boxing Championships, organized by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and held in Boston from April 8 to 10. Competing in the 126-pound featherweight division, Ramey advanced through the preliminaries by defeating John Dube on points and the quarterfinals by outpointing Emil Miller of San Francisco. In the semifinals, Ramey faced Robert Merritt of Buffalo, New York, and lost a three-round decision, preventing him from reaching the final where Merritt would fall to champion Martin Zuniga. This performance marked Ramey as one of the top amateur lightweights in the country, showcasing his technical skill and elusiveness in a field of regional qualifiers. Over his amateur career, which spanned approximately 49 fights primarily in Michigan, Ramey built a strong record that highlighted his potential as a professional prospect. The visibility from his national semifinal appearance, combined with local successes in Michigan tournaments during the late 1920s, drew attention from promoters and directly influenced his decision to turn professional. Ramey made his pro debut on August 14, 1929, defeating Young McFarland by decision in a six-round bout in Grand Rapids.
Professional career
Debut and early bouts
Wesley Ramey transitioned from a brief amateur career to professional boxing in 1929, leveraging his foundational experience to launch a promising start in the lightweight division. His debut occurred on August 14, 1929, when he earned a six-round newspaper decision win over Packy McFarland at Island Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan, marking his entry into the paid ranks with a display of technical skill. In the ensuing years from 1929 to 1931, Ramey rapidly built his professional record through a series of bouts primarily held in Midwest venues, focusing on decision victories that showcased his endurance and ring craft. He fought frequently, including 21 contests in 1930 alone, often against regional opponents in six- to eight-round affairs, accumulating an early string of wins that solidified his reputation as a reliable performer. These initial fights, mostly decided by judges' points rather than knockouts, helped him compile a strong foundation, with losses kept minimal during this period.
Based in his hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Ramey trained under local auspices and was promoted by regional organizers who capitalized on his growing appeal. This setup allowed him to establish a dedicated local fanbase, drawing crowds to venues like the local armory and parks where his fights became regular attractions for the community's boxing enthusiasts. His early success in these familiar surroundings fostered loyalty among Grand Rapids supporters, setting the stage for broader recognition.
Rise to contender status
In the early 1930s, Wesley Ramey began his ascent in the lightweight division, leveraging a series of impressive victories to establish himself as a formidable contender. By 1932, he had entered the top-10 rankings among lightweight fighters, a position he maintained for the next decade despite never securing a world title opportunity. His elusive, defensive style—characterized by quick footwork and counterpunching—played a key role in frustrating opponents and building his reputation during this period. A pivotal win came on March 9, 1932, when Ramey defeated former featherweight champion Benny Bass by unanimous decision over 10 rounds in St. Louis, Missouri, showcasing his ability to outmaneuver technically skilled fighters. This victory over an established champion elevated Ramey's profile, signaling his transition from regional bouts to national contention. Additional mid-level successes in 1932 and 1933, including decisions against Battling Shaw and Johnny Jadick, further solidified his standing among the division's elite.
Ramey's growing recognition prompted expanded travel beyond his Michigan base, with fights on national circuits that increased his exposure. The 1932 Bass bout marked his first major outing outside the state, followed by appearances in Illinois, New York, and Louisiana by mid-decade, drawing larger crowds and media attention. In 1934 and 1935, he competed internationally, securing wins in Australia, South Africa, and England, which tested his adaptability against diverse opposition and enhanced his global profile. These opportunities not only tested his adaptability but also highlighted his consistency, as he compiled a strong win record against varied opposition across diverse venues.
Major victories and rivalries
Wesley Ramey's most notable victories came against several International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees, establishing him as one of the premier lightweights of the 1930s despite never securing a world title shot. In April 1933, he earned a unanimous 10-round decision over reigning lightweight champion Tony Canzoneri in Grand Rapids, Michigan, outboxing the future Hall of Famer with superior speed and ring generalship in a non-title bout. Later that year, in August 1933, Ramey defeated Hall of Famer Cocoa Kid (Herbert Lewis Hardwick) via 10-round decision, showcasing his technical prowess against another elite contender known for his aggressive style. These upsets highlighted Ramey's ability to compete at the highest level, as both opponents were established champions with extensive records of success.
Ramey's triumphs extended into 1938 with back-to-back decisions over another Hall of Famer, Lew Jenkins, in Dallas, Texas. In April, he won a 10-round bout where Jenkins was knocked down 11 times, demonstrating Ramey's relentless pressure and durability. Their December rematch, also a 10-round decision, awarded Ramey the Texas Lightweight title, further cementing his regional dominance while avenging any prior perceptions of Jenkins as unbeatable. His career was marked by intense rivalries that tested his endurance and consistency. Ramey faced former junior welterweight champion Johnny Jadick multiple times, securing 10-round decisions in 1933 and again in January 1937 in Syracuse, New York, outpointing the veteran in grueling affairs that underscored his stamina against a durable opponent. Similarly, he engaged in a brief but competitive series with Steve Halaiko, winning 10-round decisions in May 1935 in New Orleans and October 1935 at Madison Square Garden, where his footwork and combination punching prevailed in high-stakes lightweight clashes. These victories and rivalries propelled Ramey into consistent top-10 lightweight rankings throughout the decade, earning him the enduring nickname "Uncrowned Champion" for repeatedly besting elite competition—including multiple Hall of Famers—without a world title opportunity. His success against such foes, who collectively held world titles across divisions, affirmed his status as a gatekeeper of the era, influencing matchmaking and elevating the lightweight division's competitive depth.
Title pursuits and setbacks
State title wins
In 1931, Wesley Ramey captured the Michigan State Lightweight Title by defeating Lou Saunders via technical knockout in the eighth round of a scheduled ten-round bout held in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on July 14. Earlier that year, he had notable wins over Herman Perlick on March 26 in Kalamazoo, Maxie Strub on April 15 in Grand Rapids, Sammy Dorfman on May 15 in Grand Rapids, and Johnny Jadick on May 25 in Chicago, though these were not title fights. These victories solidified Ramey's reputation as a dominant force in regional boxing, enhancing his standing among national contenders. The duration of his Michigan title reign is unclear, with no recorded defenses or loss detailed after the Saunders bout. Later in his career, Ramey won the Texas State Lightweight Title on December 16, 1938, securing a ten-round points decision against the defending champion Lew Jenkins at the Sportatorium in Dallas, Texas. This victory, coming against a highly regarded opponent, elevated Ramey's profile and positioned him for greater national recognition in the lightweight division. No successful defenses of the Texas title are recorded in his subsequent fights.
World title opportunities
Ramey's most prominent world title opportunity came on July 5, 1939, when he challenged Maxie Berger for the vacant world junior welterweight championship, as recognized by the Montreal Athletic Commission, at the Montreal Forum in Canada. The bout, contested over 10 rounds, ended in a unanimous decision loss for Ramey, who was knocked down multiple times but rose quickly each time. This fight marked his only sanctioned world title bid, though it was limited to regional recognition rather than universal sanctioning bodies like the NYSAC or NBA. Throughout the 1930s, Ramey was consistently ranked among the top 10 lightweights by major outlets such as The Ring magazine, earning him the moniker "Uncrowned Champion of the Lightweights" due to his skill and victories over future champions like Tony Canzoneri, Benny Bass, and Lew Jenkins. Despite this standing and a record that included defeating six world titleholders at various points in their careers, he was repeatedly denied shots at the recognized lightweight crown, often attributed to his lack of knockout power—which saw only 11 stoppages in over 140 wins—making him less marketable to promoters in an era prioritizing drawing power over technical prowess. Political dynamics in the divided lightweight division, including favoritism toward established contenders like Lou Ambers and Henry Armstrong, further sidelined his challenges despite high rankings sustained for nearly a decade. His state-level successes, such as the Michigan lightweight title in 1931 and the Texas version in 1938, served as crucial stepping stones that elevated his profile but ultimately fell short of propelling him to undisputed world contention. Ramey's professional career, spanning 1929 to 1941 with 182 documented bouts across North America, South Africa, and England, highlighted his international exposure, including tours there in 1934–1935 and the pivotal Montreal matchup.
Notable defeats
Throughout his professional career Wesley Ramey suffered 28 losses, four of which were by knockout, underscoring occasional lapses in his otherwise solid defensive technique. These defeats, while setbacks, often prompted tactical refinements that contributed to his longevity in the ring. One of the most decisive early knockouts came against Pedro Montañez on July 27, 1937, at Gilmore Stadium in Los Angeles, where Ramey was stopped in the first round after 2 minutes and 40 seconds by a clean punch to the head. This rapid defeat exposed Ramey's vulnerability to aggressive pressure fighters and led him to emphasize quicker footwork in subsequent bouts to avoid similar early traps. Another significant knockout occurred against Joe Boscarino on January 3, 1939, at Convention Hall in Rochester, New York, where Ramey was stopped in the fifth round following multiple knockdowns in a grueling encounter. Despite the loss, Ramey avenged it later that year with a points victory over Boscarino, demonstrating his ability to adapt by improving his recovery from being hurt and tightening his guard against body shots. Ramey also faced tough decision losses to top contenders like Sammy Angott, whom he lost to twice in 1938—first on May 6 in Louisville, Kentucky, and again on September 16 in Dallas, Texas—highlighting challenges against slick boxers who neutralized his lateral movement. These setbacks, totaling the bulk of his non-KO defeats, influenced Ramey to incorporate more feints and angle adjustments in training, enhancing his outboxing style and enabling him to reverse several losses in rematches over his career. His relative lack of knockout power occasionally factored into these prolonged fights, where endurance became key.
Fighting style and attributes
Technical approach
Wesley Ramey's technical approach in the ring was defined by his elusiveness, relying on superior lateral movement and quick darts in and out of punching range to evade opponents' attacks. Boxing matchmaker and historian Bruce Kielty described this aspect of Ramey's style as masterful, noting that he "knew how to get in and out" with "great lateral movement," allowing him to control distance effectively against top competition. This defensive prowess was a hallmark of his "Michigan stylist" reputation, emphasizing finesse over aggression. Offensively, Ramey focused on accumulating points through precise jabs and combinations rather than pursuing power shots or knockouts, aligning with his clever boxing philosophy of outmaneuvering foes with speed and accuracy. His low knockout ratio—only 9 in 158 professional victories—underscored this decision-oriented tactic, where he prioritized technical superiority to wear down and outpoint adversaries like world champions Tony Canzoneri and Lew Jenkins.
Ramey's style evolved significantly from his brief amateur career into professionalism starting in 1929, incorporating refined footwork gained from international tours in 1934 and 1935 across Australia, South Africa, and England. These experiences abroad honed his ring mobility, blending global influences into a more adaptive and elusive approach that sustained his status as a top-10 lightweight contender for a decade.
Physical conditioning and limitations
Wesley Ramey, competing primarily in the lightweight division, stood at 5 feet 4 inches (163 cm) tall with a reach of 67 inches (170 cm), measurements that provided him an advantage in close-quarters exchanges against similarly sized opponents but exposed him to challenges from taller fighters who could leverage greater distance and leverage.
His physical conditioning was marked by exceptional endurance, enabling him to maintain a high pace across extended bouts and recover quickly from adversity, as evidenced by his ability to rebound from multiple knockdowns without apparent lasting damage in several fights. This stamina supported a demanding schedule, including 21 professional bouts in 1930 alone, contributing to a career total of 195 fights from 1929 to 1941.
A key limitation in Ramey's arsenal was his modest knockout power, with only 9 knockouts among his 158 professional wins, a rate of approximately 5.7%, which left him vulnerable to aggressive punchers who could press the action without fear of early stoppages. This reliance on accumulation of points rather than decisive power shots was partially offset by his elusive footwork and ring generalship.
Retirement and later life
Career end
Ramey's professional boxing career concluded on June 20, 1941, with a 10-round points decision victory over Maurice Arnault at the Civic Auditorium in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This bout marked the end of a 12-year run that began with his debut on August 14, 1929, encompassing 195 official professional bouts.
At age 31, Ramey retired amid the cumulative physical toll from over 195 fights, including numerous high-stakes encounters that left lasting wear on his body. The onset of the United States' involvement in World War II further shifted personal and societal priorities, contributing to his decision to step away from the ring permanently. Despite never capturing a world title, his exit solidified his reputation as an uncrowned champion of the lightweights.
Business ventures and training
After retiring from professional boxing in 1941, Wesley Ramey established himself as a prominent local businessman in Grand Rapids, Michigan, by operating two successful sports bars in the Heartside neighborhood. Known as Wes Ramey's Bar and Wes Ramey's Lounge, these establishments were located just south of the Cody Hotel on South Division Avenue and served as popular watering holes for over 27 years, contributing to the area's vibrant entertainment scene during the mid-20th century. In addition to his bar ownership, Ramey owned and operated Wes Ramey's Gym, where he coached both amateur and professional fighters, sharing his extensive boxing knowledge with the next generation. Alongside his son, Wesley Ramey Jr.—himself an accomplished boxer—Ramey trained local talent, fostering a community hub for sports development in Grand Rapids. Ramey's business acumen and ongoing involvement in boxing earned him lasting respect in the community, where he remained active in local sports until his later years. Following the closure of his bars, he briefly worked with the Godwin Heights School System, likely in a coaching capacity, before fully retiring. Ramey passed away on March 10, 1997, at the age of 87.
Legacy and honors
Hall of Fame induction
Wesley Ramey was posthumously inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) in 2013 as part of the old-timer category, recognizing his significant contributions to lightweight boxing during the 1930s. The induction honored his record of 158 wins, 26 losses, and 11 draws over 195 bouts, as well as his reputation as the "Uncrowned Lightweight Champion" for defeating notable opponents like Hall of Famer Tony Canzoneri without securing a world title shot. The induction ceremony took place on June 9, 2013, in Canastota, New York, during the IBHOF's annual weekend festivities. Ramey's son, Wes Ramey Jr., accepted the honor on behalf of his late father, who had passed away on March 10, 1997, at age 87. In his acceptance remarks, Ramey Jr. highlighted his father's unfulfilled pursuit of a title opportunity, stating, "Wesley Ramey never got a title shot he so richly deserved."
No other formal hall of fame inductions for Ramey in Michigan or regional boxing organizations have been widely documented in credible sources.
Historical significance
Wesley Ramey is regarded as one of the most prominent figures in 1930s lightweight boxing, earning the moniker "Uncrowned Lightweight Champion" for his sustained excellence without ever securing a world title opportunity. Despite being ranked among the top 10 lightweights for 10 consecutive years from the early 1930s onward, Ramey was denied a shot at the championship, a circumstance attributed to the era's political machinations within the sport, including promoter preferences and contractual disputes that favored other contenders. Ramey's influence on the lightweight division was profound, as his victories over multiple world champions in non-title bouts—such as Tony Canzoneri, Benny Bass, and Johnny Jadick—raised the competitive standard and showcased the depth of talent during a golden age for the weight class. With an official career record of 158 wins, 26 losses, and 11 draws across 195 bouts from 1929 to 1941, Ramey's consistent success against elite opposition underscored the division's intensity and helped bridge the gap between American and international fighters through his global tours in 1934 and 1935.
In modern assessments, Ramey is appreciated for embodying technical mastery and strategic finesse in an era dominated by power-punching sluggers, prioritizing speed, footwork, and ring intelligence over raw knockout ability. His 2013 induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame serves as validation of this enduring legacy, highlighting his role in elevating boxing's emphasis on skill during the pre-World War II period.
Professional boxing record
Official record
Wesley Ramey's official professional boxing record, as listed on BoxRec, totals 182 fights. Of these, he recorded 142 wins (11 by knockout/TKO and 131 by decision), 28 losses (4 by knockout/TKO and 24 by decision), and 12 draws, with no no-decisions or disqualifications noted. This verified tally, based on sanctioned bouts recognized by standard boxing authorities, underscores his endurance in the lightweight division. Note that historical records for pre-1940s boxers can vary; the International Boxing Hall of Fame reports a record of 158 wins (9 by KO), 26 losses, and 11 draws over 195 bouts.
In the pre-modern era of professional boxing, prior to the widespread standardization of ringside judging in the late 1930s and 1940s, many bouts—particularly non-title fights in certain jurisdictions—were classified as "no decision" affairs to circumvent legal restrictions on official verdicts. In such contests, outcomes were often determined retrospectively by consensus among ringside newspaper reporters, resulting in so-called newspaper decisions that provided informal assessments of winners based on round-by-round scoring. These decisions, while not officially recognized by sanctioning bodies, offer valuable insight into fighters' performances during a transitional period in the sport's regulation.
Some photos of Wesley Ramey.
Wesley Ramey on the cover of The Ring magazine in 1935.
Awesome sketch of Wesley Ramey.
A postcard for Wesley Ramey's bar in Grand Rapids, Michigan, signed by Ramey himself on the back.
Wesley Ramey in his prime.
Wesley Ramey, great fighter, great person. Wish there was film of him.
Grand Rapids fight legend Wes Ramey to get his due in International Boxing Hall of Fame
Published: Dec. 17, 2012, 10:31 a.m.
By: Cory Olsen
GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Grand Rapids boxing great Wes Ramey will finally be recognized at the highest level for everything he accomplished in his fight career: the International Boxing Hall of Fame has come calling.
It was announced Monday, Dec. 10, that Ramey, who died in 1997 at age 87 of heart failure, will be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in June, the highest post-career honor a boxer can be bestowed and many would say, a long time coming.
Ramey started his professional boxing career in 1929 by defeating Young McFarland in a six-round bout and ended his professional career on June 20, 1941, in Grand Rapids with a win against Marice Arnault. In those 12 years, Ramey's accomplishments are second to none in Grand Rapids history.
He was ranked as one of the top 10 lightweight fighters for 10 consecutive years, beating six world champions along the way. Unfortunately Ramey was never able to claim one of those belts for himself due to opponents coming in over-weight for their respective titles.
He was a father and a husband, a fighter and a trainer and even a local business owner. The IBHOF will add Hall of Famer to that list during an induction ceremony the weekend of June 6-9, 2013, in Canastota, N.Y.
Johnny Butler, Grand Rapids' first Golden Gloves National Champion said Ramey's inclusion in the hall of fame has been overdue.
"We had a lot of interaction over the years and much of it centered around being a good person, and that's something I really enjoyed about him," Butler said. "Even to this day, whatever I made in boxing I have to give him credit for that. There were trainers around that couldn't care less about you, but he was in it for the people."
That sentiment is echoed by Ramey's son, Wes Ramey Jr., who followed his father into both boxing and training and owns Top Level Gym in Indianapolis, Ind.
"He got the kids to like boxing by treating them all fair," Ramey Jr. said. "He harped on education and staying in school. It didn't always work but that's what he wanted. If you wanted to box with us, you had to stay in school."
Ramey Jr. said his father was able to keep some kids off the streets by putting them in the ring, letting them work out their energy on positive activities while working on who they were as human beings.
"He treated them all with respect, he did that well," Ramey Jr. said.
Bruce Kielty, a West Michigan boxing matchmaker and historian said Ramey's fight career takes precedence over his time training, but both were noteworthy.
"He certainly was one of the few great boxers who was able to teach," Kielty said. "Wes Ramey was different. He did not try to convert people to his style, which is a big weakness of being a great boxer turned trainer, you try to make everyone like yourself. Everyone will tell you that Wes was a master technician and boxer yet one of his most well-known boxers, Johnny Butler, was known as a very aggressive puncher."
Butler was Ramey's greatest accomplishment as a trainer. And, as Golden Glove National Champ in 1953, Butler also was the trainer's star pupil.
"He was my dad's favorite, yes, he was," Ramey Jr. said. "He was my dad's favorite fighter of all the ones he's trained. He was so proud of him with his accomplishments in the ring, in school and in life."
Butler recalls the friend he had in Ramey as difficult choices arose his senior year in high school.
"After winning the national championship, I started to get all these letters from colleges that had boxing programs, wanting me to come there, and on the other side everyone wanted me to turn pro," Butler said. "That was going to be my plan with Wes, but my mom wanted me to go to school."
"So I talked to Wes about it, and that's one of the things I liked so much about him. He was more concerned about what happens after boxing, the long-term. Boxing was not a sure thing and back in those days, it wasn't paying a lot of money. He said to me, 'If your mom wants you to go to school, you go to school.' That meant a lot to me because here I was, the first national champion from Grand Rapids and I could have been promoted and done pretty well, but he was more concerned about me as an individual and my future than making some bucks off of me and my career."
Kielty said even though Ramey was never considered a knockout artist, it was his ring style that made him such a successful fighter.
"He knew how to get in and out, he had great legs and conditioning," Kielty said. "Ramey could get out of range and had great lateral movement."
"He was such a spectacular boxer and was in the top 10 in the world. In the era he boxed in, there were quality guys in every city in the U.S. If you look at his record it's just phenomenal. He was fighting quality people almost immediately. It was a different era, much more difficult to succeed and he succeeded."
Ramey Jr. said the number of fights his father had is sometimes debated, but he's cleared the numbers up after going through his father's diary for the fight totals.
"My dad had 259 fights," Ramey Jr. said. "He fought 49 times in the amateurs and had 210 professional fights, losing 22 of those. Of those losses, he reversed 11 of them on rematch."
Ramey's most memorable matchup came in front of his hometown of Grand Rapids on April 29, 1933. Paired up with fellow top lightweight Tony Canzoneri, Ramey dominated him in a 10-round victory using his speed and precision.
"After that fight was over my father had a big black and white photo of he and Canzoneri together before the fight," Ramey Jr. said. "But my father realized that he didn't have (Canzoneri's) autograph on it, so my father went to the elevator in the hotel where he was staying and went up."
"As the doors opened, Canzoneri was standing there, waiting to get on the elevator, and my father said, 'Well, hi there, Tony, haven't I seen you somewhere else tonight?' And Tony took his dark sunglasses off and he was all bruised and he said, 'Yes you have, Wes, and this is the first time I've seen you all night!'"
For Butler, Ramey will always be more than a boxer and trainer, but without those, the two may have never met.
"Wes was famous for saying, 'Keep your hands up, your chin down and your butt off the floor,'" Butler said, laughing. "It was good advice, It worked for me."
Butler knew one thing about Ramey after spending thousands of hours in the gym with him: The man knew what he was talking about.
"We always had a great relationship, there were never any disagreements over anything," Butler said. "I always thought of it this way: He knew and I was learning, so I was listening."
"Wes Ramey was there for me."
“When he was in training camp, he was as clean as can be. I never saw him give in to any temptations, though I know he had his demons and they got the best of him. But he was a great fighter, without a doubt. When I had a chance to work with Johnny, I jumped at it because I knew he was a hard worker, and I love hard workers.
He loved to win. The word ‘loss’ wasn’t in his vocabulary. Sometimes his personal life got more attention than what he did in boxing, which is unfair; I had him for seven or eight fights, and I know how dedicated he was to boxing.
He was great, I had a lot of fun with him. My favorite Johnny Tapia story was when I was talking to him between rounds of a fight. I can’t recall the opponent, but Johnny was getting away from the game plan.
He wasn’t listening to me, so I slapped him in the face to get his attention. Then he listened to me, and won the fight. When it was over, I went to shake his hand. He wouldn’t do it. I said, ‘What’s wrong? You won’t shake my hand?’ Then he slapped me. He said, ‘Now we’re even.’ He was a real character.”