Percival T. LEWIS

As a member of the Royal Air Force, Percy Lewis was twice runner-up for the English amateur featherweight title, in 1950 and 1951, before finally obtaining it in 1952 and earning himself a trip to the that year’s Olympics in Helsinki. Although originally from Trinidad and Tobago, he represented Great Britain at the Games, but was eliminated by Romania’s Gheorghe Ilie in the first round. He defended his English title the following year and then turned professional.

As a professional, Lewis first contested for the British Empire featherweight title in 1957, but was defeated by Nigeria’s Hogan "Kid" Bassey. He had more success later that year when he acquired the title on his second attempt, besting Charlie Hill of Scotland. Lewis defended his title in 1959 against Scotland’s John O’Brien, but then lost it in 1960 to Floyd Robertson of Ghana. He retired from boxing in 1963 with a professional record of 19-10-1. He later worked as a boxing coach in the Oxfordshire area.