Lazar, Lew

Lew Lazarus

An outstanding English welterweight and middleweight in the 1950s, Lazar fought for British titles in both divisions, but never won a major championship.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. February 3, 1931

Career Highlights:
Lazar began his professional career as a welterweight in 1951 and went undefeated in 12 bouts that year; he won 11 bouts, eight by knockout. The following year, Lazar won all 12 of his fights (four knockouts), and then ran his unbeaten streak to 26 bouts by winning his first two matches in 1953. On April 20 though, he suffered the first loss of his career in an eight-round decision to Terry Ratcliffe. One month later, Lew got revenge in their rematch, winning on a third-round technical knockout.

In October 1953, Lazar defeated Ratcliffe again (10th-round TKO) in an elimination match for the British welterweight title. Although he did not fight for the championship that year, Lazar was the top ranked contender and got a shot at the title in 1954. On October 19, Lazar entered the ring against Wally Thom, who held both the European and British welterweight crowns. Lazar had a career record of 32-1-1, but had never held a title and was an underdog against the more experienced champion. With both titles on the line, Lazar was knocked out in the sixth-round and Thom retained his belts.

Lazar rebounded nicely from his defeat and moved up to the middleweight division. He won six of his next eight fights before facing Terence Murphy on September 22, 1955 in Shoreditch, England for the Southern Area middleweight title. The bout, which Lazar won in a 12-round decision, was the first boxing match ever held on the English television station, ITV (it was ITV's first day of programming). In November, Lazar then defeated Les Allen in 10-rounds in an elimination bout for the British middleweight title.

Lazar followed his victory over Allen by beating Billy Ellaway in April 1956 in the final eliminator bout to become the No. 1 contender. Pat McAteer, who captured both the British and British Empire titles in 1955, made his first title defense in October 1956 against Lazar. With both titles on the line, Lew and McAteer met in Nottingham, but Lazar again fell short of the title as he was knocked out in the fourth-round. It proved to be his final chance at any title.

In September 1957, Lazar fought future world middleweight champion Terry Downes, and lost an eight-round decision. Lazar fought twice more after the defeat and beat Dennis Booty in eight-rounds in November 1957. Two months later, he fought for the final time in his career against top contender for the British crown, and Welsh champion, Phil Edwards. Lazar lost on a fifth-round technical knockout and retired after the bout. He won 48 of 60 career decisions, and although he never won a title, Lazar was the No. 1 British contender in two weight classes and a fine boxer in his day.

Origin:
London, England

Career Statistics:
Professional record:
Wins: 42 (18 by knockout)
Losses: 8
Draws: 4

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