Boxing at the 1908 Summer Olympics – Lightweight

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Men's lightweight boxing
at the Games of the IV Olympiad
DateOctober 27, 1908
Competitors12 from 3 nations
Medalists
Gold medal icon.svg Frederick Grace Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
Silver medal icon.svg Frederick Spiller Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
Bronze medal icon.svg Harry Johnson Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
  1904
1920  

The lightweight was one of five boxing weight classes contested on the 1908 Summer Olympics programme. Like all other boxing events, it was open only to men. The boxing competitions were held on October 27. The lightweight was the middle class, allowing boxers of up to 140 pounds (63.5 kg). Twelve boxers from three nations competed. [1] Each NOC could enter up to 12 boxers. [2] Australasia entered 1 boxer, who withdrew; France entered 3 boxers, 2 of whom withdrew; Denmark entered 2 boxers; and Great Britain entered 9 boxers.

Competition format

There were three rounds in each bout, with the first two rounds being three minutes long and the last one going four minutes. Two judges scored the match, giving 5 points to the better boxer in each of the first two rounds and 7 to the better boxer in the third round. Marks were given to the other boxer in proportion to how well he did compared to the better. If the judges were not agreed on a winner at the end of the bout, the referee could either choose the winner or order a fourth round. [3]

Results

Bracket

Round of 16
October 27
Quarterfinals
October 27
Semifinals
October 27
Final
October 27
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Harry Johnson  (GBR)2
Flag of Denmark.svg  Hemming Hansen  (DEN)0 Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Johnson  (GBR)2
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Harry Holmes  (GBR)KO2 Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Holmes  (GBR)1
Flag of France.svg  André Bouvier  (FRA)L Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Johnson  (GBR)0
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  George Jessup  (GBR)KO1 Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Spiller  (GBR)2
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Frederick Osborne  (GBR)L Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Jessup  (GBR)L
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Patrick Fee  (GBR)0 Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Spiller  (GBR)KO2
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Frederick Spiller  (GBR)2 Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Spiller  (GBR)0
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Matt Wells  (GBR)2 (4th) Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Grace  (GBR)2
Flag of Denmark.svg  Waldemar Holberg  (DEN)1 Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Wells  (GBR)0
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Frederick Grace  (GBR)2 Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Grace  (GBR)2
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Ernie Fearman  (GBR)0 Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Grace  (GBR)-
Bye-

Did not start: G. Blake of Australasia; R. Eustache and E. Manzone of France

Round of 16

Wells and Holberg split the judges over the course of the first three rounds. The referee declared a fourth round, which Wells won in a contest which involved more grappling than punching. Bouvier was knocked down several times by Holmes before the referee stopped the contest. Jessup dominated his match, with Osborne not lasting past the first round. Grace, Spiller, and Johnson each won by decisions varying in closeness.

Quarterfinals

Spiller had the easiest time of it in the round, nearly eliminating Jessup in the first. The second round saw Jessup counted out. Grace and Wells fought a defensive bout, without either receiving much punishment. Johnson won a tight bout with Holmes by referee's decision.

Semifinals

Grace took a bye in the semifinals and Spiller's easy win made the round an uneventful one.

Final

Each boxer went to the mat in the second, but Grace piled on more hits than did Spiller to win the bout.

Standings

RankBoxerNation
Gold medal icon.svg Frederick Grace Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
Silver medal icon.svg Frederick Spiller Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
Bronze medal icon.svg Harry Johnson Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
4 Harry Holmes Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
George Jessup Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
Matt Wells Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
7 André Bouvier Flag of France.svg  France
Edward Fearman Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
Patrick Fee Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
Hemming Hansen Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark
Waldemar Holberg Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark
Frederick Osborne Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain

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References

  1. "Boxing at the 1908 London Summer Games: Men's Lightweight". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  2. Official Report, p. 33.
  3. Official Report, pp. 418–19.

Sources