Boxing at the 1908 Summer Olympics – Lightweight

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.

Men's lightweight boxing
at the Games of the IV Olympiad
DateOctober 27
Competitors12 from 3 nations
Medalists
Frederick Grace  Great Britain
Frederick Spiller  Great Britain
Harry Johnson  Great Britain
Boxing at the
1908 Summer Olympics
Bantamweight
Featherweight
Lightweight
Middleweight
Heavyweight

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
 Harry Johnson (GBR) 2  
 Hemming Hansen (DEN) 0      Johnson (GBR) 2  
 Harold Holmes (GBR) KO2      Holmes (GBR) 1  
 André Bouvier (FRA) L        Johnson (GBR) 0  
 George Jessup (GBR) KO1        Spiller (GBR) 2  
 Frank Osborne (GBR) L      Jessup (GBR) L  
 Patrick Fee (GBR) 0      Spiller (GBR) KO2  
 Frederick Spiller (GBR) 2        Spiller (GBR) 0
 Matt Wells (GBR) 2 (4th)        Grace (GBR) 2
 Waldemar Holberg (DEN) 1      Wells (GBR) 0  
 Frederick Grace (GBR) 2      Grace (GBR) 2  
 Edward Fearman (GBR) 0        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
Frederick Grace Great Britain
Frederick Spiller Great Britain
Harry Johnson Great Britain
4Harold Holmes Great Britain
George Jessup Great Britain
Matt Wells Great Britain
7André Bouvier France
Edward Fearman Great Britain
Patrick Fee Great Britain
Hemming Hansen Denmark
Waldemar Holberg Denmark
Frank Osborne Great Britain

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
  • Official Report of the Games of the IV Olympiad (1908).
  • De Wael, Herman. Herman's Full Olympians: "Boxing 1908". Accessed 8 April 2006. Available electronically at .
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