37 Facts About Johnny Basham

John Michael Basham was a Welsh boxer who became British and European champion at both welter and middleweight.

Johnny Basham was the first welterweight to win the Lonsdale Belt outright, successfully defended his British welterweight title on two occasions and took the Commonwealth Welterweight title in 1919.

Johnny Basham's career was defined not only by his successes, but through the death in the ring of opponent Harry Price, which saw Basham face manslaughter charges, and his failed contests with Ted "Kid" Lewis towards his career's end.

Johnny Basham was born in Newport in southern Wales in 1890.

The six round fight only lasted until the third when Johnny Basham took the match via a knockout.

Johnny Basham followed this win with a series of regular contests throughout 1910, mainly taking place in Newport or the surrounding areas of Wales.

Johnny Basham began 1911 with a draw with Young Walters in Pontnewydd on 6 February.

Johnny Basham only lost one of the fights, of which three were fought in Wrexham in north Wales, and two in Liverpool.

In 1912 Johnny Basham joined the Royal Welch Fusiliers and was stationed at Hightown Barracks in Wrexham.

Johnny Basham's move to north Wales resulted in most of Basham's fights now occurring either in Wrexham or across the border in Liverpool.

Johnny Basham lost the first encounter with Madole via technical knockout before winning the second by the same result and then taking the third fight on points.

Johnny Basham later drew against Tom McCormick at Liverpool Stadium before a win over Will Brooks at the American Skating Rink in Cardiff.

Johnny Basham was next scheduled to face South African fighter Harry Price in Liverpool on 21 August 1913.

The Grey River Argus recorded the fight being even up to the ninth, but in the tenth round Johnny Basham landed with a left hook that put Price down for a count of nine.

Johnny Basham gained public sympathy for his plight, and he was acquitted when the magistrate in charge of the investigation concluded that the fight had been conducted "fairly and sportingly".

Two months after the Price fight, Johnny Basham was back in the ring and finished 1913 with a string of four wins.

Johnny Basham began 1914 with a strong win, beating future welterweight champion Albert Badoud by points on New Year's Day.

Basham was awarded the Lonsdale Belt on 21 December 1914 at the National Sporting Club after winning it from Johnny Summers becoming the first outright winner of the welterweight version of the belt.

The National Library of Wales records Johnny Basham winning the Lonsdale Belt in 1916, while The Toronto World newspaper of May 1916 writes that Johnny Basham was the holder of the Lonsdale Belt when he faced Badoud in their European title encounter in October 1915.

Johnny Basham was posted as sergeant physical training officer in the British Expeditionary Force in France, making competitive fighting difficult.

At the London Opera House in March 1915, Johnny Basham won a 15-round fight "on points" against Matt Wells.

In May 1915, Johnny Basham fought against Summers in a non-title fight at Liverpool Stadium.

The twenty round fight lasted until the thirteenth when Johnny Basham stopped McMormick through a technical knockout.

Johnny Basham has fought Badoud twice previously, both ending in wins for the Welshman, but in the title encounter Badoud stopped Johnny Basham through a ninth-round knockout.

In 1916 Johnny Basham defended his British title for the second time, again at the National Sporting Club in Covent Garden, facing Scotsman Eddie Beattie.

Johnny Basham fought sporadically throughout the rest of the war years, mainly in Liverpool.

Johnny Basham won over Sid Burns in May 1917 in Holborn, London.

On 27 January 1919, with the war behind him, Johnny Basham was again invited to the National Sporting Club where he beat American fighter Eddie Shevlin, who was introduced as the US Navy's Welterweight Champion, after 15 rounds.

Johnny Basham won the fight on points, making him the British, Commonwealth and European Welterweight Champion.

Five months later, Johnny Basham was given an opportunity to challenge Lewis for the British and European titles he had lost in their first encounter.

Johnny Basham was allowed the first challenge for the two titles and faced Platts on 31 May 1921 at the Royal Albert Hall.

The twenty round fight went the full distance and Johnny Basham was awarded the contest on points, becoming the new British and European Middleweight champion.

Johnny Basham held the Middleweight titles for less than five months, losing both to his arch-rival "Kid" Lewis when the two met in October 1921.

Again Johnny Basham was unable to last the distance, being stopped by technical knockout in the twelfth.

Johnny Basham never challenged for a title again and he ended his career with a series of losses, being knocked out by World Champion Mike McTigue and a points loss to fellow Welshman Jerry Shea.

Johnny Basham came out of retirement in 1929 to face "Kid" Lewis, but for the fourth time he was stopped within the distance.

Johnny Basham reportedly suffered from "cauliflower ear", or thickening and enlargement of his left ear, in his retirement due to trauma from boxing.