Joe Lewis obit

 Actor and Kick Boxer Joe Lewis Has Died

He was not on the list.

Blond, muscular, tall, handsome, and the greatest heavyweight point-fighter and kick-boxer of the 1960s and 70s, Joe Lewis coined the phrase,"American Kickboxing". He fought in the first kick-boxing heavyweight title fight in 1970. Had one of the greatest point-fighting careers in history. Lewis is one of only 5 men to defeat the legendary Chuck Norris. Turned professional in 1970. Was undefeated in his first 12 fights, all by knockout. The first kick-boxing champion to appear on the cover of the RING Boxing Magazine. Retired after losing back-to-back decisions. Years later, launched a highly publicized ring comeback. Achieved a world ranking, but failed to recapture his lost crown. Considered one of the top 3 greatest kick-boxing champions in history; some say he was the best.

Originally a practitioner of Shōrin-ryū karate and champion in point sparring competitions, he became one of the fathers of full contact karate and kickboxing in the United States, and is credited with popularizing the combat sport in North America.

As a fighter, Lewis gained fame for his matches in the 1960s and 1970s, and was nicknamed "the Muhammad Ali of karate." He has twice been voted the greatest fighter in karate history, having won several karate tournaments, and has attained the titles of "United States Heavyweight Kickboxing Champion," "World Heavyweight Full Contact Karate Champion," and "United States National Black Belt Kata Champion." Though initially trained and primarily known as a karateka, Lewis cross-trained in several other martial arts, including Ryukyu Kenpo, boxing, judo, jeet kune do, tai chi, and folkstyle wrestling.

His friend and training partner Bruce Lee coined him "The Greatest Karate Fighter of All Time." He was also named by the STAR System World Kickboxing Ratings as the "STAR Historic Undisputed Heavyweight World Champion" and is credited on their site as the "Father of Modern Kickboxing". He competed professionally from 1965 to 1983, with a 16-1-4 record and 14 wins by knockout.

Joseph Henry Lewis was born on March 7, 1944, in Knightdale, North Carolina. He is of Welsh and Scottish ancestry. In 1962, Lewis enlisted in the US Marine Corps. He was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in Havelock, North Carolina from July 20, 1962, to April 12, 1964. He studied Shōrin-ryū Karate with Eizo Shimabukuro, John Korab, Chinsaku Kinjo, and Seiyu Oyata while stationed in Okinawa between May 21, 1964, and November 29, 1965, earning his black belt in seven months. He was one of the first Marines stationed in Vietnam; there, he met Rocky Graziano.

From February 7 to July 14, 1966, he was stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, during which he was released from active duty. Upon returning to the US, he began a winning tournament career. From 1967 to 1968, he studied privately with the influential Wing-Chun kung fu teacher, Jeet Kune Do founder, and Chinese/Hollywood movie legend Bruce Lee.

Hong Kong cinema historian Bey Logan says Lewis was the original pick of Bruce Lee for the villain Colt in Way of the Dragon, but that Lee and Lewis either had a falling out or Lewis had a scheduling conflict, and thus Chuck Norris was tapped instead.

In 1966, with only 22 months of training, Lewis won the grand championship of the first tournament he entered, the U.S. Nationals, promoted by Jhoon Rhee. Lewis defeated seven opponents before defeating Thomas Carroll by a 2–0 decision. Lewis reigned as the U.S. Nationals grand champion from 1966 to 1969. At the 1967 Nationals in Washington, Lewis won the championship by defeating Mitchell Bobrow in the semi-final and beating Frank Hargrove 3–2 in the finals. Previously, Lewis defeated Hargrove in New York City at 'Henry Cho's Karate Tournament'.

In 1966, at the Long Beach Internationals, Lewis lost an upset decision to Allen Steen. In 1967, Lewis defeated Chuck Norris's brother Wieland Norris, Steve LaBounty, and Frank Knoll, as well as Frank Hargrove for the third time.

At the 1968 'Orient vs. U.S. Tournament', promoted by Aaron Banks, Lewis lost to Japanese-American N. Tanaka. At the 'First Professional Karate Tournament' in Dallas, Texas, Lewis won the championship trophy by decisioning Larry Whitner, Phil Ola, and Skipper Mullins.

In February 1968, Lewis, along with Bob Wall, Skipper Mullins, J. Pat Burleson, David Moon, and Fred Wren, fought in the first World Professional Karate Championships (WPKC) promoted by Jim Harrison. This was the first "professional" tournament in karate history, and took place in Harrison's dojo in Kansas City. The rules allowed "heavy contact." Lewis won the tournament and was paid one dollar, officially making him the first professional champion in karate history. In August 1968, Lewis was defeated by Victor Moore at the World's Hemisphere Karate Championships, the second professional karate tournament in history, which took place in San Antonio, Texas and was promoted by Robert Trias and Atlee Chittim. Moore and Lewis split the championship purse of $1,000. The same year, Lewis defeated Louis Delgado, who had beaten Chuck Norris the year before. On November 24, 1968, at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, Lewis won Aaron Banks' World Professional Karate Championships by defeating Victor Moore to win the World Heavyweight Title, and was paid $600.

In 1970, Lewis lost in an upset to John Natividad at the All-Star Team Championships in Long Beach, California. At the 'Battle of Atlanta', which was promoted by Joe Corley, Joe Lewis defeated Mitchell Bobrow in a closely contested come-from-behind victory for the Heavyweight Championship, and Joe Hayes for the Grand Championship.

Hong Kong cinema historian Bey Logan says Lewis was the original pick of Bruce Lee to play Colt in the 1972 martial-arts action film Way of the Dragon, but as a result of either Lee and Lewis having a falling out or Lewis having a scheduling conflict, Chuck Norris was chosen instead.

Joe Lewis co-starred alongside Robin Shou in the 1989 B-movie Bloodfight 2: The Deathcage (戰龍), as Mr. Kent.

 

Born

March 7, 1944 · Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

Died

August 31, 2012 · Coatesville, Pennsylvania, USA (brain tumor)

Nickname

The All-American Boy

 

Actor

Cynthia Rothrock, Don Wilson, Matt Mullins, and Chiranan Manochaem in Death Fighter (2017)

Death Fighter

4.9

Conrad

2017

 

Kill 'em All (2012)

Kill 'em All

4.5

Carpenter

2012

 

Chuck Norris in Walker, Texas Ranger (1993)

Walker, Texas Ranger

5.6

TV Series

Joe Lewis

2001

1 episode

 

The Cutoff

6.3

Detective Parnelli

1998

 

Gary Daniels in Bloodmoon (1997)

Bloodmoon

5.8

Fighter #1

1997

 

Mr. X (1995)

Mr. X

5.1

Mr. X

1995

 

Taekwon sonyeon Erniewa Master Kim (1989)

Taekwon sonyeon Erniewa Master Kim

6.2

1989

 

Zhan long (1989)

Zhan long

5.4

Mr. Kent

1989

 

Lee Majors and Heather Thomas in The Fall Guy (1981)

The Fall Guy

7.1

TV Series

Joe Lewis

1981

1 episode

 

Joe Lewis and Richard Norton in Force: Five (1981)

Force: Five

5.0

Jim Martin

1981

 

Christopher Lee, Donald Pleasence, Barbara Bach, Capucine, John Huston, Joe Lewis, Woody Strode, and Joseph Wiseman in Jaguar Lives! (1979)

Jaguar Lives!

4.2

Jonathan Cross (Jaguar)

1979

 

Dean Martin in The Wrecking Crew (1968)

The Wrecking Crew

5.5

Guard (uncredited)

1968

 

Stunts

Christopher Lee, Donald Pleasence, Barbara Bach, Capucine, John Huston, Joe Lewis, Woody Strode, and Joseph Wiseman in Jaguar Lives! (1979)

Jaguar Lives!

4.2

action staging

1979

 

Circle of Iron (1978)

Circle of Iron

5.7

stunts (uncredited)

1978

 

Dean Martin in The Wrecking Crew (1968)

The Wrecking Crew

5.5

stunts (uncredited)

1968

 

John Wayne and David Janssen in The Green Berets (1968)

The Green Berets

5.6

stunts (uncredited)

1968

 

Additional Crew

Circle of Iron (1978)

Circle of Iron

5.7

martial arts coordinator

1978