Born in Homerton, London, and raised in Hackney, Lewis Oakford (nicknamed “Mighty Oak”) began his relationship with boxing at a youth club in Shoreditch. He dabbled in various sports during childhood and didn’t fully commit to boxing until his mid-teens. At 14, he started sparring regularly, but only at age 20 in 2013 did he pursue boxing seriously. This marked the beginning of a challenging yet steady amateur journey.
Oakford built an amateur record of approximately 16 bouts. Despite frequent opponent withdrawals—even on fight days—he persevered, eventually winning a novice tournament for fighters with fewer than ten contests.
Professional Career
At 30 years old, after a brief hiatus that included a short prison sentence, Oakford made his professional debut on 17 September 2022, fighting in the cruiserweight division.
Over the next two years, he compiled an undefeated 5–0 record. Known for a high-volume, technically sound “Soviet-style” boxing approach, he leverages his 6′3″ frame and speed, often training alongside top-tier British cruiserweights like Isaac Chamberlain and Richard Riakhporhe.
In June 2024, Oakford earned a televised title shot against John Hedges for the vacant Southern Area Cruiserweight belt at the Copper Box Arena. The bout ended in round six due to a severe cut from an accidental clash, leading to a technical decision against him—his first professional loss—though he was gaining momentum at the time.
Undeterred, Oakford returned stronger. In October 2024, he captured the Commonwealth Silver Cruiserweight title with a commanding performance, winning every round on at least one judge’s scorecard.