Wells turned pro in 1909.
On 27 February 1911, at the National Sporting Club in London he defeated Freddie Welsh in a twenty-round bout to win the lightweight championship of Great Britain and take home the Lonsdale belt, becoming the first Jewish boxer to hold the honor.
 The win simultaneously bestowed the EBU's (European Boxing Union) lightweight championship.

On 2 June 1911, he defeated the great Jewish New York boxer Leach Cross at the Harlem Casino in New York by newspaper decision.
The Montreal Gazette noted that the "bout went the full ten rounds, Wells having all the better of it."
 The New York Times agreed with the decision of the Gazette.
 Wells delivered two hard blows in the ninth that proved his hitting power against a boxer who was noted for exceptional defensive skills.

Remarkably, only three weeks after defeating Leach Cross, Wells defeated highly rated boxer "Philadelphia" Pal Moore on 24 June 1911 in a twelve round points decision at the Armory in Boston.
 Moore fought a host of champions in his career.

Wells defeated "Knockout" Brown before an enthusiastic crowd as large as 14,000 on 30 August 1911 in a ten round newspaper decision at New York's famed Madison Square Garden.
 The bout was so popular, swarms of onlookers waiting to get in broke through the windows to gain entry.
 Wells employed a cool, well calculated defense which baffled Brown throughout the bout.
Brown could not defend against Wells's left jab which played about his face at great speed, helping Wells to take as many as seven rounds.
 The match was one of the first legal boxing matches in New York that allowed the purchase of tickets rather than a membership in a club, and the Garden was packed with fans.
A near riot occurred as those who were turned away rushed into the auditorium to try to purchase additional tickets to obtain seating.
 Ten thousand were inside the Garden, with an additional five thousand outside hoping to obtain seats.
 Wells used his right almost at will throughout the bout, and dodged the blows of Brown by shifting his body or back stepping with exceptional speed.
 Brown used an effective left and got in some strong blows to Wells's face, but they rarely fazed Wells, nor slowed his attack.
He wisely crowded Brown in the tenth to avoid a long range haymaker that might cause a knockout.

On 26 April 1912 he lost to the exceptional American boxer Packey McFarland at Madison Square Garden, in Manhattan, New York City.
 The Boston Globe considered McFarland the better boxer in each of the ten rounds, scoring with frequent right uppercuts to the face and body.
As he repeatedly but cautiously found openings to use his right, McFarland allowed Wells to remain the aggressor with head down through much of the fight.
 In major competition, McFarland was nearly undefeated, yet never managed to win a title.

Wells impressively defeated reigning World Featherweight Champion Abe Attell on 20 September 1911 in New York.
Attell was nearing the end of his ten-year reign as champion and his bout with Wells was not made a title fight partly because he was outweighed by Wells.
The Pittsburgh Press wrote the fight was "the greatest exhibition of scientific boxing that has been seen here in years.
The Press went on to note that "although Attell was clearly outpointed, his defeat was not a disgrace or anything like it for Wells was heavier, stronger, taller, and had a longer reach."

Wells defeated British boxer and former claimant of the 1907 British sanctioned World Bantamweight championship Owen Moran on 27 September 1913 in Sydney Stadium in Australia.
Moran was a former contender for the World Featherweight championship against Abe Attell on New Years Day 1908 in Colma, California, but failed to knockout Attell in 25 rounds.

Wells defeated American Ray Bronson, former holder of the World Welterweight Championship, in a seventh round technical knockout in Sydney, Australia on 28 February 1914.
 Wells "inflicted severe punishment on the American" and his seconds threw in the towel at the end of the seventh round.
 Bronson, who conside
Wells turned pro in 1909. On 27 February 1911, at the National Sporting Club in London he defeated Freddie Welsh in a twenty-round bout to win the lightweight championship of Great Britain and take home the Lonsdale belt, becoming the first Jewish boxer to hold the honor.  The win simultaneously bestowed the EBU's (European Boxing Union) lightweight championship.
On 2 June 1911, he defeated the great Jewish New York boxer Leach Cross at the Harlem Casino in New York by newspaper decision. The Montreal Gazette noted that the "bout went the full ten rounds, Wells having all the better of it."  The New York Times agreed with the decision of the Gazette.  Wells delivered two hard blows in the ninth that proved his hitting power against a boxer who was noted for exceptional defensive skills.
Remarkably, only three weeks after defeating Leach Cross, Wells defeated highly rated boxer "Philadelphia" Pal Moore on 24 June 1911 in a twelve round points decision at the Armory in Boston.  Moore fought a host of champions in his career.
Wells defeated "Knockout" Brown before an enthusiastic crowd as large as 14,000 on 30 August 1911 in a ten round newspaper decision at New York's famed Madison Square Garden.  The bout was so popular, swarms of onlookers waiting to get in broke through the windows to gain entry.  Wells employed a cool, well calculated defense which baffled Brown throughout the bout. Brown could not defend against Wells's left jab which played about his face at great speed, helping Wells to take as many as seven rounds.  The match was one of the first legal boxing matches in New York that allowed the purchase of tickets rather than a membership in a club, and the Garden was packed with fans. A near riot occurred as those who were turned away rushed into the auditorium to try to purchase additional tickets to obtain seating.  Ten thousand were inside the Garden, with an additional five thousand outside hoping to obtain seats.  Wells used his right almost at will throughout the bout, and dodged the blows of Brown by shifting his body or back stepping with exceptional speed.  Brown used an effective left and got in some strong blows to Wells's face, but they rarely fazed Wells, nor slowed his attack. He wisely crowded Brown in the tenth to avoid a long range haymaker that might cause a knockout. 
On 26 April 1912 he lost to the exceptional American boxer Packey McFarland at Madison Square Garden, in Manhattan, New York City.  The Boston Globe considered McFarland the better boxer in each of the ten rounds, scoring with frequent right uppercuts to the face and body. As he repeatedly but cautiously found openings to use his right, McFarland allowed Wells to remain the aggressor with head down through much of the fight.  In major competition, McFarland was nearly undefeated, yet never managed to win a title.
Wells impressively defeated reigning World Featherweight Champion Abe Attell on 20 September 1911 in New York. Attell was nearing the end of his ten-year reign as champion and his bout with Wells was not made a title fight partly because he was outweighed by Wells. The Pittsburgh Press wrote the fight was "the greatest exhibition of scientific boxing that has been seen here in years. The Press went on to note that "although Attell was clearly outpointed, his defeat was not a disgrace or anything like it for Wells was heavier, stronger, taller, and had a longer reach."
Wells defeated British boxer and former claimant of the 1907 British sanctioned World Bantamweight championship Owen Moran on 27 September 1913 in Sydney Stadium in Australia. Moran was a former contender for the World Featherweight championship against Abe Attell on New Years Day 1908 in Colma, California, but failed to knockout Attell in 25 rounds.
Wells defeated American Ray Bronson, former holder of the World Welterweight Championship, in a seventh round technical knockout in Sydney, Australia on 28 February 1914.  Wells "inflicted severe punishment on the American" and his seconds threw in the towel at the end of the seventh round.  Bronson, who conside
Matt Wells (boxer)