Harold Johnson (boxer)
Encyclopedia
Harold Johnson is a former professional boxer
.
Johnson was born in Roxborough, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. He won his first twenty-four fights before losing a ten round decision to Archie Moore
, who would be Johnson's biggest career rival. Johnson rebounded to beat Jimmy Bivins
, but was again defeated, losing a third round knock out to future heavyweight
champion Jersey Joe Walcott
after suffering an injury to a disc in his back. A year later he resumed his rivalry with Archie Moore, fighting Moore three times in a row, losing the rematch by a decision, winning the rubber match by decision, and losing the fourth bout by another decision.
Johnson would then split two fights with Bob Satterfield and win a decision over heavyweight contender Nino Valdez
, before winning a disputed split decision over former heavyweight champion Ezzard Charles
. Johnson would finally get a title shot eight years into his career in his fifth and final fight against Archie Moore in 1954, in Moore's third defense of his light heavyweight
title. In an exciting fight, Johnson knocked Moore down in the 10th round, and was ahead in the scorecards after 13 rounds. But Moore rallied, knocking Johnson down and stopping him in the 14th round.
When the National Boxing Association (NBA) withdrew recognition of Archie Moore as light heavyweight champion, Johnson defeated Jesse Bowdry in 1961 by a 9th round technical knock out to capture the vacant NBA title. Later that year he defeated heavyweight contender Eddie Machen
by a ten round decision and defended his title with a split decision victory over light heavyweight contender Eddie Cotton
.
After two defenses of his NBA title, Johnson gained universal recognition as light heavyweight champion when he defeated Doug Jones
in 1962 by a decision in fifteen rounds. He defended that undisputed title twice, but lost it in his second defense to Willie Pastrano
in 1963, by a split decision in fifteen rounds. Johnson would never fight for a title again, and retired in 1971 with a record of 76-10 and 32 knock outs.
Harold Johnson was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame
in 1993.
In 2002, Harold was ranked #80 on Ring Magazine's list of the 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years.
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Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
.
Johnson was born in Roxborough, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Roxborough, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Roxborough is a neighborhood in the Northwest Philadelphia section of the United States city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is bordered to the southwest, along the Schuylkill River, by the neighborhood of Manayunk, along the northeast by the Wissahickon Creek section of Fairmount Park, and to...
. He won his first twenty-four fights before losing a ten round decision to Archie Moore
Archie Moore
Archie Moore, born Archibald Lee Wright , was light heavyweight world boxing champion who had one of the longest professional careers in the history of that sport....
, who would be Johnson's biggest career rival. Johnson rebounded to beat Jimmy Bivins
Jimmy Bivins
James Louis Bivins, is a former American heavyweight boxer whose professional career ran from 1940 to 1955. He was born in Dry Branch, Georgia...
, but was again defeated, losing a third round knock out to future heavyweight
Heavyweight
Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Fighters who weigh over 200 pounds are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council, and the World Boxing...
champion Jersey Joe Walcott
Jersey Joe Walcott
Arnold Raymond Cream , better known as Jersey Joe Walcott, was a world heavyweight boxing champion. He broke the world's record for the oldest man to win the world's Heavyweight title when he earned it at the age of , a record that would be broken on November 5, 1994, by George Foreman, who...
after suffering an injury to a disc in his back. A year later he resumed his rivalry with Archie Moore, fighting Moore three times in a row, losing the rematch by a decision, winning the rubber match by decision, and losing the fourth bout by another decision.
Johnson would then split two fights with Bob Satterfield and win a decision over heavyweight contender Nino Valdez
Nino Valdez
Nino Valdez was the Cuban heavyweight boxing champion in the 1940s and 1950s...
, before winning a disputed split decision over former heavyweight champion Ezzard Charles
Ezzard Charles
Ezzard Mack Charles was an African-American professional boxer and former world heavyweight champion. He holds wins over numerous Hall of Fame fighters in three different weight classes. Charles retired with a record of 93 wins, 25 losses and 1 draw.-Career:He was born in Lawrenceville, Georgia,...
. Johnson would finally get a title shot eight years into his career in his fifth and final fight against Archie Moore in 1954, in Moore's third defense of his light heavyweight
Light heavyweight
In boxing, the light heavyweight is a weight division above 168 pounds [12 Stone or 76.204 kilograms] and up to 175 pounds [12.5 stone or 79.38 kilograms]), falling between super middleweight and cruiserweight...
title. In an exciting fight, Johnson knocked Moore down in the 10th round, and was ahead in the scorecards after 13 rounds. But Moore rallied, knocking Johnson down and stopping him in the 14th round.
When the National Boxing Association (NBA) withdrew recognition of Archie Moore as light heavyweight champion, Johnson defeated Jesse Bowdry in 1961 by a 9th round technical knock out to capture the vacant NBA title. Later that year he defeated heavyweight contender Eddie Machen
Eddie Machen
Edward Mills Machen was born in Redding, California, on June 15, 1932. Machen was a convict turned boxer. His 64-bout career began on March 22, 1955, and he went on to win his first 24 bouts....
by a ten round decision and defended his title with a split decision victory over light heavyweight contender Eddie Cotton
Eddie Cotton
Eddie Cotton was a former boxer. Cotton was a resident of Seattle, Washington until his death on June 25, 1990 following a second liver transplant.- Career :...
.
After two defenses of his NBA title, Johnson gained universal recognition as light heavyweight champion when he defeated Doug Jones
Doug Jones (boxer)
Doug Jones is a former American heavyweight boxer.- Boxing career :Doug "Pugilism" Jones started off his career successfully with 18 consecutive wins against mostly lightly regarded opponents, until his first loss occurred at the hands of Eddie Machen. He lost his next two fights, and the third a...
in 1962 by a decision in fifteen rounds. He defended that undisputed title twice, but lost it in his second defense to Willie Pastrano
Willie Pastrano
Wilfred Raleigh Pastrano was a light heavyweight boxer who held the world crown from 1963 until 1965.-Early life:...
in 1963, by a split decision in fifteen rounds. Johnson would never fight for a title again, and retired in 1971 with a record of 76-10 and 32 knock outs.
Harold Johnson was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame
International Boxing Hall of Fame
The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta...
in 1993.
In 2002, Harold was ranked #80 on Ring Magazine's list of the 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years.
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