Harold Johnson

Harold Johnson was an American professional boxer, known for his impressive career spanning more than 24 years. With a total of 87 fights, Johnson won an impressive 76 of them, with 31 of them coming by way of knockout. Let's take a closer look at the life and career of this legendary boxer.

Early Life and Career

Harold Johnson was born on August 9, 1928, in Manayunk, Pennsylvania. He made his professional boxing debut at the young age of 17 against Dick Brewster, whom he defeated via a 2nd round knockout. Johnson's early career was characterized by his unprecedented winning streak - he won 23 consecutive fights after his debut, 13 of which were via stoppage.

Career Highlights

Johnson's professional boxing career was marked by many highlights, some of which include:

• In 1954, Johnson had his first world-title fight against Archie Moore for the NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring titles, which he unfortunately lost via 14th round TKO.
• In 1961, Johnson won the NBA light-heavyweight title from Jesse Bowdry via a 9th round TKO.
• In 1961, Johnson successfully defended the NBA light-heavyweight title against Von Clay, winning the fight via a 2nd round TKO.
• And in 1962, Johnson became a unified light-heavyweight world champion and won one world title in the process by beating Doug Jones via a 15 round unanimous decision.

Despite losing his first title fight, Johnson went on to win a total of three titles in his career, with four successful title defenses. He was even able to defeat three Hall-of-Famers, namely Ezzard Charles, Archie Moore, and Jimmy Bivins, among many others.

Retirement and Later Life

Johnson's last professional fight was a non-title rematch against Herschel Jacobs at 42 years of age, on March 30, 1971. Unfortunately, Johnson lost the fight via a 3rd round TKO, signaling the end of his illustrious boxing career.

Johnson retired from professional boxing at the age of 42 with an impressive record of 76-11, a record that included 31 knockout wins and just five losses via knockout. After retirement, Johnson continued to live in Philadelphia, where he grew up, and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1993.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Harold Johnson left an indelible mark on the world of boxing with his impressive career marked by numerous accolades and achievements. From his exciting winning streak to his three world titles and successful title defenses, Johnson's contributions to the world of boxing will not be forgotten. Even after his untimely death on February 19, 2015, Johnson's legacy still lives on, inspiring countless young boxers to pursue their dreams with skill, determination, and grace.

Harold Johnson Fight Record