McHenry Johnson (the "Minneapolis Star") BORN   September 7 1859; Baltimore, Maryland ; Fought out of Baltimore, Boston and Denver DIED    September 1889; Denver, Colorado HEIGHT 6-0 (Some sources report 5-11) WEIGHT 178-195 lbs
Johnson was a top fighter during the bare knuckle days and the early days of glove fighting; He met many of the top black fighters of the day and held his own, losing only a few

1881-1883
       -Johnson was unbeaten in his early career;
        Some sources report that he defeated 4 opponents 
        in bare-knuckle contests and 22 opponents in glove 
        contests
 
1883
May 10 George Godfrey                Boston, Ma                        D  4
       -Police intervened; 
        Some sources report 5/10/84;
        Some sources report "NC 4";
        Some sources report "D 3"
Oct    Barney McGuire's Unknown      New York, NY                    SCH   
       -This bout was scheduled and held;
        The outcome is not known
Oct    Gus Lambert                   New York, NY                     EX  3

1884
Jan 10 Black Diamond (Harry Woodson) New York, NY                      W  3
Jan 29 Tom Hinch                                                       L  9
Feb 13 Black Diamond (Harry Woodson) New York, NY                     EX   
Apr 18 Charley Lange                 near Columbus, Oh                 D  4
       -Police intervened
Jun 24 Billy Wilson                  New York, NY                      D  3
          -Police Gazette Colored Heavyweight Championship;
        Members of both camps "broke" onto the stage when
        Johnson threw Wilson in the third round; Police 
        intervened and the bout was declared a draw;
        Some sources report 6/28/84

1885-1886  
       Al "Fish" Carter                                                W   

1886
Jul  5 George Peters                 Detroit, Mi                       L 10
       -Johnson failed to knockout Peters
Sep 17 Black Hunter                  Milwaukee, Wi                    KO  1
Oct 17 Tom Hinch                     Milwaukee, Wi                     D 10
       -Some sources report 10/16/86
Dec  2 Billy Wilson                  St. Paul, Mn                      D 10

1887
Feb    Billy Wilson                  St. Paul, Mn                    SCH   
       -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Mar    Black Frank (Frank Taylor)    St. Paul, Mn                      D  8
May 19 Black Pearl (Harris Martin)   St. Paul, Mn                      D 10

1888
Jan 25 George Godfrey                Bloomfield, Co                   LK  4
       -Godfrey knocked Johnson down 3 times; The referee
        first ruled Johnson winner by an "WF 4" verdict;
        He later reversed the decision and Godfrey got 
        the winner's share of the purse; Godfrey was
        recognized as the "Colored Heavyweight Champion 
           of the World"; Some sources report "Denver, Co"
Aug  3 Black Pearl (Harris Martin)   Minneapolis, Mn                   D  8


*** The Following Bouts Are Reported But Not Confirmed ***

1885
Dec    Tom Hinch                                                       D 10

1886
Jul    John Dyer                     Milwaukee, Wi                    LK  3
       -This bout was held during Jul-Aug 1886

1890
May 10 Bob Harper                    Chicago, Il                      EX   
       -This bout could not have been fought by
        McHenry Johnson if his date of death is
        correct

Record courtesy of Tracy Callis, Historian, International Boxing Research Organization