'Touching Gloves with...Marvin Johnson' by Dan Hanley

[Juan C Ayllon]

Here's a link to an excellent interview with former light heavyweight world champion, Marvin Johnson, courtesy of our very own Dan Hanley:

http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/blog/?p=13157

Enjoy!



jca

[GorDoom]

Marvin Johnson

BORN April 12 1954; Indianapolis, Indiana
HEIGHT 6-0
WEIGHT 172 3/4 - 177 lbs
MANAGER Arnold Weise
TRAINER Colin "Champ" Chaney
Johnson was a left-handed dynamite thrower who came to fight; He was an explosive puncher who could "light it up"; During his career, he won the WBA Light Heavyweight Championship of the World, the NABF Light Heavyweight Championship and the USBA Light Heavyweight Championship

He defeated such men as Victor Galindez, Mate Parlov, Eddie Davis, Leslie Stewart, "Prince" Charles Williams, Jean-Marie Emebe, Billy "Dynamite" Douglas and Johnny Baldwin

*** SOME AMATEUR BOUT S ***

1971
Mar -Johnson won the National Golden Gloves Light Heavyweight Championship
in Fort Worth, Texas

-Johnson won the National AAU Light Heavyweight Championship
1972
Mar -Johnson won the National Golden Gloves Middleweight Championship
in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Ewald Jarmer Munich, West Germany W 3
Alejandro Montoya Munich, West Germany W 3
Vyacheslav Lemechev Munich, West Germany LT 2
-The previous 3 bouts were part of the Olympic Games
Middleweight Competition; Johnson won the Bronze Medal


*** PROFESSIONAL BOUTS ***

1973
May 22 Sylvester Wilder Indianapolis, In KO 2
-Some sources report 5/23/73
Sep 17 Al Byrd Fort Wayne, In KO 1
Oct 30 Chuck Warfield Fort Wayne, In TK 5

1974
Jul 17 Ted Paxton Chicago, Il KO 2
Nov 12 Johnny Words Indianapolis, In KO 6
Dec 11 Jim Adams Indianapolis, In KO 1

1975
Jan 29 Gary Summerhayes Indianapolis, In W 10
Apr 17 Paul Cardoza Indianapolis, In KO 4
Nov 13 Eddie Owens Indianapolis, In KO 3

1976
Apr 3 Ray Anderson Indianapolis, In KO 6
Apr 15 Harold Carter Indianapolis, In KO 2
Sep 14 Wayne McGee Philadelphia, Pa KO 1
Nov 30 Vandell Woods Philadelphia, Pa W 10

1977
Feb 21 Johnny Townsend Philadelphia, Pa W 10
Apr 22 Tom Bethea Indianapolis, In KO 4
Jul 26 Matthew Franklin Philadelphia, Pa LT 12
-NABF Light Heavyweight Championship;
This man was "Matthew Saad Muhammad"
Sep 28 Johnny Fields Cleveland, Oh KO 1
-Some sources report 9/29/77
Nov 1 Billy "Dynamite" Douglas Philadelphia, Pa KO 5

1978
Jan 25 Roberto Reynosa Indianapolis, In KO 1
Apr 3 Eddie Davis Indianapolis, In KO 7
May 24 Johnny Baldwin Philadelphia, Pa W 10
Jun 17 Lottie Mwale Belgrade, Yugoslavia L 8
Sep 15 Jerry Celestine New Orleans, La W 10
Dec 2 Mate Parlov Marsala, Italy TK 10
-WBA Light Heavyweight Championship of the World

1979
Apr 22 Matthew Franklin Indianapolis, In LT 8
-WBC Light Heavyweight Championship of the World;
This man was "Matthew Saad Muhammad"
Sep 20 Carlos Marks Indianapolis, In W 10
Nov 30 Victor Galindez New Orleans, La TK 11
-WBA Light Heavyweight Championship of the World

1980
Mar 31 Eddie Gregory Knoxville, Tn LT 11
-WBA Light Heavyweight Championship of the World;
This man was "Eddie Mustafa Muhammad"
Sep 9 Lee Royster Atlantic City, NJ KO 4

1981
Jan 15 Eddie Straight Indianapolis, In TK 1
-Some sources report 1/16/81
Jan 28 Rick Nash Indianapolis, In KO 3
Mar 28 Michael Spinks Atlantic City, NJ LK 4

1982
Apr 6 Darnell Hayes Danville, Il TK 2
Oct 14 Alvino Manson Indianapolis, In TK 1

1983
Feb 25 Ernie Barr Nassau, Bahamas KO 8
Nov 21 Mike Brothers Chicago, Il TK 10

1984
Jan 18 Elvis Parks Indianapolis, In TK 4
Mar 26 Eddie Gonzalez Atlantic City, NJ KO 4
Jun 14 Jerome Clouden Atlantic City, NJ TK 5
Aug 30 John Davis Atlantic City, NJ W 10
Nov 8 "Prince" Charles Williams Indianapolis, In W 10
Dec 13 Eddie Collins Atlantic City, NJ TK 2

1985
Jan 17 Charles Henderson Merrillville, In TK 2
Apr 21 Eddie Davis Atlantic City, NJ TK 5
-USBA Light Heavyweight Championship
Oct 11 Raleigh Searcey Terre Haute, In KO 4
Dec 4 Frank Lux Indianapolis, In KO 4

1986
Feb 9 Leslie Stewart Indianapolis, In TK 7
-WBA Light Heavyweight Championship of the World
Sep 20 Jean Marie Emebe Indianapolis, In TK 13
-WBA Light Heavyweight Championship of the World

1987
May 23 Leslie Stewart Port of Spain, Trinidad LT 9
-WBA Light Heavyweight Championship of the World

*** Assistance Provided By Seth Callis ***
Record courtesy of Tracy Callis, Historian, International Boxing Research Organization

[GorDoom]

This is another outstanding profile in the "Touching Gloves" series that Dan Hanley has been writing for us Dan has a real knack exemplified by this profile & the one he did on Tony Baltazar, of really drawing out these remarkable fighters.

They obviously feel comfortable enough with Dan to really open up their inner thoughts to him. Dan has proven himself to be a superb interviewer & writer. We're proud to have someone of his talents writing for us.

GorDoom

[Dan Hanley]

Thanks very much for the kind words, Gor. Guys like Marvin and Tony, aside from what they brought to the ring, are also really good guys and it was a pleasure interviewing them.

Dan

[theironbar]

Thank you Dan! Wonderful interview with an honest fighter, in and out of the ring.

-Peter

[Dan Hanley]

Thanks a lot, Peter. Marvin is a good guy too. Good hearing from you, BTW. It's been awhile. Time flies, mi amigo.

Dan

[Overhand_Right]

Wow, an outstanding interview - all the right questions asked and Johnson himself is such a humble, decent man. Really enjoyed it, hope there's more of these from Dan Hanley.

[theironbar]

It really does Dan! Sometimes I think I dwell in this self-made cave, emerging once a year for the Boxing Hall of Fame but then back inside!

BTW, more interviews please!

-Peter