Marvin Johnson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Olympic medal record | |||
| Men's Boxing | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | Munich 1972 | Middleweight | |
Marvin Johnson (born April 12, 1954 in Indianapolis, Indiana) is a former boxer from the United States, who fought in the 1972 Olympics in Munich, winning a bronze medal, and made his way up the professional ranks in the light heavyweight division soon thereafter. His nickname is "Pops". Johnson currently serves as a pitchman for a local car dealership sometimes (humorously) threatening or abusing his fellow pitchmen with his boxing skills.
[edit] Professional career
Johnson lost to Matthew Saad Muhammad and Lotte Mwale in the bulild-up but won a world title—the WBC light heavyweight version—from fellow southpaw Mate Parlov of Yugoslavia with a 10th-round KO in Italy in December 1978, then lost that same title the following April, in front of his hometown Indianapolis fans, in a rematch to Matthew Saad Muhammad (nee Franklin) in what was perhaps 1979's Fight of the Year for many observers. Johnson was in control in the early going, cutting the challenger over both eyes, creating large streams of blood that masked his face. But the Philadelphia fighter hung in there, and came back to wear down Johnson, stopping him in the eighth round. Franklin also beat Johnson earlier—in 1977—by 12th-round KO for a minor title.
Johnson would again win a belt later that year—the WBA version—by fighting the rugged Victor Galindez from Argentina in New Orleans as part of a three-fight 'card' that included two title bouts (Antuofermo-Hagler I and Benitez-Leonard) staged in Las Vegas. After a see-saw battle through the first ten rounds, Johnson nailed—and floored—Galindez with one of his fabled 'over-the-top-from-underneath' right hands, and the title changed hands when the champion's corner surrendered after Galindez hit the canvas.
Again, it was down and out for Johnson in his first title defense when, on the Tate-Weaver undercard in Knoxville in March 1980, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad (nee Gregory) outworked, outhustled, and outclassed Johnson en route to an 11th-round TKO.
Things looked bleak when Johnson fought the up-and-coming Michael Spinks in early 1981—just before Spinks dethroned Johnson's latest conqueror, Mustafa Muhammad. Johnson was off to a promising start, but the 1976 Olympian Spinks landed his famous 'Spinks jinx' that put Johnson out for good in the fourth round.
Johnson recovered and proceeded to win 16 straight fights, defeating good fighters like, Prince Charles Williams Johnny Davis along the way, and in February 1986 would again be before his Indianapolis fans, fighting Leslie Stewart of Trinidad and Tobago for the WBA 175-lb. title that became vacant when Spinks abdicated to become a heavyweight. Stewart gave Johnson some fits, but cuts would take their toll on Stewart and were the reason that the fight was stopped in the seventh round, thus making Johnson the first ever three-time champion in the division. An injury postponed his first defense against Jean-Marie Emebe of Cameroon for a little bit, but the two would hook up in Indianapolis in September of that year. It was the first time that Johnson would both enter and leave the ring as champion—he was the winner by 13th-round TKO.
Next, it was on to Trinidad for a rematch with Stewart in May 1987. However, it was all Stewart this time, as he floored Johnson several times in the first few rounds, and while Johnson always regained his feet and was never counted out, he did tell his cornermen after eight rounds that 'enough was enough,' and by doing so became an ex-champ for a third time.
Johnson retired after that bout.
| Preceded by Mate Parlov |
WBC Light Heavyweight Champion 2 Dec 1978–22 Apr 1979 |
Succeeded by Matthew Franklin |
| Preceded by Victor Galindez |
WBA Light Heavyweight Champion 30 Nov 1979–31 Mar 1980 |
Succeeded by Eddie Gregory |
| Preceded by Michael Spinks Vacated |
WBA Light Heavyweight Champion 9 Feb 1986–23 May 1987 |
Succeeded by Leslie Stewart |
[edit] Amateur career
- Won the 1971 National Golden Gloves Light Heavyweight (175 lb.) Championship, March 22 at Fort Worth Texas.
- Won the 1971 National AAU Light Heavyweight (178 lb.) Championship.
- Won The 1972 National Golden Gloves Middleweight (165lb.) Championship, March 20 at Minneapolis, Minnesota.
- Represented the United States at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, earning a bronze medal in the 165 pound class, after he was knocked out in the second round of a semifinal by eventual gold medalist Vyacheslav Lemechev of the Soviet Union.
