Johnny Saxton
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| Johnny Saxton | |
 |
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| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Real name | |
| Rated at | Welterweight |
| Nationality | United States |
| Birth date | July 4, 1930 |
| Birth place | Newark, New Jersey |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 66 |
| Wins | 55 |
| Wins by KO | 21 |
| Losses | 9 |
| Draws | 2 |
| No contests | 0 |
Johnny Saxton (born July 4, 1930, in Newark, NJ) was a professional boxer in the welterweight (147lb) division.
Saxton learned to box in a Brooklyn orphanage and had an outstanding amateur career, winning 31 of 33 fights.
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[edit] Professional career
Saxton turned professional in 1949 and ran up forty wins without a defeat before losing to Gil Turner in 1953. His win over Joey Giardello and Johnny Bratton helped propel him to fight with Kid Gavilan in 1954 for the world welterweight championship. He beat Gavilan via a fifteen-round decision to take the title. The lost the title the following year via technical knockout against Tony DeMarco. In 1956 he won the title again with an upset win over Carmen Basilio, but lost the title in a rematch with Basilio later in the year. He retired in 1958.
Managed by Frank "Blinky" Palermo, a boxing manager linked to organized crime, Saxton's career was often marred by rumors of shady dealings. His two biggerst wins, against Gavilan and Basilio, were both controversial and unpopular with many in the boxing world.[1]
His career Record: Won 55 (KOs 21) Lost 9 Draw 2
[edit] After boxing
Saxton worked as a security guard and a boxing coach after he retired. A hit-and-run accident left him with damage to one leg, and by the early 1990s he was living in a New York City apartment that had no electricity. A friend helped Saxton move to a retirement home in Florida. He was diagnosed with pugilistic dementia.[2]
| Preceded by Kid Gavilan |
World Welterweight Champion 20 Oct 1954– 1 Apr 1955 |
Succeeded by Tony DeMarco |
| Preceded by Carmen Basilio |
World Welterweight Champion 14 Mar 1956– 12 Sep 1956 |
Succeeded by Carmen Basilio |
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ Shelton, Alan (July 1999), “Johnny Saxton: Fate Finally Smiles”, Boxing Digest 41, no. 6: 56
- ^ Shelton (July 1999), Boxing Digest 41, no. 6: 57
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