George Johnson (boxer)
George Johnson | |
---|---|
Statistics | |
Nickname(s) | Scrap Iron |
Rated at | 235 (1972)[1] |
Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
Nationality | American |
Born | Oklahoma City |
Died | April 9, 2016 |
George Raft "Scrap Iron" Johnson (b. c. 1941)[2] was an American heavyweight boxer whose career spanned the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Johnson fought many of the top fighters of his era, including George Foreman, Joe Frazier, Sonny Liston, Jerry Quarry, Duane Bobick, Joe Bugner and Eddie Machen.[3] Whilst a journeyman fighter he was nonetheless notorious for being extremely durable. He could take vast amounts of punishment. He retired in 1975 with a record of 22-27-5. He was inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame in 2005.[4][5][6][7]
Johnson was nicknamed "Scrap" by girls in his neighborhood in Oklahoma City when he was about seven years old, because he used a wheelbarrow to salvage machinery parts to earn money. By high school, his American football teammates tacked on the "iron."[8][9]
In 1969, after putting together a string of wins, Johnson was defeated by Sonny Liston in Las Vegas after seven rounds. Johnson had been scheduled to get married at midnight after the fight, but pushed off the wedding to the next day to recover. Johnson later claimed "Liston hit me so hard, I married the wrong woman."[10][11]
Professional boxing record
22 Wins (11 knockouts, 11 decisions), 27 Losses (12 knockouts, 15 decisions), 5 Draws[12] | |||||||
Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
Loss | 31-0 | Duane Bobick | RTD | 4 | 13/11/1975 | Met Center, Bloomington, Minnesota | |
Draw | 14-1 | Scott LeDoux | PTS | 10 | 14/08/1975 | Saint Paul Civic Center, Saint Paul, Minnesota | SD for LeDoux overturned due to crowd response. |
Loss | 12-0 | Leroy Jones | PTS | 10 | 18/03/1975 | Honolulu, Hawaii | |
Loss | 49-7-4 | Jerry Quarry | UD | 10 | 25/02/1975 | Hawaii International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii | [13] |
Loss | 10-0 | Johnny Boudreaux | PTS | 10 | 16/09/1974 | Houston, Texas | |
Loss | 29-2 | Boone Kirkman | UD | 10 | 23/10/1973 | Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, Washington | 89-100, 92-100, 92-99. |
Win | 4-6-1 | Joe Tiger Harris | TKO | 3 | 02/07/1973 | Las Vegas, Nevada | |
Win | -- | John Robinson | KO | 2 | 16/05/1973 | Las Vegas, Nevada | |
Win | 5-17-1 | Terry Sorrell | KO | 5 | 25/04/1973 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Sorrell knocked out at 1:41 of the fifth round. |
Win | 1-3 | Dave Sherman | TKO | 2 | 11/04/1973 | Las Vegas, Nevada | |
Loss | 12-0 | Ron Lyle | KO | 3 | 25/03/1972 | Denver, Colorado | Johnson knocked out at 0:31 of the third round. |
Loss | 26-9-6 | Juergen Blin | TKO | 2 | 01/10/1971 | Hamburg | |
Win | 7-8 | MacArthur Swindell | PTS | 10 | 30/06/1971 | Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada | |
Loss | 28-2 | Joe Bugner | PTS | 10 | 03/11/1970 | Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London | [14][15] |
Loss | 19-0 | George Foreman | TKO | 7 | 16/05/1970 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California | Referee stopped the bout at 1:41 of the seventh round. |
Loss | 34-4-4 | Jerry Quarry | UD | 10 | 19/03/1970 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California | 3-6, 4-5, 1-6. |
Loss | 47-3 | Sonny Liston | TKO | 7 | 19/05/1969 | Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada | Referee stopped the bout at 2:55 of the seventh round.[10][16] |
Win | 13-5-1 | Bob Felstein | PTS | 10 | 18/02/1969 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California | |
Win | 3-13-1 | Alvin Tiger | TKO | 6 | 02/10/1968 | Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada | |
Win | 5-6-1 | Roy Wallace | UD | 10 | 22/08/1968 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California | 10-0, 6-2, 8-1. |
Win | 8-5-1 | Ray "Windmill" White | UD | 10 | 28/11/1967 | Community Concourse, San Diego, California | [17] |
Win | 9-4-1 | Earl Averette | UD | 10 | 26/10/1967 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California | 12-0, 10-0, 8-2. |
Win | 57-8-3 | Santo Amonti | TKO | 10 | 02/08/1967 | Los Angeles Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California | Referee stopped the bout at 1:19 of the tenth round. |
Loss | 15-0 | Joe Frazier | UD | 10 | 04/05/1967 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California | 3-7, 2-7, 0-10.[18] |
Win | 25-3-4 | Otha Brown | TKO | 7 | 15/12/1966 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California | Referee stopped the bout at 0:59 of the seventh round. |
Loss | 49-8-3 | Eddie Machen | UD | 10 | 29/09/1966 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California | |
Win | 6-6 | Emil Umek | UD | 10 | 26/07/1966 | Stockyards Coliseum, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | |
Loss | 15-0-2 | Jerry Quarry | TKO | 2 | 07/04/1966 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California | Referee stopped the bout at 2:40 of the second round. |
Draw | 11-8-1 | Chuck Leslie | PTS | 10 | 06/01/1966 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California | 4-4, 5-4, 3-4. |
Draw | 5-5-1 | Manuel "Pulgarcito" Ramos | PTS | 10 | 04/11/1965 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California | 3-5, 5-5, 4-4. |
Win | 9-2-1 | Jimmy Harryman | TKO | 10 | 21/10/1965 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California | Referee stopped the bout at 1:18 of the tenth round. |
Loss | 12-1-2 | Elmer Rush | UD | 10 | 27/09/1965 | The Hacienda, Las Vegas, Nevada | |
Loss | 7-2-1 | Henry Clark | PTS | 10 | 23/09/1965 | Kezar Pavilion, San Francisco, California | 1-6. |
Loss | 32-7-1 | Amos Lincoln | KO | 5 | 05/08/1965 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California | Johnson knocked out at 2:27 of the fifth round. |
Win | 8-3-1 | Roy "Cowboy" Rogers | TKO | 7 | 22/06/1965 | Lubbock, Texas | Referee stopped the bout at 2:30 of the seventh round. |
Loss | 7-1-1 | Roy "Cowboy" Rogers | UD | 10 | 09/11/1964 | Dallas Sportatorium, Dallas, Texas | |
Loss | 19-2 | Thad Spencer | KO | 4 | 04/08/1964 | Castaways Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada | |
Loss | 17-17-2 | Sonny "Policeman" Moore | PTS | 10 | 25/05/1964 | Dallas Sportatorium, Dallas, Texas | |
Win | 17-16-2 | Sonny "Policeman" Moore | SD | 10 | 14/04/1964 | Lindsayland Auditorium, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | |
Draw | 5-4-1 | John L Davey | PTS | 10 | 07/04/1964 | Stockyards Coliseum, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | |
Win | 0-2 | Roy Crear | SD | 10 | 17/03/1964 | Lindsayland Auditorium, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | |
Win | 0-8 | Leo "Zorro" Bennett | TKO | 2 | 11/02/1964 | Stockyards Coliseum, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | |
Draw | 35-10-1 | Buddy Turman | PTS | 10 | 05/11/1962 | Tyler, Texas | |
Loss | 14-14-1 | Ernie Cab | KO | 6 | 25/04/1961 | City Auditorium, Houston, Texas | |
Loss | 11-0 | Tod Herring | KO | 6 | 07/03/1961 | Houston, Texas | |
Loss | 34-10-1 | Donnie Fleeman | TKO | 7 | 28/11/1960 | Dallas Memorial Auditorium, Dallas, Texas | |
Win | 0-3 | Leo "Zorro" Bennett | KO | 1 | 15/09/1960 | Oklahoma City Municipal Auditorium, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Bennett knocked out at 2:45 of the first round. |
Loss | 13-4-1 | Floyd Joyner | PTS | 6 | 31/08/1960 | Albuquerque Civic Auditorium, Albuquerque, New Mexico | |
Win | 0-1 | Benny Lee Bowser | PTS | 6 | 02/08/1960 | Port Arthur, Texas | |
Win | -- | Donny Blue | PTS | 6 | 13/06/1960 | Wichita, Kansas | |
Loss | 3-1 | Wayne Heath | PTS | 6 | 12/04/1960 | Lindsayland Auditorium, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | |
Loss | 1-0 | Wayne Heath | PTS | 4 | 24/11/1959 | Lindsayland Auditorium, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | |
Win | 2-7 | Ted Hester | PTS | 4 | 10/11/1959 | Lindsayland Auditorium, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | |
Loss | 11-16-2 | Johnny "J.C." Carroll | TKO | 2 | 09/06/1958 | Tucson Sports Center, Tucson, Arizona |
References
- ↑ Ryan, Joe. Heavyweight Boxing in The 1970s: The Great Fighters and Rivalries, p. 133 (2013)
- ↑ (20 March 1970). Quarry Ease Winner Over Vet Johnson, Reading Eagle
- ↑ Hudson, David L. & Mike Fitzgerald. Boxing's Most Wanted (2004)
- ↑ California Boxing Hall of Fame Inductees, Californiaboxinghalloffame.com (via archive.com 26 June 2008 version of list)
- ↑ Ortiz, Johnny (5 March 2005). Golden Era Boxers Enter California Hall of Fame, Boxing Scene
- ↑ Stewart, Larry (3 March 2005). Imhoff Says Hundley's Line Isn't So 'Hot', Los Angeles Times (confirms hall of fame induction)
- ↑ (8 April 1966). Boxer Fills Old 'Tradition', The Spokesman-Review
- ↑ Barrett, Eldon (23 October 1973). 'Scrap Iron' faces Kirkman, Ellensburg Daily Record (UPI story)
- ↑ (15 March 1970). There's A Ring to Scrap Iron's Name, Independent Press-Telegram
- 1 2 (20 May 1969). 'Scrap' Postpones Wedding After Fight with Liston, Owosso Argus-Press (Associated Press story0
- ↑ Stewart, Larry (6 March 2004). He Liked Running With Tough Crowds, Los Angeles Times
- ↑ Professional boxing record for George Johnson from BoxRec
- ↑ (27 February 1975). Quarry Takes Unanimous Decision Over Scrap Iron, Observer–Reporter (Associated Press story)
- ↑ "Bugner passes stiff test.". The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). ACT: National Library of Australia. 5 November 1970. p. 32. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
- ↑ 1970 Joe Bugner and George "Scrap Iron" Johnson ,boxers, Argentaimages.com, Retrieved 23 January 2014 (photo of Bugner and Johnson)
- ↑ (20 May 1969). Liston Starts Early, Dumps 'Scrap Iron', Milwaukee Journal
- ↑ Crowe, Jerry (15 May 2011). Ray "Windmill" White left his mark on boxing -- from behind, Los Angeles Times
- ↑ (5 May 1967). Frazier Wins But No Kayo, The Miami News (Associated Press story)