Harold Johnson (boxer)
| Harold Johnson | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Harold Johnson |
| Nickname(s) | Hercules |
| Rated at |
Light Heavyweight Middleweight |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Reach | 74 in (188 cm) |
| Nationality | American |
| Born |
August 9, 1928 Manayunk, Pennsylvania |
| Died | February 19, 2015 (aged 86) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 88 |
| Wins | 76 |
| Wins by KO | 32 |
| Losses | 11 |
| Draws | 0 |
| No contests | 1 |
Harold Johnson (August 9, 1928 – February 19, 2015) was a professional boxer. He held the World Light Heavyweight Championship from 1962 to 1963.
Johnson was born in Manayunk, Philadelphia. He started boxing while serving in the United States Navy and turned professional in 1946. He won his first twenty-four fights before losing a ten-round decision to Archie Moore in 1949. Moore would be Johnson's biggest career rival. Johnson rebounded with four straight victories, including a ten-round decision win against future Hall of Fame inductee Jimmy Bivins.
Johnson's father, Phil Johnson, was also a professional boxer. Phil and Harold Johnson became the first father/son combination to not only fight the same fighter, but lose to him as well. Both suffered third-round knockout defeats at the hands of future World Heavyweight Champion Jersey Joe Walcott in 1936 and 1950, respectively. Harold lost after suffering an injury to the intervertebral disc in the small of his back.
After five consecutive wins, Johnson resumed his rivalry with Archie Moore, fighting Moore three times in a row between September 1951 and January 1954. All three went the ten-round distance. Johnson lost the rematch, won the rubber match and lost the fourth bout.
In 1952, Johnson split two fights with Bob Satterfield, losing the first by decision and winning the second by knockout, and won a decision over heavyweight contender Nino Valdez. The following year, he defeated former World Heavyweight Champion Ezzard Charles by a split decision. Johnson would finally get a title shot eight years into his career in his fifth and final fight against Archie Moore in 1954. Moore was making the third defense of the World Light Heavyweight Championship. In an exciting fight, Johnson knocked Moore down in the 10th round and was ahead on the scorecards after 13 rounds. But Moore rallied, knocking Johnson down and stopping him in the 14th round.
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