Johnny Banks facts for kids

Johnny Banks was a famous African American boxer from the 1800s. He was born on December 25, 1861, in Richmond, Virginia. People knew him by his nickname, "The Darkey Wizard." He even became the "Negro Middleweight Champion of the World" in the mid-1880s.

Johnny Banks: A Boxing Legend

Johnny Banks started his boxing career around 1883. He fought out of New York City. He usually weighed between 128 and 160 pounds. His boxing career lasted until 1899.

Banks's Fighting Style and Record

Johnny Banks was about 5 feet 6 inches tall. He was known for his unique style in the ring. He would often make faces and make sounds like snorting or yelling while fighting. He was a very smart boxer. He also had a powerful right hook, which is a strong punch.

His official boxing record shows 11 wins. Three of these wins were by K.O., meaning he knocked out his opponent. He had eight losses, and he was knocked out three times himself. He also had 17 draws, where neither boxer won.

Many of Johnny Banks's fights were not officially recorded. A boxing historian named Nat Fleischer said that Banks sometimes fought as often as five times a week in Philadelphia. Fleischer believed that Banks fought about once a week for five years. He also claimed that Banks won more than 90% of his matches.

Becoming and Losing the Championship

Johnny Banks claimed the "Negro Middleweight" title. This was a special championship for African American boxers at the time. However, he lost this title on January 26, 1887. This fight was against James Desverney in New York City. Banks was disqualified in the ninth round. Being disqualified means he broke a rule and the referee stopped the fight, giving the win to his opponent.