Johnny Owen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Johnny Owen |
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Statue of Owen in Merthyr Tydfil
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| Statistics | |
| Real name | John Richard Owens |
| Nickname(s) |
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| Rated at | Bantamweight |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in |
| Nationality | Welsh |
| Born | 7 January 1956 Merthyr Tydfil, Wales |
| Died | 4 November 1980 (aged 24) Los Angeles, California, US |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 28 |
| Wins | 25 |
| Wins by KO | 11 |
| Losses | 2 |
| Draws | 1 |
Johnny Owen (born John Richard Owens; January 7, 1956 – November 4, 1980) was a famous Welsh boxer. People called him the "Merthyr Matchstick" or the "Bionic Bantam" because he looked very thin. He started boxing when he was only eight years old.
Johnny had a long amateur career, fighting over 120 times and representing his home country, Wales. He became a professional boxer in September 1976 at age 20. He won his first fight and soon after, he won his first title: the Welsh Area bantamweight title.
In 1977, Johnny won the British bantamweight title. He was the first Welshman in over 60 years to hold this important belt. He kept winning, defending his British title and then winning the Commonwealth bantamweight title against a very experienced boxer named Paul Ferreri.
Later, he fought for the European title against Juan Francisco Rodríguez in Spain. Johnny lost this fight in a very controversial decision. But he didn't give up! He won seven more fights in a row and challenged Rodríguez again in 1980. This time, Johnny won and became the European champion.
His biggest fight was on September 19, 1980, when he challenged Lupe Pintor for the WBC world bantamweight title. Johnny lost the fight in the twelfth round and was badly hurt. He never woke up and sadly died seven weeks later in a hospital in Los Angeles. He was only 24 years old.
Johnny Owen had a professional record of 25 wins (11 by knockout), 1 draw, and only 2 losses. Both of his losses were against Rodríguez and Pintor. He is still remembered as a hero in his hometown of Merthyr Tydfil, where a statue was put up in 2002 to honor him.
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Growing Up in Merthyr Tydfil
Johnny Owen was born John Richard Owens in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, on January 7, 1956. He was the fourth of eight children in his family. His parents, Dick and Edith Owens, were working-class people. The family lived in a rented house in the Gellideg area of Merthyr.
Johnny was described as a quiet and kind child. He was very caring and helped his family a lot. For example, when he was seven, he would do the family's weekly grocery shopping. His father once said that when the family got sick with the flu, Johnny took care of everyone.
Johnny's father worked as a miner and later at a shoe factory. His mother had health problems after having their seventh child. Johnny's family was very important to him, and he wanted to help them.
Johnny's Amateur Boxing Journey
Johnny started boxing at age eight, inspired by another boxer from Merthyr, Jimmy Wilde. He joined the Merthyr Amateur Boxing Club with his brothers. By age ten, he was already showing great energy and skill in the ring. He traveled around Wales and England, competing in youth boxing matches.
One challenge Johnny faced was making weight for his fights. He often struggled to gain enough weight each year for the Welsh amateur championships. His trainer even said Johnny's mother sometimes put lead in his shorts to help him reach the right weight!
Johnny later joined the Hoover Amateur Boxing Club. He was a friendly person outside the ring, but he needed to be encouraged to fight with all his strength during matches. He fought many times as an amateur, winning 106 of his 124 fights. He also represented Wales 19 times, losing only twice.
People often noticed Johnny's thin body. When he fought for Wales against Sweden in 1975, the crowd laughed when he took off his robe. That's when he got the nickname "Matchstick Man." A doctor even thought he was too frail to box once, but Johnny proved them wrong by winning his fight.
Becoming a Professional Boxer
Johnny became a professional boxer on September 1, 1976. He signed with manager Dai Gardiner and changed his name to Johnny Owen. His main goal was to win a British title and support his family. He wanted to buy them a house.
His first professional fight was on September 30, 1976, against George Sutton. Johnny won by one point, which was a big deal because Sutton was a top boxer. This win immediately made Johnny well-known in the boxing world.
Johnny's second fight was in Northern Ireland during a difficult time called The Troubles. The fight had many interruptions, including a bomb threat and the lights going out! The match ended in a controversial draw.
In 1977, Johnny fought George Sutton again for the vacant Welsh bantamweight title. He won, and a reporter called him the "Bionic Bantam" because of his amazing stamina, like the TV character Steve Austin from The Six Million Dollar Man.
Winning British and Commonwealth Titles
Johnny's next big step was fighting for the British bantamweight title against Paddy Maguire in November 1977. Maguire was the champion, but Johnny was expected to be a serious challenge. Johnny fought very well, and the referee stopped the fight in the eleventh round because Maguire had a bad cut. At just 21 years old, Johnny Owen became the British bantamweight champion! He was the first Welsh boxer to win this title since 1913.
After his win, Johnny became very famous in Merthyr. He was named Welsh Boxer of the Year for 1977. He successfully defended his British title against Wayne Evans in 1978, even though he suffered a ruptured eardrum during the fight.
In November 1978, Johnny fought Paul Ferreri for the vacant Commonwealth bantamweight title. Ferreri was a very experienced Australian boxer. The fight was tough, but Johnny's incredible stamina helped him win on points. This victory earned him more awards, including Best Young Fighter by the Boxing Writers' Club.
Challenging for the European Title
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Johnny's success led him to challenge Juan Francisco Rodríguez of Spain for the European bantamweight title. The fight took place in Spain in March 1979. There were many problems before and during the fight. Johnny's team felt that the Spanish officials were unfair. Rodríguez also used some illegal moves during the match.
Johnny lost the fight in a very controversial decision. Many people, including boxing experts, believed Johnny had clearly won. This loss made Johnny and his team very upset. Even the Welsh Area Boxing Council investigated the fight and called it "the worst decision" they had ever seen.
Despite the unfair loss, Johnny kept fighting. He won seven more fights in a row, including defending his British and Commonwealth titles. He was determined to get a rematch with Rodríguez.
The rematch happened in February 1980 in Wales. This time, Johnny won! He beat Rodríguez on points and became the European bantamweight champion.
The Final Fight and Legacy
After becoming European champion, Johnny Owen was ready for his biggest challenge: fighting Lupe Pintor for the WBC world bantamweight title. The fight took place in Los Angeles, USA, on September 19, 1980. Johnny was considered the underdog, but he fought bravely.
The fight was very tough. Johnny suffered a bad cut to his lip early on. In the ninth round, Pintor knocked Johnny down for the first time in his professional career. Johnny got back up, but Pintor continued to dominate. In the twelfth round, Pintor knocked Johnny down again, and the referee stopped the fight. Johnny fell unconscious and never woke up. He died seven weeks later, on November 4, 1980, at the age of 24.
Johnny's death was a huge tragedy. His family held no anger towards Lupe Pintor and even sent him messages of support. Thousands of people attended Johnny's funeral in Merthyr Tydfil. His death, and others like it, led to changes in boxing rules to make fights safer, such as reducing championship fights from 15 rounds to 12.
Johnny Owen is remembered for his incredible dedication, stamina, and sportsmanship. He trained tirelessly and was known for being a true gentleman in and out of the ring. He never used foul punches and always showed respect to his opponents.
In 2002, a statue of Johnny Owen was put up in Merthyr Tydfil. Lupe Pintor even traveled from Mexico to attend the unveiling, showing the respect between the two boxers. Johnny Owen remains a heroic figure in Wales, remembered for his courage and determination.
Professional Boxing Record Summary
| 28 fights | 25 wins | 2 losses |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 11 | 1 |
| By decision | 14 | 1 |
| Draws | 1 | |
Images for kids
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Statue of Owen in Merthyr Tydfil
See also
In Spanish: Johnny Owen para niños
- List of British bantamweight boxing champions
- List of Commonwealth Boxing Council bantamweight champions
- List of European Boxing Union bantamweight champions
- List of Lonsdale Belt Winners
