Len Johnson (boxer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Len Johnson |
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Johnson at Prescot in 1936
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| Statistics | |
| Real name | Leonard Benker Johnson |
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| Rated at |
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| Height | 6 ft 1 in |
| Reach | 74+1/2 in |
| Born | 22 October 1902 Clayton, Manchester, England |
| Died | 28 September 1974 (aged 71) Oldham, Manchester, England |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 135 |
| Wins | 96 |
| Wins by KO | 37 |
| Losses | 32 |
| Draws | 7 |
Leonard Benker Johnson (born October 22, 1902 – died September 28, 1974) was a famous British boxer. People often called him Len Johnson. He competed in boxing from 1920 to 1933. Len was known for his amazing boxing skills. He was smart and hard to hit. Many people thought he was one of the best middleweight boxers of his time.
Len Johnson held the British Empire middleweight title. He was the first non-white boxer to win a major title during a time called the "British colour bar era." This was a period when rules unfairly stopped non-white boxers from competing for certain titles. Len also won championships in the Northern Area for middleweight and light-heavyweight boxing.
After his boxing career, Len became an important activist. He worked for workers' rights in Manchester during the 1940s and 1950s. He joined the Communist Party of Great Britain and helped start the New International Club. This club helped black people in Manchester organize and fight against racism. Len played a big part in ending the colour bar in boxing in 1947. This change allowed Dick Turpin to become Britain's first Black boxing champion in 1948. Len also influenced important changes like the Race Relations Act 1965. This law made racial discrimination in public places illegal.
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Early Life and Family
Len Johnson was born on October 22, 1902, in Clayton, Manchester, England. His mother, Margaret, was English with Irish family. His father, William, was from Sierra Leone. This made Len mixed-race. He had two brothers, Albert and William, who also became professional boxers.
Len's father, William, was a merchant seaman and a boxer. He even claimed the heavyweight championship of the North of England in 1903. Len's family faced a lot of unfair treatment because his father was black. His mother was even hurt in a racist attack.
The Johnson family moved to Leeds for a while. There, Len's father set up a traveling boxing show. Len went to school in Leeds. But when World War I started, they moved back to Manchester. Young Len left school to work in a factory. He grew up in a diverse neighborhood with people from many different backgrounds.
Learning to Box
Len's father introduced him to boxing very early. When Len was just two years old, his father announced him as "Len Johnson the Youngest Boxer in the World" at a boxing show.
When Len was 19, his father saw his talent. He encouraged Len to try boxing seriously. Len and his brothers joined the Alhambra Amateur Boxing Club in Manchester. There, he learned from a former fighter named Jack Smith. Len was amazed by the sparring matches he saw. He learned a lot about fighting and not giving up.
He also worked in "boxing booths" run by people like Bill Moore and Bert Hughes. These were places where boxers fought for entertainment. Len gained a lot of experience and confidence in these booths. He learned how to box better and improve his stamina.
Professional Boxing Career
Len Johnson started his professional boxing career on April 17, 1920, when he was 17. His first few fights were tough. But he kept training and improving his skills. He used boxing booths to practice and get better.
He soon started winning many fights. He beat famous boxers like Ted "Kid" Lewis, a former world welterweight champion, in 1925. Len was known for his strong left hand and his ability to avoid punches.
Fighting the Colour Bar
Len Johnson faced a big challenge in his career: the "colour bar." This was an unfair rule that stopped non-white boxers from competing for major British titles. The British Boxing Board of Control had a rule (Rule 24) that said title contestants "must have two white parents." This meant Len could not fight for the important Lonsdale Belt.
Despite this, Len traveled to Australia in 1926. There, he fought Harry Collins for the middleweight championship of the British Empire. Len brilliantly defeated Collins on points. This was a huge moment because it was the first time a black boxer held a British Empire championship during the colour bar era. However, authorities in Britain still refused to recognize his win. They said the fight was not for the British Empire championship because Len was not "white enough."
A promoter named Hugh D. McIntosh was upset by this unfairness. He started creating his own special belts for British Empire championships. He said that no color or background would be barred from these new contests.
Return to England
After his time in Australia, Len returned to England. He continued to fight and win against top boxers. He defeated Roland Todd, who was the British and European middleweight champion. He also beat Len Harvey, who would later become a middleweight champion.
Len's skills were clear to everyone. Many people felt he deserved to fight for the official British titles. But the colour bar still stood in his way.
Moving Up in Weight
In 1928, Len decided to move up to the light-heavyweight division. He fought and beat Gipsy Daniels, a former British light-heavyweight champion. Len showed great skill, even though Daniels was much heavier. This victory made many people want to see Len fight for the light-heavyweight title. But again, the colour bar prevented him.
Len continued to fight and win against top European boxers. He defeated Leone Jacovacci, the European middleweight champion, and Michele Bonaglia, the European light-heavyweight champion.
Retirement and Activism
In 1930, Len Johnson announced he was retiring from boxing. He was frustrated because the colour bar stopped him from getting championship fights. He said, "I have been trying for years to get championship fights, but I always find it impossible, because of the prejudice in some sporting circles against men of colour."
However, Len did make a comeback. He continued to fight and impress crowds with his boxing. In 1932, he became the first black fighter to compete at the Royal Albert Hall in London. This was a big step, as the British Boxing Board of Control had started to change some of its rules. They began to allow black boxers to compete for British Empire titles.
Len fought Len Harvey again in 1932 for the British middleweight title. This was an "unofficial championship" because the British Boxing Board of Control still wouldn't fully sanction it for a black boxer. Len narrowly lost the fight, but it was a very close and exciting match.
Len officially retired from boxing in 1933 at the age of 30. He had 96 wins in 135 fights. His eyesight was starting to fail, and he was tired of the unfair rules. He later wrote that he wouldn't change anything about his career, despite the challenges.
Life After Boxing
After retiring from boxing, Len Johnson became a boxing trainer. He helped young boxers develop their skills. He also worked as a truck driver and wrote a boxing column for a newspaper.
During World War II, Len worked in the Civil Defence Rescue Squad. He helped rescue injured people from bombed buildings in Manchester. He also served in the National Fire Service.
Fighting for Justice
Len's experiences with racism and poverty led him to become a strong activist. He joined the Communist Party of Great Britain after the war. He was inspired by his friend Paul Robeson, an American singer and activist, who encouraged Len to fight for justice outside the ring.
Len helped create the New International Club in Manchester. This club was a place for black people to organize and fight against racism. They worked to improve housing and job opportunities for black people. The club also organized events to support civil rights movements around the world.
In 1949, the New International Club hosted Paul Robeson in Manchester and Liverpool. Thousands of people attended these events. This brought more attention and support to the club's work.
Len also ran for a seat on the Manchester City Council several times. Although he didn't win, he acted as an unofficial representative for Manchester's black community. He helped resolve disputes involving inequality and racism. In 1953, he played a key role in overturning a pub's policy that separated white and black customers. He organized a protest, and eventually, the pub changed its rules.
Later Years and Legacy
In his later years, Len Johnson faced health problems. He died on September 28, 1974, at the age of 71. He passed away two years before the Race Relations Act 1976 was passed. This law made racial discrimination even more illegal in Britain.
Today, many people remember Len Johnson as a great boxer and a brave activist. He fought against unfairness both inside and outside the boxing ring. His efforts helped pave the way for a more equal society in Britain.
People have suggested building a statue of Len Johnson in Manchester to honor his contributions. Leaders like Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, support this idea. They believe his story of fighting for civil rights should be told more widely.
Many boxing experts and fellow boxers praised Len's skills. They said he was one of the best welterweights and middleweights of his time. His friend, Len Harvey, said, "Only his colour prevented him from winning the highest honors in the game."
Len Johnson's life has also inspired plays and artwork. A musical called Struggle for Freedom was created about his life. Later, a play called Len Johnson Fighter also told his story. These works help keep his memory and his fight for justice alive.
Images for kids
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Len Johnson's grave in Southern Cemetery, Manchester
See also
- Dorothy Kuya
- Billy Strachan
- Charlie Hutchison
- Trevor Carter
- Claudia Jones
