Professional boxing record of Len Johnson facts for kids

Len Johnson was a famous British boxer who competed in many fights during the 1920s and 1930s. He was known for his incredible skill and determination in the ring. This article looks at his professional boxing career, highlighting his many wins and the challenges he faced.

Len Johnson's Boxing Career

Len Johnson had a long and impressive career as a professional boxer. He fought many times, showing great strength and talent in each match. His record shows just how dedicated he was to the sport.

His Amazing Record

Len Johnson had a total of 135 professional boxing matches. Out of these, he won 96 fights, lost 32, and had 7 draws. That's a lot of wins! He was especially good at knocking out his opponents, with 37 wins coming by knockout (KO) or technical knockout (TKO). He also won 57 fights by points decision (PTS), meaning the judges decided he was the winner.

He only lost 5 fights by knockout and 25 by points. In two of his fights, his opponent was disqualified (DQ), giving Len the win. He was also disqualified twice himself. This shows he was a tough fighter who rarely gave up.

Important Fights and Titles

Len Johnson fought many well-known boxers of his time. He faced Len Harvey twice, a very famous British boxer. In 1927, Len Johnson beat Harvey by points in a long 20-round fight. This was a big win for him!

He also won some important titles. In 1925, he won the first-ever Northern Area middleweight title. This was a big deal for boxers in his region. Later, in 1929, he won the first Northern Area light-heavyweight title. This showed he could compete and win in different weight classes.

Len also won the Commonwealth middleweight title in Australia in 1926. He defended this title successfully twice. These wins proved he was one of the best boxers, not just in Britain, but across the Commonwealth.

Facing Challenges: The Colour Bar

Despite his amazing talent and many wins, Len Johnson faced unfair rules because of his race. This was known as the "colour bar." Because of this rule, the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) did not recognize some of his fights for British titles.

For example, when he fought Len Harvey again in 1932 for the British middleweight title, the BBBofC did not officially recognize the match. This meant that even if Len Johnson won, he couldn't be the official British champion. This was a very unfair part of boxing history that affected many talented Black boxers like Len.

End of His Boxing Journey

Len Johnson's last recorded professional fight was in October 1933. He had a long and successful career, fighting for over 13 years. Even with the challenges he faced, he proved himself to be a truly great boxer.