Johnny Owen's weight

[vitalyjohnson]

I recently stumbled over this guy's fascinating story.



Here's some thoughts.

This guy had championship attributes. Heart, determination, toughness, good fundamentals, hard work, stamina and hand speed.

He clearly should have been a 126 pounder. He was way too thin at 118.

He was running 9 to 12 miles per day. What did they expect? And a nutty attention to diet. No beer, no sweets. Of course, he's gonna look like a long distance runner. This wasn't rocket science.

I would have had him lift some weights to bring his weight up. Eat healthy but do some stuff to fill him out a little. He should have been 135-140 before he cut to make 126 weight.

And what was up with his dad encouraging him not to date women?

Anyway great fighter, amazing discipline.

However, his determination and some weird ideas (having to be 118, no women) probably led to his demise.

He was way over trained for the Pintor fight.

Really think he could have been a champ with a long career with a less rabid approach.

[Duran1970]

No women led to his demise??? Now that's something I've never heard before...

[evrenb]

No women led to his demise??? Now that's something I've never heard before...

It's almost always that the opposite is true

[f read]

Johnny Owen is an incredible story. He was a man totally dedicated to the sport he loved. You talk about discipline no women no sex diet wow. It has been 40 years now and he will never be forgotten. He was overmatched by Lupe Pintor and was just not in the same league. It is a terrible tragedy what happened but boxing is a brutal hard hitting vicious contact sport. Johnny Owen you will always be remembered by boxing fans far and wide.

[Fray Bentos]

He had an abnormally thin skull and that led to his death.

He did a lot with his young life, he was a fighter without a big punch and bantamweight was his correct weight, he relied on workrate and stamina, at featherweight, he would have had to contend with Pat Cowdell which wouldn't have been a good idea - saying that - he was British, European and Commonwealth champion and was a world class fighter at bantamweight - he was fighting his way to that chance of fighting either Pintor or Jeff Chandler.

Women have ruined many boxers careers, ask Mike Tyson...

He left school at 15 and worked in a factory and ended up buying a shop for his family with his ring earnings. His death was a tragic accident. RIP.

[vitalyjohnson]

Johnny Owen is an incredible story. He was a man totally dedicated to the sport he loved. You talk about discipline no women no sex diet wow. It has been 40 years now and he will never be forgotten. He was overmatched by Lupe Pintor and was just not in the same league. It is a terrible tragedy what happened but boxing is a brutal hard hitting vicious contact sport. Johnny Owen you will always be remembered by boxing fans far and wide.

My hypothesis is that he overtrained his body into frailty. There may have been an inflexibility in his approach to training.

With a more sturdy body plus his heart and stamina, guy would have been a champion.

He was beating Pintor over the first 8 rounds. It is his overworked body that couldn't handle the pace and led to the knockdowns.

A better training approach would have led him to more punching power and made him more dangerous.

Guy is legendary for lots of reasons but, as tragic figures go, his great tenacity might also have led to his demise.

[f read]

He was a story like Deuk Koo Kim too much heart and courage for his own good. In these cases unfortunately it cost both warriors their lives.

[Noxy]

Johnny Owen - legend. RIP champ.

[chrisjs1985]

Owen was a Spartan. He lived and breathed boxing. In this day and age, yes, they'd probably have him make 126 with a bit more meat on him. He had a lot of talent but not great talent. He had good fundamentals, great volume, smarts, and heart. A fighter his caliber would win a few titles in today's game, of that I am sure.

He did have an abnormally thin skin and actually had a thick jaw. That meant that his jaw could absorb really hard hits but it meant that the connect could and indeed would smash his skull. Just a terrible tragedy as it is when any fighter dies or is injured badly. Owen was a really nice young man and just so likable so it makes it even harder (if that's possible) to fathom that he died so young. He did, however, die doing what he absolutely loved and he gave an amazing display that night too.

[Fray Bentos]

Johnny Owen is an incredible story. He was a man totally dedicated to the sport he loved. You talk about discipline no women no sex diet wow. It has been 40 years now and he will never be forgotten. He was overmatched by Lupe Pintor and was just not in the same league. It is a terrible tragedy what happened but boxing is a brutal hard hitting vicious contact sport. Johnny Owen you will always be remembered by boxing fans far and wide.

My hypothesis is that he overtrained his body into frailty. There may have been an inflexibility in his approach to training.

With a more sturdy body plus his heart and stamina, guy would have been a champion.

He was beating Pintor over the first 8 rounds. It is his overworked body that couldn't handle the pace and led to the knockdowns.

A better training approach would have led him to more punching power and made him more dangerous.

Guy is legendary for lots of reasons but, as tragic figures go, his great tenacity might also have led to his demise.

You are on wrong on every count - everything you have said is wrong

His skull was so thin, he wouldn't have got a licence to box if he was active today.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/other ... fight.html

But if he did fight in those days at featherweight, he wouldn't have got past Pat Cowdell or Salvador Sanchez, or Eusebio Pedroza - that he puts on another 8 pounds wouldn't have made him a power puncher.

He was a world class fighter who got to the top of his game with the strengths he had... you are just going down the road of 'If my Auntie had bollocks she would be my uncle...'

[vitalyjohnson]

Johnny Owen is an incredible story. He was a man totally dedicated to the sport he loved. You talk about discipline no women no sex diet wow. It has been 40 years now and he will never be forgotten. He was overmatched by Lupe Pintor and was just not in the same league. It is a terrible tragedy what happened but boxing is a brutal hard hitting vicious contact sport. Johnny Owen you will always be remembered by boxing fans far and wide.

My hypothesis is that he overtrained his body into frailty. There may have been an inflexibility in his approach to training.

With a more sturdy body plus his heart and stamina, guy would have been a champion.

He was beating Pintor over the first 8 rounds. It is his overworked body that couldn't handle the pace and led to the knockdowns.

A better training approach would have led him to more punching power and made him more dangerous.

Guy is legendary for lots of reasons but, as tragic figures go, his great tenacity might also have led to his demise.

You are on wrong on every count - everything you have said is wrong

His skull was so thin, he wouldn't have got a licence to box if he was active today.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/other ... fight.html

But if he did fight in those days at featherweight, he wouldn't have got past Pat Cowdell or Salvador Sanchez, or Eusebio Pedroza - that he puts on another 8 pounds wouldn't have made him a power puncher.

He was a world class fighter who got to the top of his game with the strengths he had... you are just going down the road of 'If my Auntie had bollocks she would be my uncle...'

Love Johnny Owen. Man had certain attributes that any boxer would want.

And a class act as a person.

I just think he was mishandled in some respects.

As a manager, would you send your fighter in looking like that?

People feared for his frailty and it finally caught up to him against Pintor.

He was clearly a featherweight.

It was his skill, heart and courage that grit out those outstanding victories despite carrying too little weight and too little muscle.

Why they wanted to fight him like that, who knows?

Anyway, great respect to the man. Just wish his journey went on a bit longer. Would have loved to have seen it.

[Fray Bentos]

My hypothesis is that he overtrained his body into frailty. There may have been an inflexibility in his approach to training.

With a more sturdy body plus his heart and stamina, guy would have been a champion.

He was beating Pintor over the first 8 rounds. It is his overworked body that couldn't handle the pace and led to the knockdowns.

A better training approach would have led him to more punching power and made him more dangerous.

Guy is legendary for lots of reasons but, as tragic figures go, his great tenacity might also have led to his demise.

You are on wrong on every count - everything you have said is wrong

His skull was so thin, he wouldn't have got a licence to box if he was active today.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/other ... fight.html

But if he did fight in those days at featherweight, he wouldn't have got past Pat Cowdell or Salvador Sanchez, or Eusebio Pedroza - that he puts on another 8 pounds wouldn't have made him a power puncher.

He was a world class fighter who got to the top of his game with the strengths he had... you are just going down the road of 'If my Auntie had bollocks she would be my uncle...'

Love Johnny Owen. Man had certain attributes that any boxer would want.

And a class act as a person.

I just think he was mishandled in some respects.

As a manager, would you send your fighter in looking like that?

People feared for his frailty and it finally caught up to him against Pintor.

He was clearly a featherweight.

It was his skill, heart and courage that grit out those outstanding victories despite carrying too little weight and too little muscle.

Why they wanted to fight him like that, who knows?

Anyway, great respect to the man. Just wish his journey went on a bit longer. Would have loved to have seen it.

He wouldn't have boxed today, he would have failed the medical.

He was a boxer who relied on stamina and volume, he beat some really good lads on his record, Nati, Rodriguez, Fererri and Feeney.

He won all domestic and continental honours, he didn't have the punch to win a world title or keep it but he was a 15 round fighter - Lupe Pintor was a beast at that weight! I think we are taking away the fact that he might not have developed a KO punch at 126lbs - his style was volume and stamina and it worked for him.

He was an inch taller than Ricardo Lopez at 5ft 6ins - Lopez was scrawny but the greatest minimumweight of all time! He was a beast with tremendous KO power - Owen had his style and Lopez had his. It is as simple as that.

[vitalyjohnson]

You are on wrong on every count - everything you have said is wrong

His skull was so thin, he wouldn't have got a licence to box if he was active today.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/other ... fight.html

But if he did fight in those days at featherweight, he wouldn't have got past Pat Cowdell or Salvador Sanchez, or Eusebio Pedroza - that he puts on another 8 pounds wouldn't have made him a power puncher.

He was a world class fighter who got to the top of his game with the strengths he had... you are just going down the road of 'If my Auntie had bollocks she would be my uncle...'

Love Johnny Owen. Man had certain attributes that any boxer would want.

And a class act as a person.

I just think he was mishandled in some respects.

As a manager, would you send your fighter in looking like that?

People feared for his frailty and it finally caught up to him against Pintor.

He was clearly a featherweight.

It was his skill, heart and courage that grit out those outstanding victories despite carrying too little weight and too little muscle.

Why they wanted to fight him like that, who knows?

Anyway, great respect to the man. Just wish his journey went on a bit longer. Would have loved to have seen it.

He wouldn't have boxed today, he would have failed the medical.

He was a boxer who relied on stamina and volume, he beat some really good lads on his record, Nati, Rodriguez, Fererri and Feeney.

He won all domestic and continental honours, he didn't have the punch to win a world title or keep it but he was a 15 round fighter - Lupe Pintor was a beast at that weight! I think we are taking away the fact that he might not have developed a KO punch at 126lbs - his style was volume and stamina and it worked for him.

He was an inch taller than Ricardo Lopez at 5ft 6ins - Lopez was scrawny but the greatest minimumweight of all time! He was a beast with tremendous KO power - Owen had his style and Lopez had his. It is as simple as that.

Johnny was on the north side of 5'8". More like 5'9".

His height was misreported for the Pintor fight.

[Fray Bentos]

Love Johnny Owen. Man had certain attributes that any boxer would want.

And a class act as a person.

I just think he was mishandled in some respects.

As a manager, would you send your fighter in looking like that?

People feared for his frailty and it finally caught up to him against Pintor.

He was clearly a featherweight.

It was his skill, heart and courage that grit out those outstanding victories despite carrying too little weight and too little muscle.

Why they wanted to fight him like that, who knows?

Anyway, great respect to the man. Just wish his journey went on a bit longer. Would have loved to have seen it.

He wouldn't have boxed today, he would have failed the medical.

He was a boxer who relied on stamina and volume, he beat some really good lads on his record, Nati, Rodriguez, Fererri and Feeney.

He won all domestic and continental honours, he didn't have the punch to win a world title or keep it but he was a 15 round fighter - Lupe Pintor was a beast at that weight! I think we are taking away the fact that he might not have developed a KO punch at 126lbs - his style was volume and stamina and it worked for him.

He was an inch taller than Ricardo Lopez at 5ft 6ins - Lopez was scrawny but the greatest minimumweight of all time! He was a beast with tremendous KO power - Owen had his style and Lopez had his. It is as simple as that.

Johnny was on the north side of 5'8". More like 5'9".

His height was misreported for the Pintor fight.

You have never heard of him until last week

He had his style, that you think an extra eight pounds makes him a power puncher is ridiculous.

[vitalyjohnson]

He wouldn't have boxed today, he would have failed the medical.

He was a boxer who relied on stamina and volume, he beat some really good lads on his record, Nati, Rodriguez, Fererri and Feeney.

He won all domestic and continental honours, he didn't have the punch to win a world title or keep it but he was a 15 round fighter - Lupe Pintor was a beast at that weight! I think we are taking away the fact that he might not have developed a KO punch at 126lbs - his style was volume and stamina and it worked for him.

He was an inch taller than Ricardo Lopez at 5ft 6ins - Lopez was scrawny but the greatest minimumweight of all time! He was a beast with tremendous KO power - Owen had his style and Lopez had his. It is as simple as that.

Johnny was on the north side of 5'8". More like 5'9".

His height was misreported for the Pintor fight.

You have never heard of him until last week

He had his style, that you think an extra eight pounds makes him a power puncher is ridiculous.

KO Puncher? Of course not.

The weight would have given his body more support under duress and added a little to his punching power.

Only that iron will must have pulled that malnourished body through those impressive victories.

[Fray Bentos]

Johnny was on the north side of 5'8". More like 5'9".

His height was misreported for the Pintor fight.

You have never heard of him until last week

He had his style, that you think an extra eight pounds makes him a power puncher is ridiculous.

KO Puncher? Of course not.

The weight would have given his body more support under duress and added a little to his punching power.

Only that iron will must have pulled that malnourished body through those impressive victories.

Did Ricardo Lopez at 5ft 5ins and 105lbs have a 'malnourished' body.

If he was 'malnourished' how did he do 15 rounds against the likes of Paul Ferreri?

[vitalyjohnson]

You have never heard of him until last week

He had his style, that you think an extra eight pounds makes him a power puncher is ridiculous.

KO Puncher? Of course not.

The weight would have given his body more support under duress and added a little to his punching power.

Only that iron will must have pulled that malnourished body through those impressive victories.

Did Ricardo Lopez at 5ft 5ins and 105lbs have a 'malnourished' body.

If he was 'malnourished' how did he do 15 rounds against the likes of Paul Ferreri?

Malnourished is hyperbole. Look at the guy -- he was frightfully skinny.

People called it out for years.

[Fray Bentos]

KO Puncher? Of course not.

The weight would have given his body more support under duress and added a little to his punching power.

Only that iron will must have pulled that malnourished body through those impressive victories.

Did Ricardo Lopez at 5ft 5ins and 105lbs have a 'malnourished' body.

If he was 'malnourished' how did he do 15 rounds against the likes of Paul Ferreri?

Malnourished is hyperbole. Look at the guy -- he was frightfully skinny.

People called it out for years.

You used the word 'malnourished' he wasn't - he was naturally slim. Which is why he was successful at bantamweight.

You don't seem to know a lot about boxing, eh? Who was the tallest world bantamweight champion in history?

[vitalyjohnson]

Did Ricardo Lopez at 5ft 5ins and 105lbs have a 'malnourished' body.

If he was 'malnourished' how did he do 15 rounds against the likes of Paul Ferreri?

Malnourished is hyperbole. Look at the guy -- he was frightfully skinny.

People called it out for years.

You used the word 'malnourished' he wasn't - he was naturally slim. Which is why he was successful at bantamweight.

You don't seem to know a lot about boxing, eh? Who was the tallest world bantamweight champion in history?

Johnny Owen was emaciated. Why did he have the nicknames?

His trademark was a skeleton.

[Fray Bentos]

Malnourished is hyperbole. Look at the guy -- he was frightfully skinny.

People called it out for years.

You used the word 'malnourished' he wasn't - he was naturally slim. Which is why he was successful at bantamweight.

You don't seem to know a lot about boxing, eh? Who was the tallest world bantamweight champion in history?

Johnny Owen was emaciated. Why did he have the nicknames?

His trademark was a skeleton.

If he was 'emaciated' he wouldn't have been able to do 15 rounds.

[vitalyjohnson]

You used the word 'malnourished' he wasn't - he was naturally slim. Which is why he was successful at bantamweight.

You don't seem to know a lot about boxing, eh? Who was the tallest world bantamweight champion in history?

Johnny Owen was emaciated. Why did he have the nicknames?

His trademark was a skeleton.

If he was 'emaciated' he wouldn't have been able to do 15 rounds.

He was too thin. He was clearly a weight class too small.

Watch the Pintor fight. The announcer, colorman Danny Lopez and the other commentator address his lack of weight ad nauseum.

[Fray Bentos]

Johnny Owen was emaciated. Why did he have the nicknames?

His trademark was a skeleton.

If he was 'emaciated' he wouldn't have been able to do 15 rounds.

He was too thin. He was clearly a weight class too small.

Watch the Pintor fight. The announcer, colorman Danny Lopez and the other commentator address his lack of weight ad nauseum.

You're trolling now, aren't you?

[vitalyjohnson]

If he was 'emaciated' he wouldn't have been able to do 15 rounds.

He was too thin. He was clearly a weight class too small.

Watch the Pintor fight. The announcer, colorman Danny Lopez and the other commentator address his lack of weight ad nauseum.

You're trolling now, aren't you?

What are you talking about? Seems like you're trolling.

I think the guy fought too light. He was painfully skinny.

He had a bizarre approach to training that I don't think was optimal.

Why is that trolling?

[Fray Bentos]

He was too thin. He was clearly a weight class too small.

Watch the Pintor fight. The announcer, colorman Danny Lopez and the other commentator address his lack of weight ad nauseum.

You're trolling now, aren't you?

What are you talking about? Seems like you're trolling.

I think the guy fought too light. He was painfully skinny.

He had a bizarre approach to training that I don't think was optimal.

Why is that trolling?

Because you're trolling.

You know nothing about his training - you only heard about him last week

[bennie]

Johnny Owen was a good fighter but he was never going to beat Lupe Pintor, a throwback 15-round fighter who finished like a train in his world title fights, even those for which he struggled desperately to make the weight. As an old fighter, Pintor showed his forte yet again when he outlasted Juan "Kid" Meza to win another world title. He was a bit slow but strong, patient, heavy-handed and simply more talented than Owen, whose only plan was to throw punches non-stop and win his fights on workrate.
For me, Johnny was exposed by the Spaniard Juan Francisco Rodriguez in their much-hyped rematch in Wales in 1980 for the European bantamweight title. Owen had ventured to Spain a year earlier and dropped a majority 15-round decision which had team Owen crying "robbery!" Owen was all set up for revenge in the rematch but he struggled to stamp his dominance on Rodriguez, who actually outboxed Owen but conceded more rounds on nothing but Owen's incessant arm punches. Scores were relatively close.
Owen's one-dimensional approach had reached its level and filling out and moving to featherweight was never going to alter that fact. His only hope was to slow down, pick his punches, use the jab, pace himself and so on and so forth but he opted for the 'Banzai' approach and had no plan B when Pintor began to take inevitable control as their fight wore on in Los Angeles. Johnny needed better coaching earlier in his career and closer inspection by the Board, particularly after he was badly hurt by Dave Smith in defence of his British bantamweight title in Wales in 1979, although Johnny stayed on his feet and came back to stop Smith. The challenger was not a puncher and had been floored seven times by Charlie Magri in a previous British title attempt at flyweight, before it was stopped. Smith had nothing with which to hold Magri off.
Moreover, just the very look of Owen told you that something was amiss. Surely an X-ray of his skull was not too much to ask?