BoxRec

One guy that I always thought we should discuss more is Harold Johnson. He had a very interesting career, but you don't a whole lot about him. Maybe part of it is because style; he often wasn't that impressive in 10 second highlights. However, he was very impressive over the length of an entire fight. It's is funny, when people do discuss him they usually are very positive about him.

He is probably most known for his fights with Archie Moore, in which he was 1-4. He was ahead in their last fight (the only tile fight vs Moore) but was knocked out in the 14th. He lost three decisions and won a decision vs Moore as well.

He also beat light heavyweight contenders such as Eddie Cotton, Henry Hank, Gustov Scholz, Jessie Bowdry, and Doug Jones. He did lose his light heavyweight tile in an upset against Willie Pastrano. He was also knocked out by Oakland Billy Smith and Julio Medoros. He was accused of throwing the Medoros fight, but denied this and claimed that he was sick.

What is also interesting is that he fought frequently against heavyweights. He was knocked out in the 3rd by Walcott. (Walcott also knocked out Johnson's dad in the 3rd several years earlier.
Over a long career he beat Arturo Godoy, Marty Marshall, Nino Valdes,Clarence Henry, Eddie Machen and Ezzard Charles. He also beat Jimmy Bivins.

Just thought it would be interesting to discuss someone who had such an interesting career yet doesn't get a whole lot of attention.

Ambling Alp II wrote:One guy that I always thought we should discuss more is Harold Johnson. He had a very interesting career, but you don't a whole lot about him. Maybe part of it is because style; he often wasn't that impressive in 10 second highlights. However, he was very impressive over the length of an entire fight. It's is funny, when people do discuss him they usually are very positive about him.

He is probably most known for his fights with Archie Moore, in which he was 1-4. He was ahead in their last fight (the only tile fight vs Moore) but was knocked out in the 14th. He lost three decisions and won a decision vs Moore as well.

He also beat light heavyweight contenders such as Eddie Cotton, Henry Hank, Gustov Scholz, Jessie Bowdry, and Doug Jones. He did lose his light heavyweight tile in an upset against Willie Pastrano. He was also knocked out by Oakland Billy Smith and Julio Medoros. He was accused of throwing the Medoros fight, but denied this and claimed that he was sick.

What is also interesting is that he fought frequently against heavyweights. He was knocked out in the 3rd by Walcott. (Walcott also knocked out Johnson's dad in the 3rd several years earlier.
Over a long career he beat Arturo Godoy, Marty Marshall, Nino Valdes,Clarence Henry, Eddie Machen and Ezzard Charles. He also beat Jimmy Bivins.

Just thought it would be interesting to discuss someone who had such an interesting career yet doesn't get a whole lot of attention.

Pastrono fought much like Clay/Ali in that fight and was pot shotting Johnson all night from the outside.

In my neighborhood Harold Johnson was known as "Mr. Perfection" because of his cautious and brilliant counter punching style. Today many recent boxing fans think that Harold wasn't much of a puncher because he (only?) scored 32 KO's during his career. But Harold was such a feared and dangerous fighter that he had trouble finding opponents willing to meet him. Weighing in at 170 - 180 he had to take on many hard punching heavyweights and used his supreme boxing skills to defeat them. But Harold was a terrific puncher and scored three of the greatest one-punch KO's of the 1950's over Bob Satterfield, Paul Andrews and Clarence Hinnant. The last two on national television.

Teddy Brenner made this famous remark about Harold Johnson, "Harold Johnson represents perfection in the art of boxing, and there is no room in this world for perfection." He used the comment to justify not putting him in more national TV fights at MSG.

Another thing that hurt Johnson was his tainted fight with Mederos in 1955 where he fell down without being hit. Barbiturates were found in his system, but he claimed no knowledge of taking them. As a Philadelphia fighter, he was now banned (he didn't fight for 19 months after this fiasco) and his name tarnished during the prime of his career.

In the aftermath of the Johnson-Mederos debacle, boxing in Pennsylvania was banned by Governor George Leader for 114 days. It was a very tumultuous time in Philly boxing. Along with the "poisoned orange" episode, Philly boxing was reeling from Blinky Palermo's fighter, Clarence Henry, allegedly offering a $15,000. dollar bribe to Bobby Jones to throw a fight with Joey Giardello. The arrest and conviction for riotous assault of # one middleweight contender Joey Giardello for which he was sentenced to 6 to 18 months. The Saxton-Giardello and Saxton-Gavilan decision scandals. The admission, then denial, to the Pa. boxing commission from Palermo fighter, Coley Wallace, of being drugged before his match with Bob Baker. The charges against promoter Herman Taylor and assistant Archie Pirolli (with the aid of actor George Raft) of trying to extort the contract of Trenton middleweight contender, Georgie Johnson.

Herman Taylor, Archie Pirolli and Palermo's head trainer, Jimmy Wilson had their licences revoked and Palermo was "banned for life" by the commission. Philadelphia didn't have another "major" boxing show until Taylor was reinstated and he presented the Gil Turner vs. Vince Martinez elimination match in January 1958.

Johnson was the very definition of a smooth operator. Technically it's hard to think of a more sound guy; great jab, great counter-punching, great timing, solid defense, excellent speed. Probably makes my top 10 175 lbers of all time. He would've carved up today's 175 lbers like Thanksgiving turkeys.

Anyone here think Pastrano v Johnson may have been a bad decision ?

Il Duce wrote:That One,

How dare you make a reference that Willie Pastrano 'fought' like Cassius Clay...........

What are you........'Out-of-your-F***ing-mind'.

Res ipsa loquitur, moron:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e03m51PhUe4


Managed by the legendary Angelo Dundee, Pastrano was a smooth, quick boxer with a great left hand. He was a stablemate of Cassius Clay and often sparred with the future champion early in Clay's career

Il Duce wrote:So what you're saying,,,,,

Is that Willie Pastrano leaned how to fight like that from 'watching' Cassius Clay.......

Are you out of your F*****G Mind'

No, I said they had similar styles, Il Manichino...

What part of that don't you understand?

Il Duce wrote:

ThatOne wrote:

Ambling Alp II wrote:One guy that I always thought we should discuss more is Harold Johnson. He had a very interesting career, but you don't a whole lot about him. Maybe part of it is because style; he often wasn't that impressive in 10 second highlights. However, he was very impressive over the length of an entire fight. It's is funny, when people do discuss him they usually are very positive about him.

He is probably most known for his fights with Archie Moore, in which he was 1-4. He was ahead in their last fight (the only tile fight vs Moore) but was knocked out in the 14th. He lost three decisions and won a decision vs Moore as well.

He also beat light heavyweight contenders such as Eddie Cotton, Henry Hank, Gustov Scholz, Jessie Bowdry, and Doug Jones. He did lose his light heavyweight tile in an upset against Willie Pastrano. He was also knocked out by Oakland Billy Smith and Julio Medoros. He was accused of throwing the Medoros fight, but denied this and claimed that he was sick.

What is also interesting is that he fought frequently against heavyweights. He was knocked out in the 3rd by Walcott. (Walcott also knocked out Johnson's dad in the 3rd several years earlier.
Over a long career he beat Arturo Godoy, Marty Marshall, Nino Valdes,Clarence Henry, Eddie Machen and Ezzard Charles. He also beat Jimmy Bivins.

Just thought it would be interesting to discuss someone who had such an interesting career yet doesn't get a whole lot of attention.

Pastrono fought much like Clay/Ali in that fight and was pot shotting Johnson all night from the outside.

Willie Pastrano fought much like Clay/Ali in that fight..................

Stick, move, and clinch...

Who does that remind you of Il Manichino?

Il Duce wrote:Let me figure this one out, Mr. That One {Out of Touch Moron}

June 1, 1963

27 1/2 year-old Willie Pastrano, who had been boxing as a Professional since
September 1951 {12 Years} and had been involved in '76-Bouts'.......

Suddenly learned how to box like.........Cassius Clay....... :>

I said they had similar styles. What part of that don't you understand?

ThatOne wrote:

Il Duce wrote:Let me figure this one out, Mr. That One {Out of Touch Moron}

June 1, 1963

27 1/2 year-old Willie Pastrano, who had been boxing as a Professional since
September 1951 {12 Years} and had been involved in '76-Bouts'.......

Suddenly learned how to box like.........Cassius Clay....... :>

I said they had similar styles. What part of that don't you understand?

I would say he doesn't understand any of it.

It's obvious he's not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

Il Duce wrote:

ThatOne wrote:

Ambling Alp II wrote:One guy that I always thought we should discuss more is Harold Johnson. He had a very interesting career, but you don't a whole lot about him. Maybe part of it is because style; he often wasn't that impressive in 10 second highlights. However, he was very impressive over the length of an entire fight. It's is funny, when people do discuss him they usually are very positive about him.

He is probably most known for his fights with Archie Moore, in which he was 1-4. He was ahead in their last fight (the only tile fight vs Moore) but was knocked out in the 14th. He lost three decisions and won a decision vs Moore as well.

He also beat light heavyweight contenders such as Eddie Cotton, Henry Hank, Gustov Scholz, Jessie Bowdry, and Doug Jones. He did lose his light heavyweight tile in an upset against Willie Pastrano. He was also knocked out by Oakland Billy Smith and Julio Medoros. He was accused of throwing the Medoros fight, but denied this and claimed that he was sick.

What is also interesting is that he fought frequently against heavyweights. He was knocked out in the 3rd by Walcott. (Walcott also knocked out Johnson's dad in the 3rd several years earlier.
Over a long career he beat Arturo Godoy, Marty Marshall, Nino Valdes,Clarence Henry, Eddie Machen and Ezzard Charles. He also beat Jimmy Bivins.

Just thought it would be interesting to discuss someone who had such an interesting career yet doesn't get a whole lot of attention.

Pastrono fought much like Clay/Ali in that fight and was pot shotting Johnson all night from the outside.

First off, you incorrectly spelled 'Pastrano'

Then you state that on June 1, 1963........'Pastrano fought much like Clay/Ali'..........

I would look for typos in my opponent's missives too if he constantly embarrassed me.

Maybe a top 100 great in many people's minds here. Great technician according to experts. I gotta see his fights

Giancarlo wrote:

ThatOne wrote:

Il Duce wrote:Let me figure this one out, Mr. That One {Out of Touch Moron}

June 1, 1963

27 1/2 year-old Willie Pastrano, who had been boxing as a Professional since
September 1951 {12 Years} and had been involved in '76-Bouts'.......

Suddenly learned how to box like.........Cassius Clay....... :>

I said they had similar styles. What part of that don't you understand?

I would say he doesn't understand any of it.





It's obvious he's not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

Would you say as Larry Holmes famously said or infamously said Of Gerry Cooney "that his elevator doesn't stop at every floor"?