Johnny Gonsalves
Name: Johnny Gonsalves
Birth Name: John Gonzalves
Hometown: Oakland, California, USA
Died: 2007-01-16 (Age:76)
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 178cm
Pro Boxer: Record
Amateur Boxer: Record
Managers: Jack Mendonca and Harvey Livingston
Trainer: Sammy Esposito
As an amateur Johnny Gonsalves captured the 1947 National AAU Championship in the Lightweight division, which was held at the Boston Garden. His results were as follows:
- Quarterfinals - Knocked out Jimmy Rogers of Little Rock, AR in the 3rd round.
- Semifinals - Defeated Lyman Holloway of Pocatello, ID
- Final - Defeated Angelo DePaul of Pittsburgh, PA
Gonsalves then returned to Boston in 1948, and again won the National AAU Championship at Lightweight. He was named outstanding boxer of the tournament. His results were:
- 2nd Round - Defeated James Perry of Hawaii
- Quarterfinals - Defeated Johnny Saxton of New York, NY
- Semifinals - Defeated Al Masson of New Orleans, LA
- Final - Defeated James Winder of Pleasantville, NJ
Gonsalves would later attempt to make the 1948 United States Olympic team as a Lightweight, but he was defeated at the Olympic Trials by eventual Olympian Wallace (Bud) Smith in the semifinals, via split decision.
Gonsalves and his first wife, Marilyn, were divorced. His second wife, Barbara, died after dealing with multiple sclerosis for a long time. He and Ted Such, a former amateur welterweight, owned the Marina Lounge in San Leandro, CA.
Gonsalves was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1995. He died of pneumonia January 16, 2007, at his home in Castro Valley, CA.
| Preceded by: Joey Discepoli |
National AAU Lightweight Champion 1947-1948 |
Succeeded by: Chuck Adkins |