Johnny Lira

Name: Johnny Lira
Alias: World Class Pug
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Died: 2012-12-08 (Age:61)
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 175cm
Reach: 175cm
Judge: Record
Pro Boxer: Record
Amateur Boxer: Record

Johnny Lira Gallery

John 'Johnny' Lira

• Johnny started boxing at age eight at the Union League Boy's Club. As a young amateur boxer, he fought in the Chicago Park District tournaments, the Catholic Youth Organization tournaments, and won the Illinois statewide AAU championship in 1974. In 1974, Johnny won the Chicago Novice Golden Gloves Championship. In 1975, Johnny won the Northside Championship in the 147 pound weight class. In the Olympic Boxing trials of 1976, Lira earned the bronze medal. He turned professional in 1976, and was a lightweight and super lightweight contender. Lira won the United States Boxing Association lightweight title in 1978, when he defeated Andrew Ganigan. He was defeated by Ernesto Espana in 1979 for the world lightweight title. Lira retired in 1984 with a record of 29 wins, 6 losses and one draw, with 16 knockouts.

• After retiring from the boxing ring, Lira continued through training, managing, judging and refereeing bouts until 2011. In the late 1980's Lira worked for the Chicago Park District, as one of the supervisors for the city wide boxing program. He took a crack at boxing promoter in the 1980's and 1990's. From 1999-2006 Lira publicly advocated for a pension and union for professional boxers, including to the Chicago City Council and to government officials. On December 8, 2012, Lira died in Chicago, Illinois due to complications related to C.T.E brain disease and liver failure. Lira received a liver transplant from a motorcycle accident victim, but the liver subsequently failed. After his death, Lira's brain was donated to Boston University Medical Center to help with the research of sports head concussions related to C.T.E disease.

Career Background and Post Career

• As an amateur boxer Lira fought at Welterweight & Middleweight.
• Three of the top amateur welterweights in Illinois during the late 1970's were Johnny Lira, Pete Podgorski and Lewis Velez.
• While they were amateur boxers, Pete Podgorski went 3-0 versus Lewis Velez, while Lewis Velez Knocked out Lira in the Golden Gloves tournament. Yet, John Lira outpointed Podgorski in two of three amateur bouts.
• As an amateur. Lira won the Chicago Golden Gloves Novice Middleweight title at 160 lbs.. and in the Open division won a C.Y.O. sectional title-before being outpointed in the finals against veteran Warren Thunder
• In 1975 Lira became one of the Chicago Park District Champions with a win over Hugh Pettit in the 147 lb. Open division final.
• In 1978, as a professional boxer John Lira won the United States Boxing Association Lightweight title by knocking out Andrew Ganigan, who was 25-0 at the time.
• After his retirement as a professional prizefighter, Johnny Lira fought a four round charity exhibition in Chicago versus John Nocita on August 29, 2001.[Johnny Lira]
• Lira tried his hand as an amateur boxing judge & referee. Lira also judged professional bouts.
• One of Lira's last ringside public appearances was at the boxing card at UIC Pavillion in Chicago on December 17, 2010. He still looked and spoke very well at that point, but subsequently his personal health went downhill.

External Links

sportslegacy.org