James J. Johnston

Boxer, Matchmaker & Promoter

Jimmy Johnston

Class of 1999
Non-Participant Category
Hall of Fame bio:click

• James J. Johnston was born in England and emigrated to the USA at a young age. He worked in a New York iron foundry while boxing as a bantamweight in New York. After his ring career, he became an assistant to Charley Harvey, who specialized in importing English boxers to the USA. When Rose was named to the first New York Commission in 1911, Johnston took over his fighters. He later took over promotions of the original Madison Square Garden, and later was the matchmaker for the St. Nicholas Arena. In the early 1930s he worked as head of the boxing at Madison Square Garden. When Mike Jacobs took over at the Garden, Johnston returned to managing.

• His brother was Charley Johnston; his son Jimmy Johnston, Jr. managed fighters.
• He managed, among others, Abe Simon.
• His character was played by Bruce McGill in the 2005 movie Cinderella Man.