Harold Johnson 1928-2015

[IronDanHamza]

Well I was hoping you would Dan, but it needed to be posted. And I personally share your high opinion of him. But if I'm really being honest, I thought he had passed years ago. He really stayed under the radar. When you hear the usual names tossed out as the greatest lightheavies (Spinks, Foster, Charles, Loughran, Moore, Conn, etc.), you rarely hear his.

The undisputed #1 and #2 LHW's of all time, Charles and Moore, Johnson holds wins over both, the only man to do that.

Edit - Marciano beat both at Heavyweight, but not the same versions.

[joseph5620]

The undisputed #1 and #2 LHW's of all time, Charles and Moore, Johnson holds wins over both, the only man to do that.

Dan, who would you rate the highest out of Foster, Spinks, and Johnson?

[IronDanHamza]

Dan, who would you rate the highest out of Foster, Spinks, and Johnson?

Spinks
Johnson
Foster

Don't think that order is arguable either.

[joseph5620]

Spinks
Johnson
Foster

Don't think that order is arguable either.

Thanks. That really puts a perspective on how good Johnson was.

[IronDanHamza]

Thanks. That really puts a perspective on how good Johnson was.

Top 5 LHW for me.

Minimum Top 10.

Resume outstanding
Skillwise outstanding

Ticks every box.

[joseph5620]

Top 5 LHW for me.

Minimum Top 10.

Resume outstanding
Skillwise outstanding

Ticks every box.

Looking at what he has done that's impossible to argue. Why do.you think he isn't celebrated more? Does it have anything to do with how he distanced himself from the sport after retiring? I still can't figure that out.

[New England]

damn. i don't know enough about johnson. lots of people i respect hold him in high regard.


RIP, and good luck to the family.

[TBear]

Tremendous Fighter. May he rest In Peace!

[IronDanHamza]

Looking at what he has done that's impossible to argue. Why do.you think he isn't celebrated more? Does it have anything to do with how he distanced himself from the sport after retiring? I still can't figure that out.

Wasn't really considered fan friendly, known as a boring fighter in his time, known as a light puncher (he wasn't s light puncher)

I don't really know to be honest.

He was very well respected amongst his peers, Charles, Moore, Louis, all the big names of his era had a lot of respect for him.

They had to, he beat Charles and him and Moore had 5 fights. Moore won 4 but all of them were close except the 5th which Johnson was winning comfortably until Moore caught him in the 14th, even dropping Moore in the 10th.

And he used to spar with Joe Louis. And Sonny Liston aswell later in his career, word on the street was he gave Liston the business in sparring.

[soul_survivor]

I don't believe Johnson is underrated at all, when you ask most that know about him, they rate him well but he can't be rated among the other great champions in the division because his reign was so short and he was KOd too often, especially against guys he shouldn't have been KOd by.