Johnny Saxton

Johnny Saxton
Saxton in 1956
BornJuly 4, 1930
Newark, New Jersey
DiedOctober 4, 2008(2008-10-04) (aged 78)[1]
NationalityAmerican
Statistics
Weight(s)Welterweight
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights66
Wins55
Wins by KO21
Losses9
Draws2

Johnny Saxton (July 4, 1930 – October 4, 2008) was an American professional boxer in the welterweight (147lb) division. He was born in Newark, New Jersey, learned to box in a Brooklyn orphanage and had an amateur career winning 31 of 33 fights, twice becoming World Welterweight Champion.[2]

Professional career

Saxton turned professional in 1949 and ran up forty wins without a defeat before losing to Gil Turner in 1953. His win over Joey Giardello and Johnny Bratton helped propel him to fight with Kid Gavilán (or Gavilan) in 1954 for the world welterweight championship. He beat Gavilan via a fifteen-round decision to take the title. He lost the title the following year via technical knockout against Tony DeMarco. In 1956 he won the title again with an upset win over Carmen Basilio, but lost the title in a rematch with Basilio later in the year. He retired in 1958.

Saxton, brother of Richard Eugene Kyle, who boxed for the U.S. Army, was managed by Frank "Blinky" Palermo, a member of the Philadelphia crime family. Palermo was imprisoned in 1961 for conspiracy and extortion for the covert ownership of prizefighters.[3] Saxton's career was often marred by rumors of shady dealings. His two biggest wins, against Gavilan and Basilio, were both controversial and unpopular with many in the boxing world.[4]

After boxing

Saxton in 1954

Saxton worked as a security guard and a boxing coach after he retired. A hit-and-run accident left him with damage to one leg, and by the early 1990s he was living in a New York City apartment that had no electricity. A friend helped Saxton move to a retirement home in Florida. He was diagnosed with pugilistic dementia.[4]

Professional boxing record

66 fights 55 wins 9 losses
By knockout 21 5
By decision 33 4
By disqualification 1 0
Draws 2
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
66 Loss 55–9–2 Willie Greene TKO 3 (10) Dec 15, 1958 Arcadia Ballroom, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
65 Loss 55–8–2 Denny Moyer UD 10 Oct 21, 1958 Auditorium, Portland, Maine, U.S.
64 Win 55–7–2 Barry Allison SD 10 Oct 7, 1958 Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S.
63 Loss 54–7–2 Joe Miceli TKO 3 (10) Sep 6, 1957 Capitol Arena, Washington, D.C., U.S.
62 Loss 54–6–2 Carmen Basilio TKO 2 (15) Feb 22, 1957 Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. For NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight titles
61 Loss 54–5–2 Carmen Basilio TKO 9 (15) Sep 12, 1956 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, New York, U.S. Lost NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight titles
60 Win 54–4–2 Don Williams MD 10 Aug 23, 1956 Auditorium, Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.
59 Win 53–4–2 Barry Allison UD 10 Aug 7, 1956 Arena, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
58 Win 52–4–2 Gil Turner TKO 10 (10) May 16, 1956 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
57 Win 51–4–2 Carmen Basilio UD 15 Mar 14, 1956 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Won NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight titles
56 Win 50–4–2 Ralph Jones UD 10 Nov 9, 1955 Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.
55 Win 49–4–2 Jackie O'Brien UD 10 Oct 25, 1955 Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S.
54 Win 48–4–2 Joe Shaw UD 10 Sep 15, 1955 Portland, Maine, U.S.
53 Win 47–4–2 Jimmy Fuller TKO 6 (10) Jun 10, 1955 Maple Arena, Brockton, Massachusetts, U.S.
52 Loss 46–4–2 Tony DeMarco TKO 14 (15) Apr 1, 1955 Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. Lost NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight titles
51 Loss 46–3–2 Ronnie Delaney UD 10 Feb 11, 1955 Armory, Akron, Ohio, U.S.
50 Win 46–2–2 Ramon Fuentes UD 10 Dec 2, 1954 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
49 Win 45–2–2 Kid Gavilán UD 15 Oct 20, 1954 Silver Bowl, Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, U.S. Won NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight titles
48 Draw 44–2–2 Johnny Lombardo PTS 10 Aug 4, 1954 Silver Bowl, Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, U.S.
47 Win 44–2–1 Johnny Bratton UD 10 Feb 24, 1954 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
46 Win 43–2–1 Mickey Laurent TKO 7 (10) Feb 1, 1954 Eastern Parkway Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
45 Loss 42–2–1 Del Flanagan SD 10 Dec 30, 1953 Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
44 Win 42–1–1 Herman McCray KO 3 (10) Dec 3, 1953 Casino, Fall River, Massachusetts, U.S.
43 Win 41–1–1 Joey Giardello UD 10 Sep 29, 1953 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
42 Win 40–1–1 Charley Williams TKO 2 (10) Sep 15, 1953 Fair Grounds Arena, Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
41 Loss 39–1–1 Gil Turner SD 10 Jun 15, 1953 Connie Mack Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
40 Win 39–0–1 Joe Miceli UD 10 May 27, 1953 Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
39 Win 38–0–1 Charley Williams UD 10 Mar 31, 1953 Ridgewood Grove, New York City, New York, U.S.
38 Draw 37–0–1 Wallace Bud Smith SD 10 Mar 10, 1953 Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
37 Win 37–0 Charley Williams UD 10 Feb 24, 1953 Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
36 Win 36–0 Freddie Dawson UD 10 Feb 10, 1953 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
35 Win 35–0 Danny Womber UD 10 Dec 29, 1952 Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
34 Win 34–0 Raul Perez KO 1 (10) Dec 12, 1952 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
33 Win 33–0 Mario Trigo RTD 3 (10) Oct 28, 1952 Arena, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
32 Win 32–0 Ralph Jones SD 10 Oct 3, 1952 St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
31 Win 31–0 Virgil Akins UD 10 Jul 30, 1952 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
30 Win 30–0 Bobby Lee UD 10 Jul 17, 1952 Veterans Hospital, Coatesville, Pennsylvania, U.S.
29 Win 29–0 Luther Rawlings UD 10 Jun 4, 1952 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
28 Win 28–0 Bobby Lee KO 7 (10) Apr 30, 1952 Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
27 Win 27–0 Charlie Thompson PTS 10 Apr 17, 1952 Casino, Fall River, Massachusetts, U.S.
26 Win 26–0 Lester Felton DQ 6 (10) Mar 14, 1952 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
25 Win 25–0 Livio Minelli TKO 7 (10) Jan 25, 1952 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
24 Win 24–0 Charley Salas UD 10 Nov 19, 1951 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
23 Win 23–0 Marshall Clayton TKO 7 (10) Nov 5, 1951 Turner's Arena, Washington, D.C., U.S.
22 Win 22–0 Honeychile Johnson MD 10 Oct 4, 1951 Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
21 Win 21–0 Tommy Ciarlo TKO 5 (10) Aug 20, 1951 Fair Grounds Arena, Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
20 Win 20–0 Joey Carkido RTD 5 (10) Aug 8, 1951 Toppi Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
19 Win 19–0 Gaby Ferland TKO 7 (10) Jul 30, 1951 Fair Grounds Arena, Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
18 Win 18–0 Lloyd Tate TKO 3 (10) Jul 2, 1951 Toppi Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
17 Win 17–0 Tony Pellone UD 10 Sep 22, 1950 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
16 Win 16–0 Sonny Bunn SD 10 Aug 28, 1950 Coney Island Velodrome, New York City, New York, U.S.
15 Win 15–0 Mike Koballa PTS 8 Jun 26, 1950 Twin City Bowl, Elizabeth, New Jersey, U.S.
14 Win 14–0 Losiel Isadore PTS 6 Jun 5, 1950 Municipal Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
13 Win 13–0 Bert Linam TKO 1 (10) May 17, 1950 St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
12 Win 12–0 Joe Miceli SD 10 Apr 21, 1950 St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
11 Win 11–0 John Bowman KO 3 (8) Mar 22, 1950 Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
10 Win 10–0 Aldo Minelli UD 8 Mar 15, 1950 St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
9 Win 9–0 Charley Salas UD 8 Feb 10, 1950 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
8 Win 8–0 Mario Moreno KO 2 (8) Jan 13, 1950 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
7 Win 7–0 Adrien Mourguiart KO 4 (8) Dec 21, 1949 St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
6 Win 6–0 Bucky Slocum PTS 4 Dec 5, 1949 Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
5 Win 5–0 Horace Bailey PTS 6 Oct 24, 1949 Arena, Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.
4 Win 4–0 George Hunter KO 2 (6) Sep 6, 1949 Fair Grounds Arena, Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
3 Win 3–0 Dave Andrews UD 8 Aug 17, 1949 Jerome Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.
2 Win 2–0 George Dixon TKO 1 (6) Jul 20, 1949 Jerome Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.
1 Win 1–0 Jimmy Swann KO 3 (6) May 9, 1949 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.

See also

References

  1. ^ Steve Lopez (September 16, 2013) THE ONE Post-Fight Press Conference: Aftermath, Quotes & Photos. East Side Boxing
  2. ^ "The Lineal Welterweight Champs". Cyber Boxing Zone.
  3. ^ "BLINKY PALERMO, MOBSTER WHO RAN BOXING DIES!". Ring Talk. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  4. ^ a b Shelton, Alan (July 1999), "Johnny Saxton: Fate Finally Smiles", Boxing Digest, 41 (6): 56
Sporting positions
World boxing titles
Preceded by NYSAC welterweight champion
October 20, 1954 – April 1, 1955 		Succeeded by
NBA welterweight champion
October 20, 1954 – April 1, 1955
The Ring welterweight champion
October 20, 1954 – April 1, 1955
Undisputed welterweight champion
October 20, 1954 – April 1, 1955
Preceded by NYSAC welterweight champion
March 14, 1956 – September 12, 1956 		Succeeded by
Carmen Basilio
NBA welterweight champion
March 14, 1956 – September 12, 1956
The Ring welterweight champion
March 14, 1956 – September 12, 1956
Undisputed welterweight champion
March 14, 1956 – September 12, 1956