George Johnson (boxer)

George Raft "Scrap Iron" Johnson (December 15, 1938 – April 9, 2016)[2] was an American heavyweight boxer whose career spanned the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Johnson fought many of the top fighters of his era, including George Foreman, Joe Frazier, Sonny Liston, Jerry Quarry, Duane Bobick, Joe Bugner and Eddie Machen.[3] Whilst a journeyman fighter he was nonetheless notorious for being extremely durable. He could take vast amounts of punishment. George Foreman said he had the best chin of all his opponents.[4] He retired in 1975 with a record of 22-27-5. He was inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame in 2005.[5][6][7][8]

George Johnson
Statistics
Nickname(s)Scrap Iron
Weight(s)235 (1972)[1]
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
NationalityAmerican
Born(1938-12-15)December 15, 1938
Oklahoma City
DiedApril 9, 2016(2016-04-09) (aged 77)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights54
Wins22
Wins by KO11
Losses27
Draws5

Johnson was nicknamed "Scrap" by girls in his neighborhood in Oklahoma City when he was about seven years old, because he used a wheelbarrow to salvage machinery parts to earn money. By high school, his American football teammates tacked on the "iron."[9][10]

In 1969, after putting together a string of wins, Johnson was defeated by Sonny Liston in Las Vegas after seven rounds. Johnson had been scheduled to get married at midnight after the fight, but pushed off the wedding to the next day to recover. Johnson later claimed "Liston hit me so hard, I married the wrong woman."[11][12]

References
  1. Ryan, Joe. Heavyweight Boxing in The 1970s: The Great Fighters and Rivalries, p. 133 (2013)
  2. "The Secretariat of trial horses". Boxing.com. 20 April 2016. Retrieved 2017-12-18.
  3. Hudson, David L. & Mike Fitzgerald. Boxing's Most Wanted (2004)
  4. "Best I Faced: George Foreman". The Ring. 2014-07-04. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  5. California Boxing Hall of Fame Inductees, Californiaboxinghalloffame.com (via archive.com 26 June 2008 version of list)
  6. Ortiz, Johnny (5 March 2005). Golden Era Boxers Enter California Hall of Fame, Boxing Scene
  7. Stewart, Larry (3 March 2005). Imhoff Says Hundley's Line Isn't So 'Hot', Los Angeles Times (confirms hall of fame induction)
  8. (8 April 1966). Boxer Fills Old 'Tradition', The Spokesman-Review
  9. Barrett, Eldon (23 October 1973). 'Scrap Iron' faces Kirkman, Ellensburg Daily Record (UPI story)
  10. (15 March 1970). There's A Ring to Scrap Iron's Name, Independent Press-Telegram
  11. (20 May 1969). 'Scrap' Postpones Wedding After Fight with Liston, Owosso Argus-Press (Associated Press story)
  12. Stewart, Larry (6 March 2004). He Liked Running With Tough Crowds, Los Angeles Times
  13. Boxing record for George Johnson from BoxRec (registration required)
  14. (27 February 1975). Quarry Takes Unanimous Decision Over Scrap Iron, Observer–Reporter (Associated Press story)
  15. "Bugner passes stiff test". The Canberra Times. 5 November 1970. p. 32. Retrieved 28 January 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. 1970 Joe Bugner and George "Scrap Iron" Johnson ,boxers, Argentaimages.com, Retrieved 23 January 2014 (photo of Bugner and Johnson)
  17. (20 May 1969). Liston Starts Early, Dumps 'Scrap Iron', Milwaukee Journal
  18. Crowe, Jerry (15 May 2011). Ray "Windmill" White left his mark on boxing -- from behind, Los Angeles Times
  19. (5 May 1967). Frazier Wins But No Kayo, The Miami News (Associated Press story)
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