Mark Johnson (boxer)

For other people named Mark Johnson, see Mark Johnson (disambiguation).

Marcellus Joseph Johnson, better known as Mark Johnson (born August 13, 1971, Washington, DC) is a boxer in the Super Flyweight division. Johnson a fast and skilled southpaw from Washington, D.C., won titles at flyweight and junior bantamweight twice. He also was a pound-for-pound ranked stalwart during the prime of his career, which ran from 1990 to 2006.^[1] If Johnson's resume was largely devoid of star names, it was because standout fighters of the day, such as Johnny Tapia, Danny Romero, Michael Carbajal and Ricardo Lopez are widely considered to have avoided him.^[2]

Amateur career

Johnson was an amateur standout, and was the 1989 United States Amateur Light flyweight champion.

Professional career

Flyweight

Johnson, defeated Francisco Tejedor to win the IBF Flyweight title in 1996. Although he never attained significant popularity due to his weight class and lack of defining fights, he went on to become one of the top pound for pound fighters in boxing for several years.

Super Flyweight

Johnson defended that crown seven times until April 1999, when he rose to win the IBF's junior bantamweight crown with a unanimous decision over Ratanachai Sor Vorapin at Washington, D.C.'s MCI Center, which is now the Verizon Center. He defended the Super Flyweight title twice before moving up again to Bantamweight.

Bantamweight

In his third fight at Bantamweight Johnson lost in an upset to up and coming Rafael Marquez by split decision over 10 rounds in 2001. This bout was clouded by the fact that Johnson was deducted two points for holding. In the rematch the following year, Marquez took Johnson apart, winning by TKO in the 8th round. Johnson never regained his stature following the losses, although he did upset WBO Super Flyweight champion Fernando Montiel in 2003. Johnson went on to lose by KO in the 8th round to both Ivan Hernández for the WBO Super Flyweight. Johnson retired following his second straight loss in February of 2006 after falling by eighth-round knockout to current WBC featherweight titleholder Jhonny Gonzalez, who has knocked out 10 consecutive opponents in as many straight wins since last losing in May of 2009.

Professional boxing record

44 Wins (28 Knockouts), 5 Defeats (3 Knockouts), 0 Draw, 1 NC[3]
Res.	Record	Opponent	Type	Rd., Time	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	44-5	Jhonny González	KO	8 (10), 1:08	2006-02-25	Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada	This is a non-title fight as Johnson couldn't make weight.
Loss	44-4	Iván Hernández	KO	8 (10), 2:42	2004-09-25	FedEx Forum, Memphis, Tennessee	Lost WBO World Super Flyweight title.
Win	44-3	Paulino Villalobos	UD	10	2004-07-17	Baysox Stadium, Bowie, Maryland
Win	43-3	Luis Bolano	KO	4 (10), 2:40	2004-03-06	Foxwoods Resort, Mashantucket, Connecticut	Retained WBO World Super Flyweight title.
Win	42-3	Fernando Montiel	MD	12	2003-08-16	Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut	Won WBO World Super Flyweight title.
Win	41-3	Ricardo Medina	UD	8	2003-06-28	DC Armory, Washington, District of Columbia

Trivia

• Johnson was the first African-American boxer to capture a World Flyweight Title

See also

References

1. ^ Thomas Hearns leads HOF ballot. ESPN.com. Retrieved on 2011-10-14.
2. ^ "TOO SHARP" JOHNSON: BOXING'S FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN FLYWEIGHT CHAMP. Ring TV.com. Retrieved on 2011-10-14.
3. ^ Mark Johnson – Boxer. Boxrec.com. Retrieved on 2011-10-10.

External links

• Professional boxing record for Mark Johnson from BoxRec

Preceded by Danny Romero Vacates	IBF Flyweight Champion 4 May 1996– Apr 1999 Vacates	Succeeded by Irene Pacheco
Preceded by Johnny Tapia Vacates	IBF Super Flyweight Champion 24 Apr 1999–2000 Vacates	Succeeded by Felix Machado
Preceded by Fernando Montiel	WBO Super Flyweight Champion 16 Aug 2003–2004 Sep 25	Succeeded by Ivan Hernández

Persondata
Name	Johnson, Mark
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	August 13, 1971
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death