Johnson, Harold
Boxing
b. Aug. 9, 1928, Manayunk, PA
After turning professional in 1946, Johnson won his first five bouts and thirteen of his first seventeen by knockout. He was undefeated until April 26, 1949, when Archie Moore took a 10-round decision from him.
The 5-foot-10 Johnson, who fought at between 170 and 177 pounds, suffered his first knockout in the 14th round of a fight against future heavyweight champion Jersey Joe Walcott on February 8, 1950. He fought another future heavyweight titlist, Ezzard Charles, on September 8, 1953, and won a 10-round decision.
Johnson and Moore split two decisions in 1951. Moore went on to win the light heavyweight championship and Johnson challenged him on August 11, 1954, but Moore won with a 14th-round knockout. After the NBA vacated Moore's title, Johnson won the vacant championship by knocking out Jesse Bowdry in the 9th round on February 7, 1961.
He defended the NBA version of the title twice and then won recognition as world champion by taking a 15-round decision from Doug Jones on May 12, 1962. He lost the championship to Willie Pastrano in a 15-round decision on June 1, 1963.
During the next several years, Johnson fought only sporadically. He was inactive for all of 1965, 1969, and 1970, and he retired after being knocked out by Herschel Jacobs in 1971.
Johnson won 76 of his 87 professional fights, 32 by knockout. He lost 6 decisions and was knocked out 5 times.