MARVIN JOHNSON CAREER DVD COLLECTION
Excerpted from KO Sept 1985
Somewhere along the road road, we think it was sometime this past year, light heavyweight Marvin Johnson acquired the nickname "pops." Seems like a strange name for someone who's 30 years old, but in boxing, 30 is closer to old than it is to young. And at the start of 1984, Marvin Johnson, former Olympic bronze medalist, former two time 175 pound titlist, and southpaw supreme, was an old 30.
He didn't fight again for wish I was retired because they don't
two-time 175-pound titlist, and southpaw more than a year, and then fought only want to take that chance. They know that
supreme, was an old 30. twice in both 1982 and 1983. Only one of win or lose, they'll have to fight for their
The decade had begun poorly, when he those wins, a one-round demolition of
lives to stay in there."
lost the WBA title to Eddie Mustafa Mu-
fellow Incliana blfrp, A1,4!„ 1.-1----_
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1980. Then, a year later, an Atlantic city as significant.
odds makers had no choice but to be honest
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(Continued from page 30)
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ESPN or SportsChannel). The first two
wins and the last one were kayos over
/eight Eddie Gonzalez, and -rusty Eddie
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ger who would have benefited greatly
-om a win over a name tighter. Clouden
a legitimate top-20 175-pounder, but his
early-round aggressiveness didn't work be-
cause there isn't a light heavyweight in the
world who sets a faster pace than John-
son. Clouden seemed amazed by the
number of punches Johnson was present-
The tight didn't last five rounds.
In August, the opponent was just a
little bit better, a perennial top tenner this
time, veteran Johnny Davis. Having
fought another pressure fighter and for-
former titlist, Dwight Muhammad Qawi,
three times, Davis was aware of what it
would take to conquer Johnson. Pops,
however, started fast, refused to rest in
the middle rounds, and accelerated near
he finish. Shut out and battered through-
nit, Davis was left wondering how John-
on had ever managed to gain a negative
:.reputation as a fighter who was good for
its six rounds. It was Johnson's most
impressive win of the year and the perform-
once that reestablished him as a championship
caliber fighter.
Johnson's third major triumph, a 10-
round decision over Charles Williams in
November, was more difficult. Williams
didn’t have the reputation of Clouden
d Davis, hut a 1983 upset over the
!previously unbeaten Anthony Witherspoon had established him as a difficult
d powerful 175-pounder. Johnson was
some while serving his usual portion
punishment. Still, his points win
him yet closer to a rematch with
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