(2004 photo by H. Darr Beiser, USA Today)
Former three-time world champion and DC's own Mark "Too Sharp" Johnson has made his first appearance on the ballot for the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Johnson (44-5, 28 KO's) was a truly dominant figure in the flyweight division in the 1990's. Johnson won his first title on May 4, 1996 with a first-round knockout over Francisco Tejedor to capture the vacant IBF Flyweight title. The win made Johnson the first African-American (and second American) to win the flyweight crown. Johnson would make seven defenses of the IBF title including a classic first-round knockout over Arthur Johnson at the DC Armory on February 22, 1998. Johnson would make numerous pound-for-pound lists as he tried desperately to get bouts with the likes of former world champions Danny Romero and Johnny Tapia but they moved up in weight to avoid him.
Ring Magazine would later select Johnson as the best flyweight of the 1990's over the likes of Romero, Tapia, Yuri Arbachkov and Alberto Jimenez, who Johnson beat in a classic matchup in May of 1993.
On April 24, 1999, Johnson captured his second title -- the vacant IBF Super Flyweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Ratanachai Singwancha (nee Sor Vorapin) at the MCI (now Verizon) Center.
Four years later, Johnson won his third title -- the WBO Super Flyweight title -- with a 12-round majority decision over Fernando Montiel on August 16, 2003.
Other first-time names on the IBHOF ballot include former multi-time, multi-division champion Thomas "Hitman" Hearns and former lineal light heavyweight champ Darius Michalczewski. The deadline for the voting is October 31, 2011. Results should come by the end of this year. The induction weekend is June 7-10 in Canastota, NY.
5 comments:
Too Sharp..
Unified Super Lightweight World Champion Amir Khan (Left) and number one rated super lightweight contender Lamont Peterson (Right) pose on October 4, 2011 in London, England at a press conference to officially announce their December 10, 2011 Unified Super Lightweight World Championship Fight in Washington, DC which will be televised live on HBO’s World Championship Boxing.
Mark Thats great im very happy for you was the only one that didnt sell out
too broke
By the way, I know a number of boxing writers who have voted for Johnson for the hall of fame. Dan Rafael of ESPN.com has already said he has voted for him as one example.
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