HEAVYWEIGHT PIONEER

Jamaica-born Brummie Bunny Johnson made history as the first black British heavy king

IN boxing, as in other spheres, being first matters. The first man on the moon, the first solo pilot to cross the Atlantic, the first black heavyweight world boxing champ – their names and achievements are etched in our collective memory. But one man who carved out his own landmark feat in Britain has been grossly overlooked.

He is Bunny Johnson, who in January 1975 became the first black British heavyweight champion. Yet at the time, and even in the ensuing decades, his accomplishment did not receive the acknowledgement it deserves. In 2016, however, formal recognition arrived when the 73-fight veteran was inducted into the British Ex-boxers’ Association Hall of Fame. Hopefully, further recognition will now come with his inclusion in a new book, Sweet Fighting Man: Ring of Truth (Pitch Publishing), the third tome in author Melanie Lloyd’s enthralling series.

Born Fitzroy Johnson in Kingston, Jamaica in 1947, “Bunny” was a nickname he acquired in his youth. As a boy, he was an avid reader, and his interest in boxing started, aptly enough, when he read a book about the first black world heavyweight titlist, Jack Johnson.

At 16, Bunny moved to Britain, settling in Birmingham with his parents. He started boxing with Kyrle Hall ABC in the early ’60s, and then moved to Austin ABC. He had 36 amateur bouts before entering the pros in February 1968, with the veteran George Biddles as his manager. In his early career, Johnson switched managers twice: first to ex-british and European feather champ Al Phillips, and finally to George Francis.

A natural cruiserweight at a time when that division did not exist, Bunny often fought bigger men. “I was at my best when I was in my early 20s,” he told Lloyd. “Giving away all that weight so many times burnt me out to a certain extent... By the time I won the British heavyweight title, I was 28. I was still reasonably good, but I’d passed my best.”

To qualify for a crack at a British crown, Johnson had to satisfy a BBBOFC 10-year residency rule, and was further frustrated when his bout with reigning British and Commonwealth heavy champ, Danny Mcalinden, was postponed three times. Finally, in January 1975, the pair met in London. Bunny (38-6) proved too skilful for the all-action Coventry-based Northern Irishman, who was counted out in the ninth.

So Johnson was Britain’s first black heavyweight ruler. He had won the Commonwealth belt as well, but the British strap was the one he felt mattered. However, he lost both titles in his first defence that September to the 25lb-heavier Richard Dunn (whom Bunny had beaten previously).

After that, Johnson sweated down to light-heavy and won the British title with a one-round demolition of Tim Wood. He followed this by beating Rab Affleck and Dennis Andries to win a Lonsdale Belt outright and retire as champion.

“I was under the impression that when I became champion I would earn decent money,” Bunny reflected. “I used to read about Henry Cooper getting paid £15,000 all those years ago. But when I fought for the title, no money that I earned went anywhere near that. For me, it was almost the same as before... In those days, the white promoters didn’t take the opportunity to market us [black fighters] in a manner that would compare with white fighters.”

As well as Johnson’s tale, Lloyd’s book uncovers the life stories, thoughts and philosophies of Jon Thaxton, Dave “Boy” Green, Sylvester Mittee, Steve Holdsworth, Colin Lake, Johnny Kramer, Billy Schwer and Joe Somerville.

‘GIVING AWAY ALL THAT WEIGHT BURNT ME OUT’