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Johnny Bumphus

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Johnny Bumphus
Born(1960-08-17)August 17, 1960
Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
DiedJanuary 31, 2020(2020-01-31) (aged 59)
Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Other namesBump City
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Reach74 in (188 cm)
StanceSouthpaw
Boxing record
Total fights31
Wins29
Wins by KO20
Losses2

Johnny 'Bump City' Bumphus (August 17, 1960 – January 31, 2020) was an American professional boxer who held the WBA super lightweight title in 1984 and challenged once for the WBC and IBF welterweight titles in 1987.

Amateur career

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Bumphus began boxing as an amateur at the age of eight at the Tacoma Boy's Club Boxing Club, located on 25th and Yakima Avenue. He was one of four World Champions to begin boxing in Tacoma, the others being Freddie Steele, Rocky Lockridge and Leo Randolph.

His amateur highlights were:

  • Winning the 1977 National AAU Featherweight Championship by decisioning Lee Simmons of Akron, Ohio, in the final.
  • Winning the 1979 National Golden Gloves Championship in the lightweight division (132 lbs) by defeating Efrain Nieves at Indianapolis.
  • Being ranked #1 U.S. Lightweight by the U.S. Amateur Boxers and Coaches Association in 1979,[1] while also serving as a deputy sheriff with the Nashville Sheriff's Department in Nashville, Tennessee.

Bumphus qualified for the 1980 American Olympic boxing team, but did not compete due to the American boycott of the Moscow Olympics. He was the torch bearer for the American Olympians.[2]

In August 1980, he signed with boxing promoter Bob Arum reportedly for $500,000.[3]

Highlights

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Bumphus finished his amateur career at 341–16,[4] (or 354–16.[5][6])

Olympics

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Bumphus qualified at 139 pounds and was a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic boxing team[7] that died in the crash of LOT Polish Airlines Flight 007 in Warsaw, Poland, on March 14, 1980[8] en route to the USA vs. Poland Box-off as part of "USA vs. the World" event. Bumphus was not with the team. Among the USA Boxing teammates who were killed in the crash were Lemuel Steeples from St. Louis, Calvin Anderson from Connecticut, Paul Palomino - the brother of Carlos Palomino, George Pimental and the Olympic coach, Sarge Johnson.[9] Members of the team who were also not aboard included Bobby Czyz, Alex Ramos and James Shuler.[citation needed]

Bumphus earned his place on the team with a win over Ronnie Shields. Bumphus did not compete in the Olympics, due to the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott. In 2007, he received one of 461 Congressional Gold Medals created especially for the spurned athletes.[10]

His reaction to the LOT Polish Airlines Flight 7 crash, where several of his teammates were killed, was: "We were going in the same direction a week ahead on the same plane and everything, so I'm just grateful it wasn't me that went down in the crash."[11]

Professional career

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Dubbed "Bump City", Bumphus began his professional career as a hot prospect, winning his first 22 fights, including the vacant WBA Light Welterweight Title with a decision win over Lorenzo Luis Garcia in 1984. Bumphus lost the belt to Gene Hatcher in June 1984 in Buffalo, New York. Hatcher scored an 11th-round technical knockout that had Hatcher knocking Bumphus down, then slipping and falling on a follow-up attempt, then throwing Bumphus down to the mat when both fighters clinched. A post-fight melee in the ring then ensued, as Hatcher was celebrating in triumph while the now-deposed champion was slugging away in frustration. The fight was named as Ring magazine's Upset of the year for 1984. In 1987, Bumphus took on Lloyd Honeyghan for the WBC and IBF Welterweight Title, but lost via a second-round technical knockout. He retired after the loss, with a record of 29-2-0.

Those in Tacoma's Hilltop area knew of the lure drugs had for Bumphus. Towards the end of his boxing career he developed an addiction to cocaine, which he briefly kicked. When he returned to Tacoma, through a series of bad friends and choices, he resumed taking drugs in 1989, becoming addicted to crack cocaine. In 1995, he spent a year in rehab, and then left Tacoma to work as a trainer for his former manager Lou Duva in West Palm Beach, Florida.

As a trainer, he worked with Kassim Ouma and Emmett Linton.

Professional boxing record

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31 fights 29 wins 2 losses
By knockout 20 2
By decision 9 0
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
31 Loss 29–2 Lloyd Honeyghan TKO 2 (15) 1987-02-22 Grand Hall, Wembley, England, U.K. For WBC, IBF & The Ring welterweight titles
30 Win 29–1 Marlon Starling TD 6 (12) 1986-05-18 Civic Center, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. Won USBA welterweight title
29 Win 28–1 JD Dobbins TKO 3 (10) 1986-02-25 Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
28 Win 27–1 Allen Clarke TKO 4 (10) 1985-12-10 Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
27 Win 26–1 Richard Beranek TKO 5 (10) 1985-05-22 Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
26 Win 25–1 Randy Mitchem RTD 3 (10) 1984-12-26 Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
25 Win 24–1 Martin Rojas UD 10 (10) 1984-10-31 Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
24 Win 23–1 Ralph Twinning UD 10 (10) 1984-08-29 Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
23 Loss 22–1 Gene Hatcher TKO 11 (15) 1984-06-01 Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, U.S. Lost WBA light welterweight title
22 Win 22–0 Lorenzo Garcia UD 15 (15) 1984-01-22 Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. Won vacant WBA light welterweight title
21 Win 21–0 Jose Angulo TKO 10 (10) 1983-09-22 Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
20 Win 20–0 Adriano Marrero TKO 8 (10) 1983-08-16 Playboy Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
19 Win 19–0 Michael Bradley KO 6 (12) 1983-04-02 Lancaster Host Resort, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, U.S. Won vacant USBA light welterweight title
18 Win 18–0 Randy Shields TKO 8 (10) 1983-02-19 Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
17 Win 17–0 Pat Jefferson TKO 7 (10) 1982-11-24 Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
16 Win 16–0 Pat Hallacy UD 10 (10) 1982-10-23 Lancaster Host Resort, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, U.S.
15 Win 15–0 Ricardo Jimenez TKO 8 (10) 1982-08-22 Great Gorge Playboy Club, McAfee, New Jersey, U.S.
14 Win 14–0 Eduardo Lugo TKO 5 (10) 1982-07-27 Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
13 Win 13–0 Marvin Jenkins TKO 2 (10) 1982-03-02 Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
12 Win 12–0 Willie Rodriguez UD 12 (12) 1981-10-31 Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. Won USBA light welterweight title
11 Win 11–0 JJ Cottrell UD 10 (10) 1981-09-24 Hacienda Hotel, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
10 Win 10–0 Dale Hernandez TKO 5 (?) 1981-08-23 Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
9 Win 9–0 Armando Ramirez KO 4 (8) 1981-06-21 Playboy Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
8 Win 8–0 Arcenio Green TKO 7 (8) 1981-05-23 Teatro Ariston, San Remo, Italy
7 Win 7–0 Norberto Figueroa TKO 2 (?) 1981-04-12 Ballys Park Place Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
6 Win 6–0 Jackie Morrell TKO 4 (6) 1981-03-28 Carrier Dome, Syracuse, New York, U.S.
5 Win 5–0 Victor Pappa UD 8 (8) 1981-02-08 Great Gorge Playboy Club, McAfee, New Jersey, U.S.
4 Win 4–0 Jose Angel Medina KO 2 (6) 1981-01-16 HemisFair Arena, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
3 Win 3–0 Norberto Figueroa PTS 6 (6) 1980-12-20 Kingsbridge Armory, The Bronx, New York, U.S.
2 Win 2–0 Ken Long KO 1 (6) 1980-12-04 Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
1 Win 1–0 Mike Michaud TKO 1 (6) 1980-11-08 Caesars Tahoe Cascade Showroom, Stateline, Nevada, U.S.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Amateur Boxing Rankings (UPI,) Galveston Daily News, February 15, 1979, p. 59.
  2. ^ Arum signs 8 fighters; 2 are Olympic champs By Hal Bock (AP,) The Times Leader, August 20, 1980, p. 29.
  3. ^ Initial bonus offer 'disappointing' by Bill Cox, The Jackson Sun, August 6, 1980, p. 33.
  4. ^ "KO Closeup: Johnny Bumphus", KO: 35, August 1983
  5. ^ Vegas Not So Far For SEAAU Boxers By Tom Wood, The Tennessean, April 10, 1980, p. 10.
  6. ^ Experienced Pal Aids Boxer King by J. T. Phillips, The Tennessean, April 5, 1980, p. 22.
  7. ^ "U.S. Olympic Boxing Teams" Archived May 22, 2006, at the Wayback Machine at boxing.about.com (Retrieved September 12, 2013)
  8. ^ [1][dead link‍]
  9. ^ "Retired Boxers Foundation Founder Alex 'The Bronx Bomber' Ramos Selected as U.S.A. Torchbearer for ATHENS 2004 Olympic Torch Relay" at ikfkickboxing.com, May 24, 2004
  10. ^ Caroccioli, Tom; Caroccioli, Jerry (February 9, 2024). Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. Highland Park, IL: New Chapter Press. pp. 243–253. ISBN 978-0942257403.
  11. ^ No More Overseas Flights For Boxer (AP,) The Indianapolis Star, March 15, 1980, p. 31.
[edit]
Sporting positions
Amateur boxing titles
Previous:
Davey Armstrong 		U.S. featherweight champion
1977 		Next:
Elichi Jumawan
Golden Gloves
lightweight champion
1979 		Next:
Melvin Paul
Previous:
Lemuel Steeples 		U.S. light welterweight champion
1980 		Next:
James Mitchell
Regional boxing titles
Preceded by
Willie Rodriguez
 USBA light welterweight Champion
October 31, 1981 – 1982
Vacated 		Vacant
Title next held by
Bruce Curry
Vacant
Title last held by
Bruce Curry 		USBA light welterweight Champion
April 2, 1983 – 1983
Vacated 		Vacant
Title next held by
Gary Hinton
Preceded by USBA welterweight Champion
May 18, 1986 – 1986
Vacated 		Vacant
Title next held by
Rollin Williams
World boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Aaron Pryor 		WBA light welterweight champion
January 22, 1984 – June 1, 1984 		Succeeded by
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