Johnny Saxton


Johnny Saxton was an American professional boxer in the welterweight division. He was born in Newark, New Jersey, learned to box in a Brooklyn orphanage and had an amateur career winning 31 of 33 fights, twice becoming World Welterweight Champion.

Professional career

Saxton turned professional in 1949 and ran up forty wins without a defeat before losing to Gil Turner in 1953. His win over Joey Giardello and Johnny Bratton helped propel him to fight with Kid Gavilán in 1954 for the world welterweight championship. He beat Gavilan via a fifteen-round decision to take the title. He lost the title the following year via technical knockout against Tony DeMarco. In 1956 he won the title again with an upset win over Carmen Basilio, but lost the title in a rematch with Basilio later in the year. He retired in 1958.
Saxton, brother of Richard Eugene Kyle, who boxed for the U.S. Army, was managed by Frank "Blinky" Palermo, a member of the Philadelphia crime family. Palermo was imprisoned in 1961 for conspiracy and extortion for the covert ownership of prizefighters. Saxton's career was often marred by rumors of shady dealings. His two biggest wins, against Gavilan and Basilio, were both controversial and unpopular with many in the boxing world.
His career Record: Won 55 Lost 9 Draw 2

After boxing

Saxton worked as a security guard and a boxing coach after he retired. A hit-and-run accident left him with damage to one leg, and by the early 1990s he was living in a New York City apartment that had no electricity. A friend helped Saxton move to a retirement home in Florida. He was diagnosed with pugilistic dementia.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
66Loss55–9–2 Willie GreeneTKO3 Dec 15, 1958 Arcadia Ballroom, Providence
65Loss55–8–2 Denny MoyerUD10Oct 21, 1958 Auditorium, Portland
64Win55–7–2 Barry AllisonSD10Oct 07, 1958 Valley Arena, Holyoke
63Loss54–7–2 Joe MiceliTKO3 Sep 06, 1957 Capitol Arena, Washington
62Loss54–6–2 Carmen BasilioTKO2 Feb 22, 1957 Arena, ClevelandFor The Ring and lineal welterweight titles
61Loss54–5–2 Carmen BasilioTKO9 Sep 12, 1956 War Memorial Auditorium, SyracuseLost The Ring and lineal welterweight titles
60Win54–4–2 Don WilliamsMD10Aug 23, 1956 Auditorium, Worcester
59Win53–4–2 Barry AllisonUD10Aug 07, 1956 Arena, Boston
58Win52–4–2 Gil TurnerTKO10 May 16, 1956 Chicago Stadium, Chicago
57Win51–4–2 Carmen BasilioUD15Mar 14, 1956 Chicago Stadium, ChicagoWon The Ring and lineal welterweight titles
56Win50–4–2 Ralph JonesUD10Nov 09, 1955 Auditorium, Oakland
55Win49–4–2 Jackie O'BrienUD10Oct 25, 1955 Valley Arena, Holyoke
54Win48–4–2 Joe ShawUD10Sep 15, 1955 Portland
53Win47–4–2 Jimmy FullerTKO6 Jun 10, 1955 Maple Arena, Brockton
52Loss46–4–2 Tony DeMarcoUD10Apr 01, 1955 Boston Garden, BostonLost The Ring and lineal welterweight titles
51Loss46–3–2 Ronnie DelaneyUD10Feb 11, 1955 Armory, Akron
50Win46–2–2 Ramon FuentesUD10Dec 02, 1954 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles
49Win45–2–2 Kid GavilanUD15Oct 20, 1954 Silver Bowl, Mount CarmelWon The Ring and lineal welterweight titles
48Draw44–2–2 Johnny LombardoPTS10Aug 04, 1954 Silver Bowl, Mount Carmel
47Win44–2–1 Johnny BrattonUD10Feb 24, 1954 Arena, Philadelphia
46Win43–2–1 Mickey LaurentTKO7 Feb 01, 1954 Eastern Parkway Arena, Brooklyn
45Loss42–2–1 Del FlanaganSD10Dec 30, 1953 Auditorium, Minneapolis
44Win42–1–1 Herman McCrayKO3 Dec 03, 1953 Casino, Fall River
43Win41–1–1 Joey GiardelloUD10Sep 29, 1953 Arena, Philadelphia
42Win40–1–1 Charley WilliamsTKO2 Sep 15, 1953 Fair Grounds Arena, Allentown
41Loss39–1–1 Gil TurnerSD10Jun 15, 1953 Connie Mack Stadium, Philadelphia
40Win39–0–1 Joe MiceliUD10May 27, 1953 Olympia Stadium, Detroit
39Win38–0–1 Charley WilliamsUD10Mar 31, 1953 Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn
38Draw37–0–1 Wallace Bud SmithSD10Mar 10, 1953 Auditorium, Miami Beach
37Win37–0 Charley WilliamsUD10Feb 24, 1953 Auditorium, Miami Beach
36Win36–0 Freddie DawsonUD10Feb 10, 1953 Arena, Philadelphia
35Win35–0 Danny WomberUD10Dec 29, 1952 Auditorium, Milwaukee
34Win34–0 Raul PerezKO1 Dec 12, 1952 Madison Square Garden, New York
33Win33–0 Mario TrigoRTD3 Oct 28, 1952 Arena, Milwaukee
32Win32–0 Ralph JonesSD10Oct 03, 1952 St. Nicholas Arena, New York
31Win31–0 Virgil AkinsUD10Jul 30, 1952 Chicago Stadium, Chicago
30Win30–0 Bobby LeeUD10Jul 17, 1952 Veterans Hospital, Coatesville
29Win29–0 Luther RawlingsUD10Jun 04, 1952 Chicago Stadium, Chicago
28Win28–0 Bobby LeeKO7 Apr 30, 1952 Coliseum, Baltimore
27Win27–0 Charlie ThompsonPTS10Apr 17, 1952 Casino, Fall River
26Win26–0 Lester FeltonDQ6 Mar 14, 1952 Madison Square Garden, New York
25Win25–0 Livio MinelliTKO7 Jan 25, 1952 Madison Square Garden, New York
24Win24–0 Charley SalasUD10Nov 19, 1951 Arena, Philadelphia
23Win23–0 Marshall ClaytonTKO7 Nov 05, 1951 Turner's Arena, Washington
22Win22–0 Honeychile JohnsonMD10Oct 04, 1951 Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia
21Win21–0 Tommy CiarloTKO5 Aug 20, 1951 Fair Grounds Arena, Allentown
20Win20–0 Joey CarkidoRTD5 Aug 08, 1951 Toppi Stadium, Philadelphia
19Win19–0 Gaby FerlandTKO7 Jul 30, 1951 Fair Grounds Arena, Allentown
18Win18–0 Lloyd TateTKO3 Jul 02, 1951 Toppi Stadium, Philadelphia
17Win17–0 Tony PelloneUD10Sep 22, 1950 Madison Square Garden, New York
16Win16–0 Sonny BunnSD10Aug 28, 1950 Coney Island Velodrome, Brooklyn
15Win15–0 Mike KoballaPTS8Jun 26, 1950 Twin City Bowl, Elizabeth
14Win14–0 Losiel IsadorePTS6Jun 05, 1950 Municipal Stadium, Philadelphia
13Win13–0 Bert LinamTKO1 May 17, 1950 St. Nicholas Arena, New York
12Win12–0 Joe MiceliSD10Apr 21, 1950 St. Nicholas Arena, New York
11Win11–0 John BowmanKO3 Mar 22, 1950 Convention Hall, Philadelphia
10Win10–0 Aldo MinelliUD8Mar 15, 1950 St. Nicholas Arena, New York
9Win9–0 Charley SalasUD8Feb 10, 1950 Madison Square Garden, New York
8Win8–0 Mario MorenoKO2 Jan 13, 1950 Madison Square Garden, New York
7Win7–0 Adrien MourguiartKO4 Dec 21, 1949 St. Nicholas Arena, New York
6Win6–0 Bucky SlocumPTS4Dec 05, 1949 Convention Hall, Philadelphia
5Win5–0 Horace BaileyPTS6Oct 24, 1949 Arena, Trenton
4Win4–0 George HunterKO2 Sep 06, 1949 Fair Grounds Arena, Allentown
3Win3–0 Dave AndrewsUD8Aug 17, 1949 Jerome Stadium, Bronx
2Win2–0 George DixonTKO1 Jul 20, 1949 Jerome Stadium, Bronx
1Win1–0 Jimmy SwannKO3 May 09, 1949 Arena, Philadelphia