Len Johnson (boxer)


Leonard "Len" Benker Johnson born in Clayton, Manchester was an English professional middle/light heavyweight boxer of the 1920s, and 1930s, who won the Australian version of the British Empire middleweight title in 1926. Johnson was denied the opportunity to fight for championships in Great Britain because of the colour bar that existed in boxing at that time. He was managed by his father Bill Johnson. Johnson fought on boxing booths in the 1920s, and from 1930 to 1939 owned his own travelling booth. Just prior to the outbreak of World War Two Johnson briefly tried his hand at professional wrestling, but once war came he lost interest in both boxing and wrestling, and sold his booth. During World War Two Johnson was a member of the Civil Defence heavy Rescue Squad in Manchester. Len Johnson was also a member of the Communist Party of Great Britain, a trade unionist, a community leader in Moss Side, a local civil rights activist, and attended the 5th Pan-African Congress in Manchester. Following the Second World War, he was a co-founder of the New International Society in Manchester, which provided a vehicle for black political and social self-organisation in the city and campaigning against racism at home and abroad, including organising a concert and a rally featuring Paul Robeson in support of the Trenton Six, which were both attended by 10,000 people.

Boxing career

Johnson was entered for his first bouts by his father whilst the engineering firm he worked for as a foundryman was on strike: he won his first two fights. Len Johnson had a long professional boxing career :
Johnson then travelled to Australia.
After returning to Europe:
Johnson's professional career spanned 127 fights, including 92 wins, 29 losses and 6 draws.

Genealogical information

Len Johnson was the son of William Benker Johnson, a Sierra Leonean merchant seaman, boxer, and engineer, and Margaret Maher, of Irish ancestry and older brother of Albert and Bill and sister Doris Johnson.