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.
Johnny Bumphus | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 17, 1960 Tacoma, Washington, U.S. |
| Died | January 31, 2020 (aged 59) Tacoma, Washington, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Bump City |
| Statistics | |
| Weight(s) | |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) |
| Reach | 74 in (188 cm) |
| Stance | Southpaw |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 31 |
| Wins | 29 |
| Wins by KO | 20 |
| Losses | 2 |
Amateur career
editBumphus 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
edit|
National Golden Gloves (125 lbs), Honolulu, Hawaii, March–April 1977:
USA–Poland Duals (125 lbs), Las Vegas, Nevada, August 1977:
USA–Romania Duals (125 lbs), Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, January 1978:
USA–Yugoslavia Duals (132 lbs), Memphis, Tennessee, February 1978:
United States National Championships (132 lbs), Biloxi, Mississippi, April 1978:
USA–USSR Duals (132 lbs), Las Vegas, Nevada, January 1979:
Cuba–USA Duals (132 lbs), Havana, Cuba, February 1979:
Pan Am Trials (132 lbs), Toledo, Ohio, May–June 1979:
USA–FRG Duals (139 lbs), Rapid City, South Dakota, August 1979:
|
Nashville Sheriff's Dept. vs. Jackson Boxing Club (139 lbs), Clearview Shopping Center gym, Mount Juliet, Tennessee, January 1980:
Jackson Boxing Club vs. Nashville Sheriff's Dept. (139 lbs), Jackson Coliseum, Jackson, Tennessee, February 1980:
USA–Cuba Duals (139 lbs), Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina, February 1980:
GDR–USA Duals (139 lbs), Schwerin, East Germany, March 1980:
GDR–USA Duals (139 lbs), Rostock, East Germany, March 1980:
USA–Scandinavia Duals (139 lbs), Biloxi, Mississippi, April 1980:
Southern AAU Tournament (139 lbs), Franklin Optimist Center, Franklin, Tennessee, April 1980:
Olympic Trials (139 lbs), Atlanta, Georgia, June 1980:
|
Bumphus finished his amateur career at 341–16,[4] (or 354–16.[5][6])
Olympics
editBumphus 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
editDubbed "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
edit| 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
editReferences
edit- ^ Amateur Boxing Rankings (UPI,) Galveston Daily News, February 15, 1979, p. 59.
- ^ Arum signs 8 fighters; 2 are Olympic champs By Hal Bock (AP,) The Times Leader, August 20, 1980, p. 29.
- ^ Initial bonus offer 'disappointing' by Bill Cox, The Jackson Sun, August 6, 1980, p. 33.
- ^ "KO Closeup: Johnny Bumphus", KO: 35, August 1983
- ^ Vegas Not So Far For SEAAU Boxers By Tom Wood, The Tennessean, April 10, 1980, p. 10.
- ^ Experienced Pal Aids Boxer King by J. T. Phillips, The Tennessean, April 5, 1980, p. 22.
- ^ "U.S. Olympic Boxing Teams" Archived May 22, 2006, at the Wayback Machine at boxing.about.com (Retrieved September 12, 2013)
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ "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
- ^ 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.
- ^ No More Overseas Flights For Boxer (AP,) The Indianapolis Star, March 15, 1980, p. 31.
External links
edit- Boxing record for Johnny Bumphus from BoxRec (registration required)