Mark Johnson (boxer)

Marcellus Joseph Johnson (born August 13, 1971), better known as Mark "Too Sharp" Johnson, is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1990 to 2006. He is a three-time world champion in two weight classes, having held the IBF flyweight title from 1996 to 1999; the IBF junior bantamweight title from 1999 to 2000; and the WBO junior bantamweight title from 2003 to 2004.

Mark Johnson
Statistics
Real nameMarcellus Joseph Johnson
Nickname(s)Too Sharp
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 3 in (160 cm)
Reach63 in (160 cm)
NationalityAmerican
Born (1971-08-13) August 13, 1971
Washington, D.C., U.S.
StanceSouthpaw
Boxing record
Total fights50
Wins44
Wins by KO28
Losses5
No contests1

A fast and skilled southpaw, Johnson reached a peak Ring magazine pound for pound ranking of fifth in 1998,[1] and is the first African-American boxer to win a flyweight world title. In 2012 he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.[2][3]

Amateur career

Johnson was an amateur standout, winning the 1989 U.S. national championships at light flyweight.

Professional career

Flyweight

Johnson, defeated Francisco Tejedor to win the IBF Flyweight title in 1996. Although he never attained significant popularity due to his weight class and lack of defining fights, he went on to become one of the top pound for pound fighters in boxing for several years. Johnson conceded in a 2001 interview that his decision to manage his career independently during his peak, rather than signing with an established promoter, contributed to his inability to secure high-profile fights, "I realized I had to have some management like a Don King or a Bob Arum or a [Lou] Duva to get these fights."[4]

Junior Bantamweight

Johnson defended that crown seven times until April 1999, when he rose to win the IBF's junior bantamweight crown with a unanimous decision over Ratanachai Sor Vorapin at Washington, D.C.'s MCI Center (now the Verizon Center). He defended the Super Flyweight title twice. However, his career was interrupted when he was sentenced to a year in prison on a drug related parole violation as well as domestic assault charges involving his wife. While incarcerated, he was stripped of his IBF title due to inactivity.[4]

Bantamweight

Johnson returned to the ring in 2001, scoring two consecutive wins. In his third fight at bantamweight Johnson lost in an upset to up and coming Rafael Marquez by split decision over 10 rounds later that year. This bout was clouded by the fact that Johnson was docked two points for holding. In the rematch the following year, Marquez took Johnson apart, winning by TKO in the 8th round. In 2003, Johnson upset WBO super flyweight champion Fernando Montiel. Johnson defended that title once before losing by knockout in the 8th round to Ivan Hernández. Johnson retired following his second straight loss in February 2006 after falling by eighth-round knockout to current WBC featherweight titleholder Jhonny Gonzalez.

Professional boxing record

Professional record summary
50 fights 44 wins 5 losses
By knockout 28 3
By decision 16 2
No contests 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
50 Loss 44–5 (1) Jhonny González KO 8 (12), 1:08 Feb 25, 2006 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
49 Loss 44–4 (1) Iván Hernández KO 8 (12), 2:42 Sep 25, 2004 FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. Lost WBO junior bantamweight title
48 Win 44–3 (1) Paulino Villalobos UD 10 Jul 17, 2004 Prince George's Stadium, Bowie, Maryland, U.S.
47 Win 43–3 (1) Luis Bolano KO 4 (12), 2:40 Mar 6, 2004 Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S. Retained WBO junior bantamweight title
46 Win 42–3 (1) Fernando Montiel MD 12 Aug 16, 2003 Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S. Won vacant WBO junior bantamweight title
45 Win 41–3 (1) Ricardo Medina UD 8 Jun 28, 2003 D.C. Armory, Washington, D.C., U.S.
44 Loss 40–3 (1) Rafael Márquez TKO 8 (12), 2:41 Feb 23, 2002 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. For vacant USBA bantamweight title
43 Loss 40–2 (1) Rafael Márquez SD 10 Oct 6, 2001 Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.
42 Win 40–1 (1) Arturo Valenzuela TKO 6 (10), 0:20 Jul 24, 2001 Chene Park, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
41 Win 39–1 (1) Sergio Perez UD 10 Jun 8, 2001 Ho-Chunk Casino, Delton, Wisconsin, U.S.
40 NC 38–1 (1) Raul Juarez NC 4 (12), 2:14 Nov 19, 1999 D.C. Armory, Washington, D.C., U.S. IBF junior bantamweight title at stake;
NC after Juarez could not continue from an intentional low blow
39 Win 38–1 Jorge Lacierva TD 8 (12), 2:07 Aug 13, 1999 Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S. Retained IBF junior bantamweight title;
Unanimous TD after Lacierva was cut from an accidental head clash
38 Win 37–1 Ratanachai Sor Vorapin UD 12 Apr 24, 1999 MCI Center, Washington, D.C., U.S. Won vacant IBF junior bantamweight title
37 Win 36–1 José Laureano TKO 6 (12), 3:00 Sep 4, 1998 Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. Retained IBF flyweight title
36 Win 35–1 Luis Rolon UD 12 Jul 26, 1998 Turning Stone Resort Casino, Verona, New York, U.S. Retained IBF flyweight title
35 Win 34–1 Arthur Johnson KO 1 (12), 1:11 Feb 22, 1998 D.C. Armory, Washington, D.C., U.S. Retained IBF flyweight title
34 Win 33–1 Angel Almena UD 12 Sep 16, 1997 Municipal Auditorium, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. Retained IBF flyweight title
33 Win 32–1 Cecilio Espino KO 2 (12), 3:00 Jun 1, 1997 Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S. Retained IBF flyweight title
32 Win 31–1 Alejandro Montiel UD 12 Feb 10, 1997 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. Retained IBF flyweight title
31 Win 30–1 Raul Juarez TKO 8 (12), 1:57 Aug 5, 1996 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. Retained IBF flyweight title
30 Win 29–1 Francisco Tejedor KO 1 (12), 1:35 May 4, 1996 Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California, U.S. Won vacant IBF flyweight title
29 Win 28–1 Raul Rios KO 3 (10) Dec 11, 1995 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
28 Win 27–1 Ernest Sneed TKO 1 Oct 15, 1995 Washington, D.C., U.S.
27 Win 26–1 Marcos Pacheco TKO 4 Sep 11, 1995 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
26 Win 25–1 Josué Camacho TKO 8 (12), 2:42 Jul 15, 1995 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. Retained World Boxing Board flyweight title
25 Win 24–1 Rafael Granillo KO 5 (12), 1:56 Jun 10, 1995 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. Retained World Boxing Board flyweight title
24 Win 23–1 Mauro Diaz TKO 3 (12) Apr 24, 1995 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. Retained World Boxing Board flyweight title
23 Win 22–1 Leon Salazar RTD 12 (12), 3:00 Feb 20, 1995 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. Retained World Boxing Board flyweight title
22 Win 21–1 Enrique Orozco TKO 12 (12), 1:30 Oct 22, 1994 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. Retained World Boxing Board flyweight title
21 Win 20–1 Jose Quirino KO 3 (12) Jun 11, 1994 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. Retained World Boxing Board flyweight title
20 Win 19–1 Javier Juarez KO 3 (12), 2:24 May 9, 1994 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. Retained World Boxing Board flyweight title
19 Win 18–1 Ancee Gedeon PTS 10 Apr 23, 1994 D.C. Armory, Washington, D.C., U.S. Retained World Boxing Board flyweight title
18 Win 17–1 Eduardo Ramirez KO 2 (12) Mar 1, 1994 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. Retained World Boxing Board flyweight title
17 Win 16–1 Roberto Betillo Alvarez UD 12 Dec 6, 1993 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. Retained World Boxing Board flyweight title
16 Win 15–1 Armando Diaz UD 12 Aug 9, 1993 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. Retained World Boxing Board flyweight title
15 Win 14–1 Alberto Jimenez SD 12 May 18, 1993 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. Won vacant World Boxing Board flyweight title
14 Win 13–1 Rudy Bradley PTS 8 Apr 5, 1993 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
13 Win 12–1 Luis Rosario KO 2 Feb 19, 1993 Convention Center, Washington, D.C., U.S.
12 Win 11–1 Daniel Moran TKO 1 Nov 29, 1992 Convention Center, Washington, D.C., U.S.
11 Win 10–1 Raul Hernandez KO 2 Oct 3, 1992 Washington, D.C., U.S.
10 Win 9–1 Steve Coleman KO 1 Jun 13, 1992 Alexandria, Virginia, U.S.
9 Win 8–1 Aureo Dominguez UD 6 Jan 11, 1992 Convention Center, Washington, D.C., U.S.
8 Win 7–1 Martin Llovera KO 2 (6) Sep 21, 1991 Washington, D.C., U.S.
7 Win 6–1 Joe Bordley KO 2 Jul 24, 1991 Washington, D.C., U.S.
6 Win 5–1 Derrick Shepherd KO 1 May 4, 1991 Washington, D.C., U.S.
5 Win 4–1 Derrick Shepherd PTS 6 Mar 9, 1991 Washington, D.C., U.S.
4 Win 3–1 Darian Riley KO 2 Feb 26, 1991 Convention Center, Washington, D.C., U.S.
3 Win 2–1 Wayne Johnson KO 1 Jan 11, 1991 Washington, D.C., U.S.
2 Loss 1–1 Richie Wenton PTS 4 Mar 17, 1990 King's Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
1 Win 1–0 Ray Gonzalez KO 3 (4) Feb 24, 1990 Palace Theatre, Lorain, Ohio, U.S.

References

  1. "The Ring Magazine's Annual Ratings: 1998". BoxRec. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  2. Thomas Hearns leads HOF ballot. ESPN.com. Retrieved on October 14, 2011.
  3. "Mark "Too Sharp" Johnson". International Boxing Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 18, 2012.
  4. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2001/feb/5/20010205-021004-3579r/?page=all
Sporting positions
Amateur boxing titles
Previous:
Michael Carbajal
U.S. light flyweight champion
1989
Next:
John Herrera
Minor world boxing titles
New title WBB flyweight champion
May 18, 1993 – October 1995
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Rubén Sánchez León
Major world boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Danny Romero
IBF flyweight champion
May 4, 1996 – April 1999
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Irene Pacheco
Vacant
Title last held by
Johnny Tapia
IBF junior bantamweight champion
April 24 – May 2000
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Félix Machado
Preceded by
Fernando Montiel
WBO junior bantamweight champion
August 16, 2003 – September 25, 2004
Succeeded by
Ivan Hernández
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.