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 name | Marcellus Joseph Johnson |
| Nickname(s) | Too Sharp |
| Weight(s) | |
| Height | 5 ft 3 in (160 cm) |
| Reach | 63 in (160 cm) |
| Nationality | American |
| Born | August 13, 1971 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Stance | Southpaw |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 50 |
| Wins | 44 |
| Wins by KO | 28 |
| Losses | 5 |
| No contests | 1 |
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]
Super flyweight
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
| 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
- "The Ring Magazine's Annual Ratings: 1998". BoxRec. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
- Thomas Hearns leads HOF ballot. ESPN.com. Retrieved on October 14, 2011.
- "Mark "Too Sharp" Johnson". International Boxing Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 18, 2012.
- http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2001/feb/5/20010205-021004-3579r/?page=all
External links
- Boxing record for Mark Johnson from BoxRec
- The Trial and Tribulations of a DC Boxer, 1995 article at The Washington Post
| 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 | ||