Johnny Bratton


Johnny Bratton, also known as Honey Boy Bratton, was an American professional boxer and briefly reigned as the NBA welterweight champion in 1951. He fought many of the best fighters of his era in the division, earning nearly $400,000 in 83 fights, but ended up penniless and mentally impaired.

Amateur career

Bratton started boxing at age 14 and competed in several Golden Gloves events before turning pro.

Professional career

Bratton was a strong character, contemporaneously described as "flashy" or "egotistical", with his "brilliantined hair and a fondness for purple shirts". He was "instinctively disliked by others" and fans were said to hope he would "get a beating".
He turned pro in 1944 and captured the vacant National Boxing Association World welterweight title in 1951 with a majority decision win over Charley Fusari , fight in which Fusari was down for a four-count in the 4th round and a nine-count in the 10th. He lost the belt two months later to Kid Gavilán by decision after Bratton's jaw was broken within the first five rounds. In 1953 Bratton rematched Gavilan for the World Welterweight Title and lost a lopsided decision with scores 85-65, 83-67, 82-68 all for Gavilan. After the loss to Gavilan, Bratton's career spiraled downward with losses to Johnny Saxton and Chico Varona. He retired in 1955 after a brutal loss to Del Flanagan, a fight stopped by the ring doctor because Bratton was cut over both eyes and appeared "dazed and didn't know where he was."
His career record was 60 wins, 24 losses and three draws.
At his peak, Bratton was earning tens of thousands of dollars per fight, and he spent lavishly, on clothes, cars and gambling. His manager, Howard Frazier, was found to be embezzling his income and had his license revoked for it in 1949. Bratton attracted plenty of other people eager to relieve this Arkansas country boy of his new-found wealth, which - combined with poor financial management, by his father and others - meant that he ended up losing it all.

Personal life, Joanne and after boxing

Bratton was born in Little Rock, Arkansas where his father was a preacher. He had older brothers named Jerry and Lawyer Jr. During the Great Depression, the family moved north to Chicago, where his father got a job as a taxi driver, which meant he was often away from home, and young Bratton grew up without strong family support, as his mother left him to his own devices. He attended DuSable High School, but dropped out, spending his time on the street, an existence that led him to the fight clubs that would be his path to success.
He married young - a local girl called Cleadora McLinn with whom he had a son, Dana, in 1944, but the marriage didn't last a year. Then, aged 18, Bratton met Joanne Jackson, aged only 15, a neighbour of his uncle. They went on to marry and had a son, Derek, known as Ricky, born in 1950.
The rigors of the boxing ring had taken a heavy toll, and in 1955, a few months after his final fight, Bratton was admitted to Manteno State Mental Hospital, where he would stay for eight years. On release, he lived quietly with his mother. He would spend time living in his car, then was homeless, and had ongoing mental problems and related hospital admissions. At times he worked as a farm-hand. When his son Ricky died of an infection aged 11, in Detroit, Bratton was too sick to be aware of it.
Bratton’s wife, now JoAnne Bratton-Jackson, went on to be a force in the music business, specifically soul music. With business partner and later husband Ed Wingate – already successful owner of The 20 Grand club and other businesses, she co-founded Detroit record labels that ran neck and neck with Motown. After Golden World Records, of which she was president, came Ric-Tic Records - named for her and Bratton’s son, Derek Bratton, and Wingate Records. She co-wrote a number of soul records, including "That's What He Told Me" and the flip side "Holding Hands,". Motown owner Berry Gordy sought a partnership with the couple early on, but Jackson counselled Wingate against, and the result was a string of hits and an eventual buy-out by Gordy for around a million dollars, in 1966.
In the 1980s, Bratton was sleeping in the lobby of Chicago's Del Prado Hotel, earning his place by running errands and being personable, but not quite living in the present, always a sidestep away from his old memories. By 1991, he was in a nursing home on Chicago's South Side, in touch with his family and "doing all right", in his own words.
Bratton died in 1993, aged 65.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
87LossDel FlanaganTKO9 Mar 17, 1955Auditorium, Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
86Loss60–23–3Chico VaronaUD10Oct 25, 1954St. Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
85Loss60–22–3Johnny SaxtonUD10Feb 24, 1954Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
84Loss60–21–3Kid GavilánUD15Nov 13, 1953Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.For NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight titles
83Win60–20–3Al WilsonSD10Oct 7, 1953Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
82Win59–20–3Danny WomberUD10Jun 9, 1953Forum, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
81Win58–20–3Livio MinelliUD10May 7, 1953Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
80Win57–20–3Al WilsonUD10Apr 14, 1953Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
79Win56–20–3Bobby JonesKO5 Mar 20, 1953Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
78Win55–20–3Jesús PortuguézKO5 Feb 23, 1953Eastern Parkway Arena, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
77Loss54–20–3Ralph JonesUD10Dec 5, 1952Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
76Win54–19–3Joe MiceliTKO8 Oct 31, 1952Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
75Win53–19–3Ralph ZannelliUD10Sep 10, 1952Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
74Win52–19–3Irvin SteenTKO3 Aug 25, 1952Eastern Parkway Arena, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
73Win51–19–3Laurent DauthuilleTKO3 Jul 28, 1952Forum, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
72Loss50–19–3Rocky CastellaniSD10Jun 18, 1952Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
71Win50–18–3Del FlanaganSD10May 23, 1952Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
70Win49–18–3Pierre LangloisTKO4 May 1, 1952Forum, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
69Loss48–18–3Rocky CastellaniUD10Mar 28, 1952Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
68Win48–17–3Vic CardellSD10Feb 20, 1952Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
67Win47–17–3Bobby RosadoKO8 Jan 28, 1952Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
66Win46–17–3Livio MinelliSD10Dec 27, 1951Arena, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
65Draw45–17–3Kid GavilánPTS10Nov 28, 1951Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
64Win45–17–2Wilbur WilsonKO8 Oct 15, 1951Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S.
63Loss44–17–2Kid GavilánUD15May 18, 1951Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.Lost NBA welterweight title;
For vacant NYSAC and The Ring welterweight titles
62Win44–16–2Don WilliamsTKO4 Apr 18, 1951Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
61Win43–16–2Charley FusariSD15Mar 14, 1951Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.Won vacant NBA welterweight title
60Win42–16–2Bobby DykesTKO1 Jan 24, 1951Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
59Win41–16–2Sammy MastreanKO3 Jan 9, 1951Rainbo Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
58Win40–16–2Lester FeltonTKO3 Dec 13, 1950Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
57Loss39–16–2Holley MimsUD10Nov 27, 1950Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
56Win39–15–2Johnny CesarioTKO3 Nov 22, 1950St. Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
55Loss38–15–2Holley MimsUD10Nov 6, 1950Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
54Loss38–14–2Ike WilliamsTKO8 Jan 20, 1950Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
53Win38–13–2Gene HairstonTKO2 Jan 4, 1950St. Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
52Win37–13–2Gaby FerlandTKO2 Nov 18, 1949Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
51Win36–13–2Chuck TaylorTKO2 Sep 15, 1949Marigold Gardens Outdoor Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
50Win35–13–2Ramón ÁlvarezTKO5 Apr 8, 1949Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
49Win34–13–2Frankie VigeantTKO4 Mar 29, 1949Civic Auditorium, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
48Win33–13–2Chester RicoTKO6 Feb 25, 1949Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
47Loss32–13–2Ike WilliamsUD10Jan 17, 1949Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
46Win32–12–2Melvin BartholomewPTS10Jan 7, 1949Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
45Win31–12–2Joe BrownKO4 Dec 3, 1948Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
44Draw30–12–2Bobby LeePTS10Nov 29, 1948Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
43Loss30–12–1Bernard DocusenUD10Oct 29, 1948Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
42Win30–11–1Luigi ValentiniTKO7 Sep 15, 1948Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
41Win29–11–1Frankie AbramsUD8Jul 19, 1948Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
40Win28–11–1Jackie SolomonKO1 Jul 6, 1948Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
39Loss27–11–1Beau JackTKO8 Jan 23, 1948Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
38Loss27–10–1Livio MinelliSD10Jan 5, 1948Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
37Win27–9–1Phil PalmerTKO7 Nov 12, 1947Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
36Loss26–9–1Gene BurtonUD10Oct 6, 1947Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
35Win26–8–1Herbie JonesKO8 Aug 4, 1947Griffith Stadium, Washington, D.C., U.S.
34Loss25–8–1Gene BurtonUD10Jun 6, 1947Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
33Loss25–7–1Sammy AngottUD10May 16, 1947Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
32Win25–6–1Danny KapilowSD10Feb 18, 1947Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
31Win24–6–1Morris ReifUD10Jan 24, 1947Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
30Win23–6–1Willie JoyceUD10Dec 20, 1946Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
29Win22–6–1Willie JoyceSD10Oct 31, 1946Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
28Win21–6–1Richard PoliteTKO3 Oct 18, 1946Pelican Stadium, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
27Win20–6–1Eddie LanderUD10Sep 23, 1946Marigold Gardens Outdoor Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
26Win19–6–1Roy CadleTKO5 Aug 14, 1946Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
25Win18–6–1Bill EddyMD10Aug 1, 1946Rainbo Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
24Win17–6–1Pedro FirpoKO1 May 3, 1946Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
23Win16–6–1Freddie DawsonUD10Apr 12, 1946Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
22Loss15–6–1Ike WilliamsPTS10Jan 20, 1946Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
21Loss15–5–1Chalky WrightUD10Dec 14, 1945Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
20Win15–4–1Cleo ShansPTS10Nov 11, 1945Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
19Draw14–4–1Cleo ShansPTS10Nov 2, 1945Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
18Win14–4Candy McDanielsTKO6 Oct 26, 1945Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
17Loss13–4Dave CastillouxPTS10Aug 10, 1945Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
16Loss13–3Joey BarnumUD8Jul 30, 1945Marigold Gardens Outdoor Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
15Win13–2Melvin JohnsonPTS8Jul 20, 1945White City Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
14Win12–2Melvin BartholomewKO4 May 14, 1945Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
13Win11–2Patsy SpataroPTS8Mar 26, 1945Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
12Win10–2Jimmy AnestPTS6Feb 14, 1945Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
11Win9–2Robert EarlTKO3 Jan 19, 1945Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
10Win8–2Ted ChristieTKO2 Dec 18, 1944Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
9Loss7–2Ace MillerPTS8Dec 4, 1944Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
8Win7–1Gene SpencerPTS8Nov 24, 1944Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
7Win6–1Gene SpencerSD8Oct 9, 1944Marigold Gardens Outdoor Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
6Loss5–1Gene SpencerUD8Sep 25, 1944Marigold Gardens Outdoor Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
5Win5–0Ted ChristiePTS8Aug 7, 1944Marigold Gardens Outdoor Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
4Win4–0Walter HolbaTKO2 Jul 24, 1944Marigold Gardens Outdoor Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
3Win3–0Alvin JordanKO4 Jul 7, 1944Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
2Win2–0Larry WrightTKO3 Jun 26, 1944Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1Win1–0Doyle HirtPTS4Jun 12, 1944Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.