Johnny Bumphus


Johnny 'Bump City' Bumphus 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.

Amateur career

Bumphus 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 by defeating Efrain Nieves at Indianapolis.
  • Being ranked #1 U.S. Lightweight by the U.S. Amateur Boxers and Coaches Association in 1979, 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.
In August 1980, he signed with boxing promoter Bob Arum reportedly for $500,000.

Highlights

, Honolulu, Hawaii, March–April 1977:
  • 1/2: Defeated Larry Tatman by decision
  • Finals: Lost to Bernard Taylor by decision
United States National Championships, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, May 1977:
  • 1/2: Defeated Jerry Smith by decision
  • Finals: Defeated Leo Simmons by decision
USA–Poland Duals, Las Vegas, Nevada, August 1977:
  • Lost to Roman Gotfryd by unanimous decision, 0–3
USA–Romania Duals, Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, January 1978:
USA–Yugoslavia Duals, Memphis, Tennessee, February 1978:
United States National Championships, Biloxi, Mississippi, April 1978:
  • 1/8: Defeated Mike Hess by decision
  • 1/4: Lost to Davey Armstrong by decision
USA–USSR Duals, Las Vegas, Nevada, January 1979:
  • Defeated Dmitriy Grubov by decision
Cuba–USA Duals, Havana, Cuba, February 1979:
Southern Golden Gloves, Knoxville, Tennessee, March 1979:
  • Defeated Arnaldo Maura RSC 3
National Golden Gloves, Indianapolis, Indiana, March 1979:
  • 1/2: Defeated Melvin Paul by decision
  • Finals: Defeated Efrain Nieves by decision
National Sports Festival, July 1979:
Pan Am Trials, Toledo, Ohio, May–June 1979:
  • 1/2: Defeated Robert Hines by decision
  • Finals: Lost to Davey Armstrong by decision
USA–FRG Duals, Rapid City, South Dakota, August 1979:
Nashville Sheriff's Dept. vs. Jackson Boxing Club, Clearview Shopping Center gym, Mount Juliet, Tennessee, January 1980:
  • Defeated Will Sommerville
Jackson Boxing Club vs. Nashville Sheriff's Dept., Jackson Coliseum, Jackson, Tennessee, February 1980:
46th Midstate Golden Gloves Tournament, Franklin Optimist Center, Franklin, Tennessee, February 1980:
  • Defeated Freddie Bostic RSCH 2
USA–Cuba Duals, Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina, February 1980:
Southern Golden Gloves, Knoxville, Tennessee, March 1980:
GDR–USA Duals, Schwerin, East Germany, March 1980:
GDR–USA Duals, Rostock, East Germany, March 1980:
USA–Scandinavia Duals, Biloxi, Mississippi, April 1980:
  • Defeated Fleming Pederson KO 2
Southern AAU Tournament, Franklin Optimist Center, Franklin, Tennessee, April 1980:
United States National Championships, Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, May 1980:
  • 1/2: Defeated Harry Arroyo by decision
  • Finals: Defeated Darryl Anthony by unanimous decision, 5–0
Olympic Trials, Atlanta, Georgia, June 1980:
  • 1/4: Defeated Darryl Anthony by unanimous decision, 5–0
  • 1/2: Defeated Terry Silver DQ 3
  • Finals: Defeated Ronnie Shields by unanimous decision, 5–0
National Junior Olympics Multi-Sports Festival, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California, August 1980:
Bumphus finished his amateur career at 341–16,

Olympics

Bumphus qualified at 139 pounds and was a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic boxing team that died in the crash of LOT Polish Airlines Flight 007 in Warsaw, Poland, on March 14, 1980 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. Members of the team who were also not aboard included Bobby Czyz, Alex Ramos and James Shuler.
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.
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."

Professional career

Dubbed "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

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
31Loss29–2Lloyd HoneyghanTKO2 1987-02-22Grand Hall, Wembley, England, U.K.For WBC, IBF & The Ring welterweight titles
30Win29–1Marlon StarlingTD6 1986-05-18Civic Center, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.Won USBA welterweight title
29Win28–1JD DobbinsTKO3 1986-02-25Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
28Win27–1Allen ClarkeTKO4 1985-12-10Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
27Win26–1Richard BeranekTKO5 1985-05-22Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
26Win25–1Randy MitchemRTD3 1984-12-26Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
25Win24–1Martin RojasUD10 1984-10-31Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
24Win23–1Ralph TwinningUD10 1984-08-29Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
23Loss22–1Gene HatcherTKO11 1984-06-01Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, U.S.Lost WBA light welterweight title
22Win22–0Lorenzo GarciaUD15 1984-01-22Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Won vacant WBA light welterweight title
21Win21–0Jose AnguloTKO10 1983-09-22Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
20Win20–0Adriano MarreroTKO8 1983-08-16Playboy Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
19Win19–0Michael BradleyKO6 1983-04-02Lancaster Host Resort, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, U.S.Won vacant USBA light welterweight title
18Win18–0Randy ShieldsTKO8 1983-02-19Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
17Win17–0Pat JeffersonTKO7 1982-11-24Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
16Win16–0Pat HallacyUD10 1982-10-23Lancaster Host Resort, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, U.S.
15Win15–0Ricardo JimenezTKO8 1982-08-22Great Gorge Playboy Club, McAfee, New Jersey, U.S.
14Win14–0Eduardo LugoTKO5 1982-07-27Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
13Win13–0Marvin JenkinsTKO2 1982-03-02Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
12Win12–0Willie RodriguezUD12 1981-10-31Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Won USBA light welterweight title
11Win11–0JJ CottrellUD10 1981-09-24Hacienda Hotel, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
10Win10–0Dale HernandezTKO5 1981-08-23Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
9Win9–0Armando RamirezKO4 1981-06-21Playboy Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
8Win8–0Arcenio GreenTKO7 1981-05-23Teatro Ariston, San Remo, Italy
7Win7–0Norberto FigueroaTKO2 1981-04-12Ballys Park Place Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
6Win6–0Jackie MorrellTKO4 1981-03-28Carrier Dome, Syracuse, New York, U.S.
5Win5–0Victor PappaUD8 1981-02-08Great Gorge Playboy Club, McAfee, New Jersey, U.S.
4Win4–0Jose Angel MedinaKO2 1981-01-16HemisFair Arena, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
3Win3–0Norberto FigueroaPTS6 1980-12-20Kingsbridge Armory, The Bronx, New York, U.S.
2Win2–0Ken LongKO1 1980-12-04Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
1Win1–0Mike MichaudTKO1 1980-11-08Caesars Tahoe Cascade Showroom, Stateline, Nevada, U.S.