Johnny Saxton


Johnny Saxton was an American professional boxer in the welterweight division. He was born in Newark, New Jersey, learned to box in a Brooklyn orphanage and won 31 of his 33 amateur career fights. In his professional career, he was a two-time Undisputed World Welterweight Champion.

Professional career

Saxton turned professional in 1949 and ran up forty wins without a defeat before losing to Gil Turner in 1953. His win over Joey Giardello and Johnny Bratton helped propel him to fight with Kid Gavilán in 1954 for the world welterweight championship. He beat Gavilan via a fifteen-round decision to take the title. He lost the title the following year via technical knockout against Tony DeMarco. In 1956 he won the title again with an upset win over Carmen Basilio, but lost the title in a rematch with Basilio later in the year. He retired in 1958.
Saxton, brother of Richard Eugene Kyle, who boxed for the U.S. Army, was managed by Frank "Blinky" Palermo, a member of the Philadelphia crime family. Palermo was imprisoned in 1961 for conspiracy and extortion for the covert ownership of prizefighters. Saxton's career was often marred by rumors of shady dealings. His two biggest wins, against Gavilan and Basilio, were both controversial and unpopular with many in the boxing world.

After boxing

Saxton worked as a security guard and a boxing coach after he retired. A hit-and-run accident left him with damage to one leg, and by the early 1990s he was living in a New York City apartment that had no electricity. A friend helped Saxton move to a retirement home in Florida. He was diagnosed with pugilistic dementia.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
66LossWillie GreeneTKO3 Dec 15, 1958Arcadia Ballroom, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
65Loss55–8–2Denny MoyerUD10Oct 21, 1958Auditorium, Portland, Maine, U.S.
64Win55–7–2Barry AllisonSD10Oct 7, 1958Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S.
63Loss54–7–2Joe MiceliTKO3 Sep 6, 1957Capitol Arena, Washington, D.C., U.S.
62Loss54–6–2Carmen BasilioTKO2 Feb 22, 1957Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.For NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight titles
61Loss54–5–2Carmen BasilioTKO9 Sep 12, 1956War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, New York, U.S.Lost NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight titles
60Win54–4–2Don WilliamsMD10Aug 23, 1956Auditorium, Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.
59Win53–4–2Barry AllisonUD10Aug 7, 1956Arena, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
58Win52–4–2Gil TurnerTKO10 May 16, 1956Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
57Win51–4–2Carmen BasilioUD15Mar 14, 1956Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.Won NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight titles
56Win50–4–2Ralph JonesUD10Nov 9, 1955Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.
55Win49–4–2Jackie O'BrienUD10Oct 25, 1955Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S.
54Win48–4–2Joe ShawUD10Sep 15, 1955Portland, Maine, U.S.
53Win47–4–2Jimmy FullerTKO6 Jun 10, 1955Maple Arena, Brockton, Massachusetts, U.S.
52Loss46–4–2Tony DeMarcoTKO14 Apr 1, 1955Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Lost NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight titles
51Loss46–3–2Ronnie DelaneyUD10Feb 11, 1955Armory, Akron, Ohio, U.S.
50Win46–2–2Ramon FuentesUD10Dec 2, 1954Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
49Win45–2–2Kid GavilánUD15Oct 20, 1954Silver Bowl, Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, U.S.Won NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight titles
48Draw44–2–2Johnny LombardoPTS10Aug 4, 1954Silver Bowl, Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, U.S.
47Win44–2–1Johnny BrattonUD10Feb 24, 1954Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
46Win43–2–1Mickey LaurentTKO7 Feb 1, 1954Eastern Parkway Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
45Loss42–2–1Del FlanaganSD10Dec 30, 1953Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
44Win42–1–1Herman McCrayKO3 Dec 3, 1953Casino, Fall River, Massachusetts, U.S.
43Win41–1–1Joey GiardelloUD10Sep 29, 1953Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
42Win40–1–1Charley WilliamsTKO2 Sep 15, 1953Fair Grounds Arena, Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
41Loss39–1–1Gil TurnerSD10Jun 15, 1953Connie Mack Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
40Win39–0–1Joe MiceliUD10May 27, 1953Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
39Win38–0–1Charley WilliamsUD10Mar 31, 1953Ridgewood Grove, New York City, New York, U.S.
38Draw37–0–1Wallace Bud SmithSD10Mar 10, 1953Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
37Win37–0Charley WilliamsUD10Feb 24, 1953Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
36Win36–0Freddie DawsonUD10Feb 10, 1953Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
35Win35–0Danny WomberUD10Dec 29, 1952Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
34Win34–0Raul PerezKO1 Dec 12, 1952Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
33Win33–0Mario TrigoRTD3 Oct 28, 1952Arena, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
32Win32–0Ralph JonesSD10Oct 3, 1952St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
31Win31–0Virgil AkinsUD10Jul 30, 1952Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
30Win30–0Bobby LeeUD10Jul 17, 1952Veterans Hospital, Coatesville, Pennsylvania, U.S.
29Win29–0Luther RawlingsUD10Jun 4, 1952Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
28Win28–0Bobby LeeKO7 Apr 30, 1952Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
27Win27–0Charlie ThompsonPTS10Apr 17, 1952Casino, Fall River, Massachusetts, U.S.
26Win26–0Lester FeltonDQ6 Mar 14, 1952Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
25Win25–0Livio MinelliTKO7 Jan 25, 1952Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
24Win24–0Charley SalasUD10Nov 19, 1951Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
23Win23–0Marshall ClaytonTKO7 Nov 5, 1951Turner's Arena, Washington, D.C., U.S.
22Win22–0Honeychile JohnsonMD10Oct 4, 1951Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
21Win21–0Tommy CiarloTKO5 Aug 20, 1951Fair Grounds Arena, Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
20Win20–0Joey CarkidoRTD5 Aug 8, 1951Toppi Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
19Win19–0Gaby FerlandTKO7 Jul 30, 1951Fair Grounds Arena, Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
18Win18–0Lloyd TateTKO3 Jul 2, 1951Toppi Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
17Win17–0Tony PelloneUD10Sep 22, 1950Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
16Win16–0Sonny BunnSD10Aug 28, 1950Coney Island Velodrome, New York City, New York, U.S.
15Win15–0Mike KoballaPTS8Jun 26, 1950Twin City Bowl, Elizabeth, New Jersey, U.S.
14Win14–0Losiel IsadorePTS6Jun 5, 1950Municipal Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
13Win13–0Bert LinamTKO1 May 17, 1950St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
12Win12–0Joe MiceliSD10Apr 21, 1950St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
11Win11–0John BowmanKO3 Mar 22, 1950Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
10Win10–0Aldo MinelliUD8Mar 15, 1950St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
9Win9–0Charley SalasUD8Feb 10, 1950Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
8Win8–0Mario MorenoKO2 Jan 13, 1950Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
7Win7–0Adrien MourguiartKO4 Dec 21, 1949St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
6Win6–0Bucky SlocumPTS4Dec 5, 1949Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
5Win5–0Horace BaileyPTS6Oct 24, 1949Arena, Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.
4Win4–0George HunterKO2 Sep 6, 1949Fair Grounds Arena, Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
3Win3–0Dave AndrewsUD8Aug 17, 1949Jerome Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.
2Win2–0George DixonTKO1 Jul 20, 1949Jerome Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.
1Win1–0Jimmy SwannKO3 May 9, 1949Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Titles in boxing

Major world titles

''The Ring'' magazine titles

The Ring welterweight champion

Undisputed titles