# Johnny Bratton

Johnny Bratton, also known as Honey Boy Bratton, (September 9, 1927 – August 15, 1993) 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 (often written "Kid Gavilan" at the time) 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 (including 34 knockouts), 24 losses (three knockouts) 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," (co-written with Bob Hamilton, and released on Ric-Tic in 1965, sung by Rose Battiste). 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 (formerly magnificent but now seedy) 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

| 87 fights | 60 wins | 24 losses |
| By knockout | 34 | 3 |
| By decision | 26 | 21 |
| Draws | 3 | 3 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
| 87 | Loss | 60–24–3 | Del Flanagan | TKO | 9 (10) | Mar 17, 1955 | Auditorium, Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S. | |
| 86 | Loss | 60–23–3 | Chico Varona | UD | 10 | Oct 25, 1954 | St. Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 85 | Loss | 60–22–3 | Johnny Saxton | UD | 10 | Feb 24, 1954 | Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 84 | Loss | 60–21–3 | Kid Gavilán | UD | 15 | Nov 13, 1953 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | For NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight titles |
| 83 | Win | 60–20–3 | Al Wilson | SD | 10 | Oct 7, 1953 | Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. | |
| 82 | Win | 59–20–3 | Danny Womber | UD | 10 | Jun 9, 1953 | Forum, Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |
| 81 | Win | 58–20–3 | Livio Minelli | UD | 10 | May 7, 1953 | Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 80 | Win | 57–20–3 | Al Wilson | UD | 10 | Apr 14, 1953 | Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 79 | Win | 56–20–3 | Bobby Jones | KO | 5 (10) | Mar 20, 1953 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 78 | Win | 55–20–3 | Jesús Portuguéz | KO | 5 (10) | Feb 23, 1953 | Eastern Parkway Arena, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 77 | Loss | 54–20–3 | Ralph Jones | UD | 10 | Dec 5, 1952 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 76 | Win | 54–19–3 | Joe Miceli | TKO | 8 (10) | Oct 31, 1952 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 75 | Win | 53–19–3 | Ralph Zannelli | UD | 10 | Sep 10, 1952 | Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 74 | Win | 52–19–3 | Irvin Steen | TKO | 3 (10) | Aug 25, 1952 | Eastern Parkway Arena, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 73 | Win | 51–19–3 | Laurent Dauthuille | TKO | 3 (10) | Jul 28, 1952 | Forum, Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |
| 72 | Loss | 50–19–3 | Rocky Castellani | SD | 10 | Jun 18, 1952 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 71 | Win | 50–18–3 | Del Flanagan | SD | 10 | May 23, 1952 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 70 | Win | 49–18–3 | Pierre Langlois | TKO | 4 (10) | May 1, 1952 | Forum, Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |
| 69 | Loss | 48–18–3 | Rocky Castellani | UD | 10 | Mar 28, 1952 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 68 | Win | 48–17–3 | Vic Cardell | SD | 10 | Feb 20, 1952 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 67 | Win | 47–17–3 | Bobby Rosado | KO | 8 (10) | Jan 28, 1952 | Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. | |
| 66 | Win | 46–17–3 | Livio Minelli | SD | 10 | Dec 27, 1951 | Arena, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. | |
| 65 | Draw | 45–17–3 | Kid Gavilán | PTS | 10 | Nov 28, 1951 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 64 | Win | 45–17–2 | Wilbur Wilson | KO | 8 (10) | Oct 15, 1951 | Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 63 | Loss | 44–17–2 | Kid Gavilán | UD | 15 | May 18, 1951 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. | Lost NBA welterweight title; For vacant NYSAC and The Ring welterweight titles |
| 62 | Win | 44–16–2 | Don Williams | TKO | 4 (10) | Apr 18, 1951 | Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 61 | Win | 43–16–2 | Charley Fusari | SD | 15 | Mar 14, 1951 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | Won vacant NBA welterweight title |
| 60 | Win | 42–16–2 | Bobby Dykes | TKO | 1 (10) | Jan 24, 1951 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 59 | Win | 41–16–2 | Sammy Mastrean | KO | 3 (10) | Jan 9, 1951 | Rainbo Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 58 | Win | 40–16–2 | Lester Felton | TKO | 3 (10) | Dec 13, 1950 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 57 | Loss | 39–16–2 | Holley Mims | UD | 10 | Nov 27, 1950 | Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. | |
| 56 | Win | 39–15–2 | Johnny Cesario | TKO | 3 (10) | Nov 22, 1950 | St. Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 55 | Loss | 38–15–2 | Holley Mims | UD | 10 | Nov 6, 1950 | Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. | |
| 54 | Loss | 38–14–2 | Ike Williams | TKO | 8 (10) | Jan 20, 1950 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 53 | Win | 38–13–2 | Gene Hairston | TKO | 2 (10) | Jan 4, 1950 | St. Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 52 | Win | 37–13–2 | Gaby Ferland | TKO | 2 (10) | Nov 18, 1949 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 51 | Win | 36–13–2 | Chuck Taylor | TKO | 2 (10) | Sep 15, 1949 | Marigold Gardens Outdoor Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 50 | Win | 35–13–2 | Ramón Álvarez | TKO | 5 (10) | Apr 8, 1949 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 49 | Win | 34–13–2 | Frankie Vigeant | TKO | 4 (10) | Mar 29, 1949 | Civic Auditorium, Seattle, Washington, U.S. | |
| 48 | Win | 33–13–2 | Chester Rico | TKO | 6 (10) | Feb 25, 1949 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 47 | Loss | 32–13–2 | Ike Williams | UD | 10 | Jan 17, 1949 | Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 46 | Win | 32–12–2 | Melvin Bartholomew | PTS | 10 | Jan 7, 1949 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 45 | Win | 31–12–2 | Joe Brown | KO | 4 (10) | Dec 3, 1948 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 44 | Draw | 30–12–2 | Bobby Lee | PTS | 10 | Nov 29, 1948 | Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 43 | Loss | 30–12–1 | Bernard Docusen | UD | 10 | Oct 29, 1948 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 42 | Win | 30–11–1 | Luigi Valentini | TKO | 7 (10) | Sep 15, 1948 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 41 | Win | 29–11–1 | Frankie Abrams | UD | 8 | Jul 19, 1948 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 40 | Win | 28–11–1 | Jackie Solomon | KO | 1 (10) | Jul 6, 1948 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 39 | Loss | 27–11–1 | Beau Jack | TKO | 8 (10) | Jan 23, 1948 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 38 | Loss | 27–10–1 | Livio Minelli | SD | 10 | Jan 5, 1948 | Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 37 | Win | 27–9–1 | Phil Palmer | TKO | 7 (10) | Nov 12, 1947 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 36 | Loss | 26–9–1 | Gene Burton | UD | 10 | Oct 6, 1947 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 35 | Win | 26–8–1 | Herbie Jones | KO | 8 (10) | Aug 4, 1947 | Griffith Stadium, Washington, D.C., U.S. | |
| 34 | Loss | 25–8–1 | Gene Burton | UD | 10 | Jun 6, 1947 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 33 | Loss | 25–7–1 | Sammy Angott | UD | 10 | May 16, 1947 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 32 | Win | 25–6–1 | Danny Kapilow | SD | 10 | Feb 18, 1947 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 31 | Win | 24–6–1 | Morris Reif | UD | 10 | Jan 24, 1947 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 30 | Win | 23–6–1 | Willie Joyce | UD | 10 | Dec 20, 1946 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 29 | Win | 22–6–1 | Willie Joyce | SD | 10 | Oct 31, 1946 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 28 | Win | 21–6–1 | Richard Polite | TKO | 3 (10) | Oct 18, 1946 | Pelican Stadium, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 27 | Win | 20–6–1 | Eddie Lander | UD | 10 | Sep 23, 1946 | Marigold Gardens Outdoor Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 26 | Win | 19–6–1 | Roy Cadle | TKO | 5 (12) | Aug 14, 1946 | Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 25 | Win | 18–6–1 | Bill Eddy | MD | 10 | Aug 1, 1946 | Rainbo Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 24 | Win | 17–6–1 | Pedro Firpo | KO | 1 (10) | May 3, 1946 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 23 | Win | 16–6–1 | Freddie Dawson | UD | 10 | Apr 12, 1946 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 22 | Loss | 15–6–1 | Ike Williams | PTS | 10 | Jan 20, 1946 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 21 | Loss | 15–5–1 | Chalky Wright | UD | 10 | Dec 14, 1945 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 20 | Win | 15–4–1 | Cleo Shans | PTS | 10 | Nov 11, 1945 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 19 | Draw | 14–4–1 | Cleo Shans | PTS | 10 | Nov 2, 1945 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 18 | Win | 14–4 | Candy McDaniels | TKO | 6 (10) | Oct 26, 1945 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 17 | Loss | 13–4 | Dave Castilloux | PTS | 10 | Aug 10, 1945 | Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. | |
| 16 | Loss | 13–3 | Joey Barnum | UD | 8 | Jul 30, 1945 | Marigold Gardens Outdoor Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 15 | Win | 13–2 | Melvin Johnson | PTS | 8 | Jul 20, 1945 | White City Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 12–2 | Melvin Bartholomew | KO | 4 (10) | May 14, 1945 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 13 | Win | 11–2 | Patsy Spataro | PTS | 8 | Mar 26, 1945 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 10–2 | Jimmy Anest | PTS | 6 | Feb 14, 1945 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 11 | Win | 9–2 | Robert Earl | TKO | 3 (8) | Jan 19, 1945 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 10 | Win | 8–2 | Ted Christie | TKO | 2 (8) | Dec 18, 1944 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 9 | Loss | 7–2 | Ace Miller | PTS | 8 | Dec 4, 1944 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 7–1 | Gene Spencer | PTS | 8 | Nov 24, 1944 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 7 | Win | 6–1 | Gene Spencer | SD | 8 | Oct 9, 1944 | Marigold Gardens Outdoor Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 6 | Loss | 5–1 | Gene Spencer | UD | 8 | Sep 25, 1944 | Marigold Gardens Outdoor Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Ted Christie | PTS | 8 | Aug 7, 1944 | Marigold Gardens Outdoor Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Walter Holba | TKO | 2 (5) | Jul 24, 1944 | Marigold Gardens Outdoor Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Alvin Jordan | KO | 4 (4) | Jul 7, 1944 | Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Larry Wright | TKO | 3 (4) | Jun 26, 1944 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Doyle Hirt | PTS | 4 | Jun 12, 1944 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |