# Johnny Saxton

Johnny Saxton (July 4, 1930 – October 4, 2008) was an American professional boxer in the welterweight (147lb) 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 (or Gavilan) 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

| 66 fights | 55 wins | 9 losses |
| By knockout | 21 | 5 |
| By decision | 33 | 4 |
| By disqualification | 1 | 0 |
| Draws | 2 | 2 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
| 66 | Loss | 55–9–2 | Willie Greene | TKO | 3 (10) | Dec 15, 1958 | Arcadia Ballroom, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. | |
| 65 | Loss | 55–8–2 | Denny Moyer | UD | 10 | Oct 21, 1958 | Auditorium, Portland, Maine, U.S. | |
| 64 | Win | 55–7–2 | Barry Allison | SD | 10 | Oct 7, 1958 | Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 63 | Loss | 54–7–2 | Joe Miceli | TKO | 3 (10) | Sep 6, 1957 | Capitol Arena, Washington, D.C., U.S. | |
| 62 | Loss | 54–6–2 | Carmen Basilio | TKO | 2 (15) | Feb 22, 1957 | Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | For NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight titles |
| 61 | Loss | 54–5–2 | Carmen Basilio | TKO | 9 (15) | Sep 12, 1956 | War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, New York, U.S. | Lost NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight titles |
| 60 | Win | 54–4–2 | Don Williams | MD | 10 | Aug 23, 1956 | Auditorium, Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 59 | Win | 53–4–2 | Barry Allison | UD | 10 | Aug 7, 1956 | Arena, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 58 | Win | 52–4–2 | Gil Turner | TKO | 10 (10) | May 16, 1956 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 57 | Win | 51–4–2 | Carmen Basilio | UD | 15 | Mar 14, 1956 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | Won NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight titles |
| 56 | Win | 50–4–2 | Ralph Jones | UD | 10 | Nov 9, 1955 | Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S. | |
| 55 | Win | 49–4–2 | Jackie O'Brien | UD | 10 | Oct 25, 1955 | Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 54 | Win | 48–4–2 | Joe Shaw | UD | 10 | Sep 15, 1955 | Portland, Maine, U.S. | |
| 53 | Win | 47–4–2 | Jimmy Fuller | TKO | 6 (10) | Jun 10, 1955 | Maple Arena, Brockton, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 52 | Loss | 46–4–2 | Tony DeMarco | TKO | 14 (15) | Apr 1, 1955 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | Lost NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight titles |
| 51 | Loss | 46–3–2 | Ronnie Delaney | UD | 10 | Feb 11, 1955 | Armory, Akron, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 50 | Win | 46–2–2 | Ramon Fuentes | UD | 10 | Dec 2, 1954 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |
| 49 | Win | 45–2–2 | Kid Gavilán | UD | 15 | Oct 20, 1954 | Silver Bowl, Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, U.S. | Won NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight titles |
| 48 | Draw | 44–2–2 | Johnny Lombardo | PTS | 10 | Aug 4, 1954 | Silver Bowl, Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 47 | Win | 44–2–1 | Johnny Bratton | UD | 10 | Feb 24, 1954 | Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 46 | Win | 43–2–1 | Mickey Laurent | TKO | 7 (10) | Feb 1, 1954 | Eastern Parkway Arena, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 45 | Loss | 42–2–1 | Del Flanagan | SD | 10 | Dec 30, 1953 | Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. | |
| 44 | Win | 42–1–1 | Herman McCray | KO | 3 (10) | Dec 3, 1953 | Casino, Fall River, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 43 | Win | 41–1–1 | Joey Giardello | UD | 10 | Sep 29, 1953 | Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 42 | Win | 40–1–1 | Charley Williams | TKO | 2 (10) | Sep 15, 1953 | Fair Grounds Arena, Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 41 | Loss | 39–1–1 | Gil Turner | SD | 10 | Jun 15, 1953 | Connie Mack Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 40 | Win | 39–0–1 | Joe Miceli | UD | 10 | May 27, 1953 | Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 39 | Win | 38–0–1 | Charley Williams | UD | 10 | Mar 31, 1953 | Ridgewood Grove, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 38 | Draw | 37–0–1 | Wallace Bud Smith | SD | 10 | Mar 10, 1953 | Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 37 | Win | 37–0 | Charley Williams | UD | 10 | Feb 24, 1953 | Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 36 | Win | 36–0 | Freddie Dawson | UD | 10 | Feb 10, 1953 | Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 35 | Win | 35–0 | Danny Womber | UD | 10 | Dec 29, 1952 | Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. | |
| 34 | Win | 34–0 | Raul Perez | KO | 1 (10) | Dec 12, 1952 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 33 | Win | 33–0 | Mario Trigo | RTD | 3 (10) | Oct 28, 1952 | Arena, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. | |
| 32 | Win | 32–0 | Ralph Jones | SD | 10 | Oct 3, 1952 | St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 31 | Win | 31–0 | Virgil Akins | UD | 10 | Jul 30, 1952 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 30 | Win | 30–0 | Bobby Lee | UD | 10 | Jul 17, 1952 | Veterans Hospital, Coatesville, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 29 | Win | 29–0 | Luther Rawlings | UD | 10 | Jun 4, 1952 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 28 | Win | 28–0 | Bobby Lee | KO | 7 (10) | Apr 30, 1952 | Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. | |
| 27 | Win | 27–0 | Charlie Thompson | PTS | 10 | Apr 17, 1952 | Casino, Fall River, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 26 | Win | 26–0 | Lester Felton | DQ | 6 (10) | Mar 14, 1952 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 25 | Win | 25–0 | Livio Minelli | TKO | 7 (10) | Jan 25, 1952 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 24 | Win | 24–0 | Charley Salas | UD | 10 | Nov 19, 1951 | Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 23 | Win | 23–0 | Marshall Clayton | TKO | 7 (10) | Nov 5, 1951 | Turner's Arena, Washington, D.C., U.S. | |
| 22 | Win | 22–0 | Honeychile Johnson | MD | 10 | Oct 4, 1951 | Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 21 | Win | 21–0 | Tommy Ciarlo | TKO | 5 (10) | Aug 20, 1951 | Fair Grounds Arena, Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 20 | Win | 20–0 | Joey Carkido | RTD | 5 (10) | Aug 8, 1951 | Toppi Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 19 | Win | 19–0 | Gaby Ferland | TKO | 7 (10) | Jul 30, 1951 | Fair Grounds Arena, Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 18 | Win | 18–0 | Lloyd Tate | TKO | 3 (10) | Jul 2, 1951 | Toppi Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | Tony Pellone | UD | 10 | Sep 22, 1950 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | Sonny Bunn | SD | 10 | Aug 28, 1950 | Coney Island Velodrome, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Mike Koballa | PTS | 8 | Jun 26, 1950 | Twin City Bowl, Elizabeth, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Losiel Isadore | PTS | 6 | Jun 5, 1950 | Municipal Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Bert Linam | TKO | 1 (10) | May 17, 1950 | St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Joe Miceli | SD | 10 | Apr 21, 1950 | St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | John Bowman | KO | 3 (8) | Mar 22, 1950 | Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Aldo Minelli | UD | 8 | Mar 15, 1950 | St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Charley Salas | UD | 8 | Feb 10, 1950 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Mario Moreno | KO | 2 (8) | Jan 13, 1950 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Adrien Mourguiart | KO | 4 (8) | Dec 21, 1949 | St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Bucky Slocum | PTS | 4 | Dec 5, 1949 | Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Horace Bailey | PTS | 6 | Oct 24, 1949 | Arena, Trenton, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | George Hunter | KO | 2 (6) | Sep 6, 1949 | Fair Grounds Arena, Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Dave Andrews | UD | 8 | Aug 17, 1949 | Jerome Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | George Dixon | TKO | 1 (6) | Jul 20, 1949 | Jerome Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Jimmy Swann | KO | 3 (6) | May 9, 1949 | Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |

## Titles in boxing
### Major world titles

* NYSAC welterweight champion (147 lbs) (2×)
* NBA (WBA) welterweight champion (147 lbs) (2×)

### The Ring magazine titles

* The Ring welterweight champion (147 lbs) (2×)

### Undisputed titles

* Undisputed welterweight champion (2×)