Marvin Johnson
Nicknamed 'Pops,' this Indianapolis, Indiana native fought in the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, winning a bronze medal, and made his way up the professional ranks in the light heavyweight division soon thereafter.
Marvin first won a world title - the WBC light heavyweight version - from Mate Parlov of Yugoslavia with a 10th-round KO in Italy in December 1978, then lost that same title the following April, in front of his hometown Indianapolis fans, to Matthew Saad Muhammad (nee Franklin) in what was perhaps 1979's Fight of the Year for many observers. Johnson was in control in the early going, cutting the challenger over both eyes, creating large streams of blood that masked his face. But the Philadelphia fighter hung in there, and came back to wear down Johnson, stoping him in the eighth round. Please note that Franklin also beat Johnson earlier - in 1977 - by 12th-round KO for a minor title.
Johnson would again win a belt later that year - the WBA version, that is - by fighting the rugged Victor Galindez from Argentina in New Orleans as part of a three-fight 'card' that included two title bouts (Antuofermo-Hagler I and Benitez-Leonard) staged in Las Vegas. After a see-saw battle through the first ten rounds, Johnson nailed - and floored - Galindez with one of his fabled 'over-the-top-from-underneath' right hands, and the title changed hands when the champion's corner surrendered after Galindez hit the canvas.
Again, it was down and out for Johnson in his first title defense when, on the Tate-Weaver undercard in Knoxville in March 1980, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad (nee Gregory) outworked, outhustled, and outclassed Johnson en route to an 11th-round TKO.
Things looked bleak (or glum) when Johnson fought the up-and-coming Michael Spinks in early 1981 - just before Spinks dethroned Johnson's latest conqueror, Mustafa Muhammad. Johnson was off to a promising start, but the 1976 Olympian Spinks landed his famous 'Spinks jinx' that put Johnson out for good in the fourth round.
Johnson would continue to fight, defeating good fighters like Johnny Davis along the way, and in February 1986 would again be before his Indianapolis fans, fighting Leslie Stewart of Trinidad for the WBA 175-lb. title that became vacant when Spinks abdicated to become a heavyweight. Stewart gave Johnson some fits, but cuts would take their toll on Stewart and were the reason that the fight was stopped in the seventh round, thus making Johnson the first ever three-time champion in the division. An injury postponed his first defense against Jean-Marie Emebe of Cameroon for a little bit, but the two would hook up in the Garden in NYC in September of that year. It was the first time that Johnson would both enter and leave the ring as champion - he was the winner by 13th-round TKO.
Next, it was on to Trinidad for a rematch with Stewart in May 1987. However, it was all Stewart this time, as he floored Johnson several times in the first few rounds, and while Johnson always regained his feet and was never counted out, he did tell his cornermen after eight rounds that 'enough was enough,' and by doing so became an ex-champ for a third time.
Johnson continued to fight a few more times after that, but his career mainly 'petered out' and he was not involved in any more major fights (title or otherwise).
