User:Puckarocca/James J. Johnston

James J Johnston, aka Jimmy Johnston (b. 11/28/1875 d. 5/7/1946 was a bantam weight boxer who moved on to be a promoter and manager and in 1999 was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame. Recently he was portrayed in the movie Cinderella Man by Bruce McGill.

Biography: Born November 28, 1875 in Liverpool England, James J. Johnston emigrated to the USA at the age of 12. While developing his boxing career in New York as a bamtam weight fighter, he worked in a Jersey City iron foundry. In 1912 at about the age of 36 he retired from the ring and moved on to become a promoter, manager and matchmaker. He became an assistant to Charley Harvey, who specialized in importing English boxers to the USA. He often leased Madison Square Garden to promote his own shows. During this era, his bold moves and short temper earned him the nickname "The Boy Bandit Of Broadway" from Damon Runyon, a famous sports writer. He tended to receive more publicity than his fighters, though he guided 5 of them to world titles, 3 of whom are listed in the Boxing Hall of Fame.

He later took over promotions of the original Madison Square Garden, and later was the matchmaker for the St. Nicholas Arena. In the early 1930s he worked as head of the boxing at Madison Square Garden. When Mike Jacobs took over at the Garden, Johnston returned to managing.

* His brother was Charley Johnston; his son Jimmy Johnston, Jr. managed fighters.

When Rose was named to the first New York Commission in 1911, Johnston took over his fighters. (who's rose?)

Johnston guided Mike McTigue (light heavyweight), Pete Latzo (welterweight) and Hall of Famers Harry Greb (middleweight), Ted Kid Lewis (welterweight) and Johnny Dundee (featherweight) to world titles. He was also partners with Charlie Harvey, who recruited fighters from England. Together, they played a role in helping Jem Driscoll (featherweight) and Owen Moran (featherweight) win world titles.

http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/nonparticipant/johnston.html http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/James_J._Johnston

Wise Guy: James J. Johnston: A Rhapsody in Fistics