Johnny Bumphus

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Johnny Bumphus (born August 17, 1960 in Tacoma, WA), is a former boxer who was world junior welterweight champion.

[edit] Professional Career

Dubbed "Bump City", Bumphus began his career as a hot prospect, winning his first 22 fights, including the Vacant WBA Light Welterweight Title with a decision win over Lorenzo Luis Garcia in 1984. Bumphus lost the belt in June of 1984 in Buffalo, New York to Gene Hatcher. Hatcher scored an 11th-round TKO that featured Hatcher knocking Bumphus down, then slipping and falling on a follow-up attempt, then throwing Bumphus down to the mat when both fighters clinched. A post-fight melee in the ring then ensued, as Hatcher was celebrating in triumph while the now-deposed champion was slugging away in frustration. The fight was named as Ring Magazine Upset of the year for 1984. In 1987 Bumphus took on Lloyd Honeyghan for the WBC and IBF Welterweight Title, but lost a 2nd round TKO. He retired after the loss, witha record of 29-2-0.

Towards the end of his boxing career he developed an addiction to cocaine, which he briefly kicked. When he returned to Tacoma's drug infested Hilltop neighborhood in 1989, he quickly became addicted to crack cocaine. In 1995, he spent a year in rehab, and then left Tacoma to work as a trainer for his former manager Lou Duva in West Palm Beach, Florida[1].

As a trainer, he has worked with Kassim Ouma and Emmett Linton.

[edit] Amateur Career

Bumphus began boxing as an amateur at the age of eight out of the Tacoma Boys Club, and claimed a career amateur record of 341-16. He was one of four World Champions to begin boxing in Tacoma; Freddie Steele, Rocky Lockridge, and Leo Randolph, were the others. His amateur highlights were:

1977 National AAU Featherweight Champion, decisioning Lee Simmons of Akron, OH, in the final.
1979 National Golden Gloves Champion (132 lbs.), defeating Efrain Nieves at Indianapolis
Member of the 1980 United States Olympic Team (139 lbs.). He did not compete, due to the U. S. boycott. He earned his berth on the team with a win over Ronnie Shields.