Harold Johnson (Hercules) was an American professional boxer. He was a light-heavyweight world champion. In a career spanning 24 years, 9 months, and 12 days, Johnson amassed a record of 76-11, which includes 31 wins via KO. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) in 1993.
Harold Johnson was born in Manayunk, Pennsylvania on August 9, 1928. He made his professional debut at the age of 17 years on June 18, 1946 against Dick Brewster. Johnson defeated Brewster via 2nd round KO, making a successful beginning of his pro career.
Johnson got his first shot at a world title at the age of 26 after 52 professional fights. On August 11, 1954 Johnson challenged Archie Moore's The Ring light-heavyweight title but lost via 14th round TKO.
He became a world champion on May 12, 1962 at the age of 33 years, after by defeating Doug Jones, the then-reining The Ring light-heavyweight champion, via 15-round unanimous decision. This was his 75th fight as a professional.
Johnson then went on to successfully win the WBA and WBC light-heavyweight world titles as well.
Johnson's last fight was a 3rd-round TKO loss to Herschel Jacobs at age 42, on March 30, 1971.
Some of Harold Johnson's best fights were against Archie Moore (HOFer) and Ezzard Charles (HOFer). For a complete list of Johnson's best fights and their details, refer to "Best fights of Harold Johnson".
Johnson has 11 losses on his record. For details about these losses refer to "Harold Johnson Losses".
# | Date | Age | Opponent | Res | Via |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
87 | Mar 30, 1971 | 42 | Herschel Jacobs | loss | TKO 3 |
86 | Jun 11, 1968 | 39 | Johnny Alford | win | UD 10 |
85 | Feb 03, 1968 | 39 | Lothar Stengel | win | PTS 10 |
84 | Aug 07, 1967 | 38 | Eddie Jones | win | PTS 10 |
83 | May 01, 1967 | 38 | Herschel Jacobs | win | UD 10 |
82 | Dec 06, 1966 | 38 | Pekka Kokkonen | win | PTS 10 |
81 | Jan 07, 1966 | 37 | Johnny Persol | loss | UD 10 |
80 | Apr 20, 1964 | 35 | Hank Casey | win | KO 8 |
79 | Dec 06, 1963 | 35 | Henry Hank | win | UD 10 |
78 | Jun 01, 1963 | 34 | Willie Pastrano | loss | SD 15 |
77 | Mar 19, 1963 | 34 | Tommy Merrill | win | TKO 9 |
76 | Jun 23, 1962 | 33 | Gustav Scholz | win | UD 15 |
75 | May 12, 1962 | 33 | Doug Jones | win | UD 15 |
74 | Aug 29, 1961 | 33 | Eddie Cotton | win | SD 15 |
73 | Jul 01, 1961 | 32 | Eddie Machen | win | PTS 10 |
72 | Apr 24, 1961 | 32 | Von Clay | win | TKO 2 |
71 | Feb 07, 1961 | 32 | Jesse Bowdry | win | TKO 9 |
70 | May 04, 1960 | 31 | Clarence Floyd | win | UD 10 |
69 | Nov 11, 1959 | 31 | Sonny Ray | win | TKO 10 |
68 | Aug 04, 1959 | 30 | Johnny York | win | TKO 6 |
67 | Dec 15, 1958 | 30 | Rudy Watkins | win | KO 6 |
66 | Dec 03, 1958 | 30 | Howard King | win | UD 10 |
65 | Apr 15, 1958 | 29 | Ollie Wilson | win | TKO 2 |
64 | Jan 17, 1958 | 29 | Bert Whitehurst | win | UD 10 |
63 | Dec 17, 1957 | 29 | Sid Peaks | win | KO 5 |
62 | Sep 10, 1957 | 29 | Wayne Bethea | win | UD 10 |
61 | May 31, 1957 | 28 | Clarence Hinnant | win | KO 1 |
60 | Mar 12, 1957 | 28 | Bob Satterfield | win | UD 10 |
59 | Dec 08, 1956 | 28 | Bert Whitehurst | win | PTS 10 |
58 | May 06, 1955 | 26 | Julio Mederos | loss | TKO 2 |
57 | Feb 11, 1955 | 26 | Paul Andrews | win | KO 6 |
56 | Dec 22, 1954 | 26 | Marty Marshall | win | UD 10 |
55 | Dec 07, 1954 | 26 | Julio Mederos | win | UD 10 |
54 | Oct 08, 1954 | 26 | Oakland Billy Smith | loss | KO 2 |
53 | Aug 11, 1954 | 26 | Archie Moore 40 146-19-8 | loss | TKO 14 |
52 | Mar 17, 1954 | 25 | Paul Andrews | win | MD 10 |
51 | Feb 15, 1954 | 25 | Charley Doc Williams | win | TKO 8 |
50 | Jan 29, 1954 | 25 | Jimmy Slade | win | SD 10 |
49 | Nov 19, 1953 | 25 | Chubby Wright | win | UD 10 |
48 | Nov 07, 1953 | 25 | Henry Hall | win | UD 10 |
47 | Sep 08, 1953 | 25 | Ezzard Charles 32 83-9-1 | win | SD 10 |
46 | May 11, 1953 | 24 | Toxie Hall | win | UD 10 |
45 | Mar 21, 1953 | 24 | Billy Gilliam | win | UD 10 |
44 | Jan 16, 1953 | 24 | Jimmy Slade | win | UD 10 |
43 | Nov 24, 1952 | 24 | Niño Valdés | win | UD 10 |
42 | Oct 06, 1952 | 24 | Bob Satterfield | win | KO 2 |
41 | Sep 16, 1952 | 24 | Leonard Morrow | win | KO 3 |
40 | Aug 06, 1952 | 23 | Bob Satterfield | loss | SD 10 |
39 | Mar 17, 1952 | 23 | Clarence Henry | win | SD 10 |
38 | Jan 29, 1952 | 23 | Archie Moore 38 128-19-8 | loss | UD 10 |
37 | Dec 10, 1951 | 23 | Archie Moore 37 128-18-8 | win | UD 10 |
36 | Sep 24, 1951 | 23 | Archie Moore 37 126-18-8 | loss | UD 10 |
35 | Jul 23, 1951 | 22 | Chubby Wright | win | UD 10 |
34 | Jun 18, 1951 | 22 | Elkins Brothers | win | TKO 10 |
33 | Feb 09, 1951 | 22 | Chuck Hunter | win | PTS 8 |
32 | Jan 22, 1951 | 22 | Dusty Wilkerson | win | KO 4 |
31 | Dec 18, 1950 | 22 | Harry Daniels | win | KO 2 |
30 | Feb 08, 1950 | 21 | Jersey Joe Walcott 36 45-14-2 | loss | KO 3 |
29 | Dec 07, 1949 | 21 | Bert Lytell | win | PTS 10 |
28 | Oct 26, 1949 | 21 | Jimmy Bivins | win | UD 10 |
27 | Jul 25, 1949 | 20 | Henry Hall | win | UD 10 |
26 | Jun 16, 1949 | 20 | Henry Hall | win | UD 10 |
25 | Apr 26, 1949 | 20 | Archie Moore 35 103-17-7 | loss | UD 10 |
24 | Feb 23, 1949 | 20 | Arturo Godoy | win | UD 10 |
23 | Dec 14, 1948 | 20 | Willie Brown | win | KO 7 |
22 | Nov 09, 1948 | 20 | Jim Holden | win | PTS 8 |
21 | Sep 28, 1948 | 20 | Agostinho Guedes | win | TKO 3 |
20 | May 13, 1948 | 19 | Vernon Williams | win | PTS 8 |
19 | Mar 29, 1948 | 19 | Kenny Harris | win | UD 10 |
18 | Mar 01, 1948 | 19 | Kenny Harris | win | UD 8 |
17 | Dec 11, 1947 | 19 | Kid Wolfe | win | PTS 8 |
16 | Nov 24, 1947 | 19 | Herbie Katz | win | KO 1 |
15 | Nov 06, 1947 | 19 | Jimmy Moore | win | KO 5 |
14 | Oct 06, 1947 | 19 | Eddie Beazley | win | TKO 1 |
13 | Aug 04, 1947 | 18 | Al Pinel | win | PTS 6 |
12 | Jul 08, 1947 | 18 | Tommy Ruth | win | KO 6 |
11 | May 26, 1947 | 18 | Fred Lester | win | TKO 8 |
10 | Apr 28, 1947 | 18 | Leon Szymurski | win | TKO 3 |
9 | Mar 10, 1947 | 18 | Tony Gillo | win | PTS 6 |
8 | Feb 17, 1947 | 18 | Joe Van Loan | win | TKO 2 |
7 | Feb 10, 1947 | 18 | Jim Holden | win | KO 4 |
6 | Jan 24, 1947 | 18 | Chappie Manning | win | PTS 6 |
5 | Jan 10, 1947 | 18 | Frank Lowry | win | TKO 2 |
4 | Oct 25, 1946 | 18 | Randy Ingram | win | KO 4 |
3 | Sep 09, 1946 | 18 | Jimmy Kennedy | win | PTS 6 |
2 | Aug 13, 1946 | 18 | Ted Simmons | win | KO 2 |
1 | Jun 18, 1946 | 17 | Dick Brewster | win | KO 2 |