Amos Johnson 'How I Beat Cassius Clay'

Between January 1960 and March 1961,

'Atom Amos' Johnson was bouncing between Chicago, Illinois and Stockton, California -
piling up some good wins, enroute to a 7-1-1 (3 KO's) record.

On March 7, 1961 - in Stockton, California - 'Atom Amos' Johnson scored a TKO 7
over Willie Gill in a scheduled 10-Rounder.

After receiving a paltry $42 for a 10-Round bout, 'Atom Amos' Johnson decided to
return to the U.S. Military.

His record at the time, 8-1-1 (4 KO's).

By March 1961, the 22 year-old, 6' 1" 183 lb. U.S. Marine/Professional Boxer
re-entered the U.S. Military, to 'ask not what your country can do for you, but
what you can do for your country'.

Later 'Atom Amos' Johnson said, " I guess Cassius Clay didn't understand that statement.'

 

Some good boxers on the 1959 Pan Am Trials 'list' (Gold Medal Winners)

Vincent Shomo
Wilbur McClure
Bob Foster (Air Force)
Amos Johnson (Marines)
Alan Hudson (Army)

 

'Atom Amos' Johnson,

After his 30-month 'Tour of Duty',

24 1/2 year-old - 'Atom Amos' left Stockton, California for northern-Ohio (Medina),
and returned to boxing in October 1963.

Fighting out of Akron, Ohio - 'Atom Amos' scored a win in his 'first'
comeback fight, but in his 'second bout' on November 19, 1963 - he was
Decisioned (L Dec 10) by his old amateur friend 'Cincinnati Star' Billy Joiner.

Too 'bulked up' at 203 lbs. 'Atom Amos' dropped some weight, and went back to
down to the sleeker 192 lbs.

 

TED822

'Atom Amos' Johnson fought several of the Top European Heavweights in the mid-1960's.
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Tuesday Night - October 19, 1965

Empire Pool, Wembley, London

{#8} Henry Cooper 31-10-1 (21 KO's) vs. {#14} Amos Johnson 19-3-2 (9 KO's)

'Atom Amos' Johnson (196 lbs.) boxed circles around Henry Cooper (190 lbs.), in winning
a 'one-sided' 10-Round Decision.

'Atom Amos' (Age; 26 1/2) was too strong for Ol 'Enry (Age; 31), and moved him all over the ring,
by scoring with solid right jabs, and left crosses.

'Atom Amos' Johnson floored the British Heavyweight 'twice' with left hands, and had Ol 'Enry
reeling badly throughout the 10-Round bout.

In the 1st-Round, 'Atom Amos' dropped Henry Cooper with a 'wicked' left hand to body, which
had Henry 'writhing in pain'.

And again, in the 6th-Round 'Atom Amos' whipped in a left hook to the liver, and then the 'bread-basket',
dropping the British Heavyweight.

Henry Cooper was only able to get in his 'famed' left hook, once in the 1st-Round, and a few times
in Round 4 and Round 7.

Referee Harry Gibbs voted for the American, Amos Johnson.

The 'Boxing Press' voted for Amos Johnson by a score of 7-2-1 in Rounds.

UPI scored it, 7-3-0 for Amos Johnson. And '2' of the Rounds were awarded to Henry Cooper 'by fouls'.

After the bout, 'Atom Amos' said he was going to Las Vegas to watch the Cassius Clay
vs. Floyd Patterson 'Heavyweight Championship'.

'I want the winner. If it's Clay, no problem. I beat Clay before, and I'll beat him again'.

'If it's Floyd, he'll be lucky to last 10-Rounds with me, as they'll be picking his chin
off the canvas'.

'Atom Amos' Johnson improved his record to 20-3-2 (9 KO's) with the victory over
#8 ranked Henry Cooper.

The 26 1/2 year-old - Medina, Ohio (southpaw Heavyweight) was moved up to #8 in the
Heavyweight rankings after this October 1965 victory.

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Where's that check from Cassius Clay ?

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Bill B,

I found one once, in Mississippi.

It was on the ground, and when I picked it up, I found a head under it. :shock:

 

Not really, but quite possibly.

After Cassius Clay disposed of Floyd Patterson (November 22, 1965),
Amos Johnson was the 'logical choice' as the next Challenger.

But Cassius Clay looked to unify the Heavyweight Championship with
Ernie Terrell, but that bout fell through.

Amos Johnson, will waiting, picked up some easy 'Akron Cash' by flattening
the 'dangerous' - Ray "Indian Chief" Staples '12-Wins' (11 KO's), not once but twice.

* 12/16/65...KO 2
In this bout, 'Atom Amos' was knocked through the ropes in the 1st-Round, and did
not get back into the ring, until 14-seconds had past.

In Round 2, 'Amos Johnson dropped Ray Staples for the 'full-count' with a left hook.
After the bout, Ray Staples protested, and said he should have been awarded a
1st-Round Knockout victory.


* 2/2/66......KO 2
In the rematch, this time 'Atom Amos' was a little more careful with the hard puncher.
In Round 2, 'Atom Amos' dropped Ray Staples twice, enroute to a KO 2 victory.

After that, the 22-3-2 (11 KO's) 27 year-old - Amos Johnson was positioned as the
#6 Heavyweight.

Cassius Clay then took on Canadian - George Chuvalo (as a fill-in replacement) for
Ernie Terrell on March 29, 1966.

While Amos Johnson was waiting, Cassius Clay then chose 'Henry Cooper' over 'Atom Amos'
for a May 21, 1966 bout.

Dave Brock who co-managed Amos Johnson, said after that move;

"We beat Henry Cooper by a distance as wide as the Atlantic, and Clay then chooses
the guy Amos mopped the floor with. Is there any justice in boxing. The answer is
a big fat no.'

'Bill Faversham said we'd be next, after Patterson, if Amos was impressive over Henry Cooper.
Well, Amos beat Cooper by a country mile. That whole bunch of Louisville drunks are first
class phony's.'

 

M & M,

Here it is,

Thurday Night - August 27, 1964

Louisville, Kentucky

'Atom Amos' Johnson 16-2-1 (7 KO's)
vs
Chip Johnson 13-5-0 (11 KO's)

Chip Johnson, a 6' 2" 190 lb. 'southpaw' Heavyweight from Naples, Florida
floors 'Atom Amos' Johnson 'three times' in the 1st Round, and scores a
'major upset' 1st Round Knockout.

The 23 year-old - Chip Johnson, a Cassius Clay sparring partner, is a wild-swinging
Heavyweight, with a 'jaw-breaking' left hook.

The 25 1/2 year-old, 6' 3" 195 lb. Johnson (Medina, Ohio), had never been floored (amateur or
professional) in a career that spans 9-years.

Chip Johnson staggered the slow-starting Amos Johnson with a vicious left upper-cut
moments into the bout, then went on an all-out blitz, scoring a '3-Knockdown' Knockout
at 2:02 of the 1st-Round.