George "Scrap Iron" Johnson

Scrap Iron Johnson was one of those rare journeyman who could take a licking and keep on ticking. It is a well kept secret in boxing that Scrap Iron Johnson might have defeated Joe Frazier if the judges had been honest.

 

Have you seen the Frazier-Johnson fight ?

Who thought Johnson deserved the verdict ?

 

He was ko'd in one round by Andy Kendall. Hard to imagine, after watching the Liston film.

 

I have not seen the fight. I have read a report that said the decsion was disputed and some in the crowd felt Johnson won. Here's a tid bit from the report:

 

"Scrap Iron Johnson won the hearts of 9,155 Olympic Auditorium fans Thursday night, but that is all he won in his 10-round battle with Joe Frazier."
-Los Angeles Times, May 5, 1967
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"An Upset by 'Scrap
Frazier Held to Decision Win
By DAVE TAYLOR
Dogged underdog George (Scrap Iron) Johnson, the heavyweight fireplug from

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, lost a lopsided 10-rounder to the world's No. 2 man,

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, but it was as good as an upset in the minds of screaming fans at Olympic Auditorium Thursday. "
-The Independent, May 5, 1967
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"Frazier Is Victor
Unbeaten heavyweight Joe Frazier of Philadelphia dealt a beating, but had to settle for a unanimous decision over durable George Scrap Iron Johnson of Los Angeles, in a punishing fight Thursday before more than 9,000 fans in Olympic Auditorium."
-Port Arthur News, Friday, May 5, 1967
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Maybe you ought to be a bit more careful with your sources, no?

 

Mendoza, you forgot to say where that report is from, but thanks for showing it anyway. Intersting quote from Frazier on his toughest opponent.

From the reports MarcianoFrazier has supplied it seems as if Johnson can only be credited with a plucky effort in surviving a beating and going the distance. The judges scores were probably fair.
Thanks MF.

It's interesting that Johnson proved so durable against Frazier and Liston, but went out quick against some lesser fighters. Strange things happen in the boxing game, I guess.

 

The report is from a former fighter. I forget his name, but he was at the fight, and filmed it with a hand held camera.

Thanks for the reports Marciano_Frazier. I never read the report on the match. Perhaps Scrap Iron Johnson just had his share of moments, and won the crowd as the under dog.

Box rec reports the scoring as:

Referee: Lee Grossman 7-3
Judge: Joey Almos 7-2
Judge: Larry Rozadilla 10-0

All in favor of Frazier. This doesn't seem like one of those 6-4 cards where the favorite was lucky to win.

 

Thanks.
I reckon he might well have got it wrong there, but I haven't seen the fight. Newspapers seemed to reckon the decision a fair one.

Of course Frazier was one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, as was Liston, so Scrap Iron's durable performances against them are a credit to him.

I guess some of those early exits he took against lesser fighters were just paydays, either not in any sort of shape or not making a real effort.

 

I saw the fight "live" on TV .....it came on real late in Dallas since it was a LA Calif. fight. It was 40 years ago in 1967.

referee: Lee Grossman 3-7 | judge: Joey Almos 2-7 | judge: Larry Rozadilla 0-10 ~

I remember the fight being competitive, with Frazier still learning his trade, and Johnson getting in his share of punches.

But I thought Frazier won back then.

 

BIG DEE HERE= I watched that fight with my father in 1967 and Frazier beat
Scrap Iron Johnson like a drum over the entire 10 rds. Johnson was just beaten badly as he was a target for Frazier to unload on. The Liston fight Liston let him stay the 7 rds it went as he dropped Johnson early in the fight
and could have KOed him then and there but wanted the rounds as he knew Johnson couldn`t hurt him. Liston took his time and just took Scrap Iron apart
untill Johnson couldn`t take anymore. The Quarry KO was one of Jerry Quarry`s greatest KOs as Johnson backed Jerry into a corner and the second
Jerry`s back touched the turnbuckle he turned on a left hook that crashed
into Scrap Iron`s jaw. The hook knocked Johnson clear across the ring
down out cold. Referee Lee Grosscup didn`t even both to count as the KO was that hard and dramatic. THE FRAZIER VS SCRAP IRON JOHNSON FIGHT WASN`T EVEN CLOSE AS FRAZIER DOMINATED FROM THE 1ST TO THE LAST BELL ENDING THE 10TH RD.

 

Thanks for setting the record straight, Marciano Frazier.

 

Foreman said that Scrap-Iron Johnson had the best chin he fought in his career right? noted that Foreman fought Chuvalo and Prime Holyfield. I rank his chin higher than guys like Tex Cobb & Chuvalo.

 

He was a small durable tank of a man. I think if we are rating chins he didn’t have the greatest skills and was a pretty small guy mixing it up with Foreman, Frazier and Liston. While Frazier isn’t the hugest puncher he was one of thee most violent intense fighters in the ring ever at HW.

 

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