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Prince Naseem Hamed, Jorge Paez and Many Title Defenses: Tom “Boom Boom” Johnson Gets His Just Due

Exclusive Interview by “Bad” Brad Berkwitt

(Interview conducted in 2006)

You just don’t know what this interview for RSR means to me after all these years of not being mentioned”–Tom “Boom Boom” Johnson

A man goes through life plying his trade to maintain not only himself, but also his family in the process. This man may be a carpenter, a truck driver, a Wall Street broker, or, in this case, a World Champion prize fighter. All men yearn for respect when they give their profession everything they have. Desiring recognition in ones respective field from their peers is a very human trait. Former IBF Featherweight Champion Tom “Boom Boom” Johnson went to the mountaintop of the boxing world firmly digging his stake into the record books when on February 26, 1993, he beat then IBF Featherweight Champion, Manuel Medina, via split decision for the belt.

Respect came for the new champion, you would think. Well, you would be wrong. Ok the boxing world says to Johnson, “Prove yourself”. Johnson replies, “Sure I will”. And over the next four years, he wins in eleven title defenses along with a few non-title fights as well. Now he gets the respect he deserves right? Wrong again! He is hardly ever mentioned in the boxing world and this is a crime to say the least.

Only in title defense number twelve when he loses via TKO to, then WBO Featherweight Champion, Prince Naseem Hamed, does he get some press, but just that he lost the fight.

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