Johnny Owen, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

    

Johnny Owen

Welsh boxer

Date of Birth: 07-Jan-1956

Place of Birth: Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, United Kingdom

Date of Death: 04-Nov-1980

Profession: boxer

Nationality: Wales, United Kingdom

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn


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About Johnny Owen

  • John Richard Owens (7 January 1956 – 4 November 1980) was a Welsh professional boxer who fought under the name Johnny Owen.
  • His seemingly fragile appearance earned him many epithets, including 'the Bionic Bantam' and 'the Merthyr Matchstick'.
  • He began boxing at the age of eight and undertook a long amateur career, competing in more than 120 fights and representing Wales.
  • He turned professional in September 1976 at the age of 20, winning his debut bout against George Sutton.
  • Owen would beat Sutton again in his sixth professional fight to win his first title, the vacant Welsh bantamweight championship. Three further victories led Owen to challenge for the British bantamweight championship in only his tenth professional fight.
  • He defeated champion Paddy Maguire in the eleventh round to win the title, becoming the first Welshman in more than 60 years to hold the belt.
  • Owen recorded five further victories, including a defence of his British title against Wayne Evans, before meeting Paul Ferreri for the Commonwealth bantamweight championship.
  • He defeated the experienced Australian on points to claim the Commonwealth title and challenged Juan Francisco Rodriguez for the European title four months later.
  • The fight in Almería was shrouded in controversy and Owen suffered his first defeat in a highly contentious decision.
  • Owen went on to win seven consecutive bouts in the space of a year to rechallenge Rodriguez again in February 1980 in Wales.
  • He avenged his earlier defeat by defeating Rodriguez on points to win the European title.
  • He challenged WBC champion Lupe Pintor for his version of the world bantamweight title on 19 September 1980, losing a torturously difficult contest by way of twelfth round knockout.
  • Owen never regained consciousness, fell into a coma and died seven weeks later.
  • A statue commemorating his life and career was unveiled in Merthyr Tydfil in 2002.

Read more at Wikipedia

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