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Johnny Bratton

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For the American Civil War general, see John Bratton.
Johnny Bratton
Born
Johnny Bratton

(1927-09-09)September 9, 1927
Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.
DiedAugust 15, 1993(1993-08-15) (aged 65)
Other namesHoney Boy Bratton
Statistics
Weight(s)Welterweight
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights87
Wins60
Wins by KO34
Losses24
Draws3

Johnny Bratton, also known as Honey Boy Bratton, (September 9, 1927 – August 15, 1993) was an American professional boxer and briefly reigned as the NBA welterweight champion in 1951. He fought many of the best fighters of his era in the division, earning nearly $400,000 in 83 fights, but ended up penniless and mentally impaired.[1][2]

Amateur career

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Bratton started boxing at age 14 and competed in several Golden Gloves events before turning pro.

Professional career

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Bratton was a strong character, contemporaneously described as "flashy" or "egotistical", with his "brilliantined hair and a fondness for purple shirts".[3] He was "instinctively disliked by others"[4] and fans were said to hope he would "get a beating".[2]

He turned pro in 1944 and captured the vacant National Boxing Association World welterweight title in 1951 with a majority decision win over Charley Fusari [2], fight in which Fusari was down for a four-count in the 4th round and a nine-count in the 10th. He lost the belt two months later to Kid Gavilán (often written "Kid Gavilan" at the time) by decision after Bratton's jaw was broken within the first five rounds. In 1953 Bratton rematched Gavilan for the World Welterweight Title and lost a lopsided decision with scores 85-65, 83-67, 82-68 all for Gavilan. After the loss to Gavilan, Bratton's career spiraled downward with losses to Johnny Saxton and Chico Varona. He retired in 1955 after a brutal loss to Del Flanagan, a fight stopped by the ring doctor because Bratton was cut over both eyes and appeared "dazed and didn't know where he was."

His career record was 60 wins (including 34 knockouts), 24 losses (three knockouts) and three draws.[5][2][6]

At his peak, Bratton was earning tens of thousands of dollars per fight, and he spent lavishly, on clothes, cars and gambling. His manager, Howard Frazier, was found to be embezzling his income and had his license revoked for it in 1949. Bratton attracted plenty of other people eager to relieve this Arkansas country boy of his new-found wealth, which - combined with poor financial management, by his father and others - meant that he ended up losing it all.[2]

Personal life, Joanne and after boxing

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Bratton was born in Little Rock, Arkansas where his father was a preacher. He had older brothers named Jerry and Lawyer Jr. During the Great Depression, the family moved north to Chicago, where his father got a job as a taxi driver,[7] which meant he was often away from home, and young Bratton grew up without strong family support, as his mother left him to his own devices. He attended DuSable High School, but dropped out, spending his time on the street, an existence that led him to the fight clubs that would be his path to success.[2]

He married young - a local girl called Cleadora McLinn with whom he had a son, Dana, in 1944, but the marriage didn't last a year. Then, aged 18, Bratton met Joanne Jackson, aged only 15, a neighbour of his uncle. They went on to marry and had a son, Derek, known as Ricky, born in 1950.[2]

The rigors of the boxing ring had taken a heavy toll, and in 1955, a few months after his final fight, Bratton was admitted to Manteno State Mental Hospital, where he would stay for eight years.[2][8] On release, he lived quietly with his mother.[8] He would spend time living in his car, then was homeless, and had ongoing mental problems and related hospital admissions.[3] At times he worked as a farm-hand.[1] When his son Ricky died of an infection aged 11, in Detroit, Bratton was too sick to be aware of it.[4]

Bratton’s wife JoAnne Bratton-Jackson went on to be a force in the music business, specifically soul music. With business partner and later husband Ed Wingate – already successful owner of The 20 Grand club and other businesses, she co-founded Detroit record labels that ran neck and neck with Motown. After Golden World Records, of which she was president, came Ric-Tic Records - named for her and Bratton’s son, Derek Bratton, and Wingate Records. She co-wrote a number of soul records, including "That's What He Told Me" and the flip side "Holding Hands," (co-written with Bob Hamilton, and released on Ric-Tic in 1965, sung by Rose Battiste). Motown owner Berry Gordy sought a partnership with the couple early on, but Jackson counselled Wingate against, and the result was a string of hits and an eventual buy-out by Gordy for around a million dollars, in 1966.[9][10][11]

In the 1980s, Bratton was sleeping in the lobby of Chicago's (formerly magnificent but now seedy) Del Prado Hotel, earning his place by running errands and being personable, but not quite living in the present, always a sidestep away from his old memories.[7] By 1991, he was in a nursing home on Chicago's South Side, in touch with his family and "doing all right", in his own words.[12][13]

Bratton died in 1993, aged 65.

Professional boxing record

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87 fights 60 wins 24 losses
By knockout 34 3
By decision 26 21
Draws 3
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
87 Loss 60–24–3 Del Flanagan TKO 9 (10) Mar 17, 1955 Auditorium, Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
86 Loss 60–23–3 Chico Varona UD 10 Oct 25, 1954 St. Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
85 Loss 60–22–3 Johnny Saxton UD 10 Feb 24, 1954 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
84 Loss 60–21–3 Kid Gavilán UD 15 Nov 13, 1953 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. For NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight titles
83 Win 60–20–3 Al Wilson SD 10 Oct 7, 1953 Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
82 Win 59–20–3 Danny Womber UD 10 Jun 9, 1953 Forum, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
81 Win 58–20–3 Livio Minelli UD 10 May 7, 1953 Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
80 Win 57–20–3 Al Wilson UD 10 Apr 14, 1953 Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
79 Win 56–20–3 Bobby Jones KO 5 (10) Mar 20, 1953 Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
78 Win 55–20–3 Jesús Portuguéz KO 5 (10) Feb 23, 1953 Eastern Parkway Arena, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
77 Loss 54–20–3 Ralph Jones UD 10 Dec 5, 1952 Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
76 Win 54–19–3 Joe Miceli TKO 8 (10) Oct 31, 1952 Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
75 Win 53–19–3 Ralph Zannelli UD 10 Sep 10, 1952 Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
74 Win 52–19–3 Irvin Steen TKO 3 (10) Aug 25, 1952 Eastern Parkway Arena, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
73 Win 51–19–3 Laurent Dauthuille TKO 3 (10) Jul 28, 1952 Forum, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
72 Loss 50–19–3 Rocky Castellani SD 10 Jun 18, 1952 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
71 Win 50–18–3 Del Flanagan SD 10 May 23, 1952 Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
70 Win 49–18–3 Pierre Langlois TKO 4 (10) May 1, 1952 Forum, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
69 Loss 48–18–3 Rocky Castellani UD 10 Mar 28, 1952 Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
68 Win 48–17–3 Vic Cardell SD 10 Feb 20, 1952 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
67 Win 47–17–3 Bobby Rosado KO 8 (10) Jan 28, 1952 Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
66 Win 46–17–3 Livio Minelli SD 10 Dec 27, 1951 Arena, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
65 Draw 45–17–3 Kid Gavilán PTS 10 Nov 28, 1951 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
64 Win 45–17–2 Wilbur Wilson KO 8 (10) Oct 15, 1951 Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S.
63 Loss 44–17–2 Kid Gavilán UD 15 May 18, 1951 Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. Lost NBA welterweight title;
For vacant NYSAC and The Ring welterweight titles
62 Win 44–16–2 Don Williams TKO 4 (10) Apr 18, 1951 Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
61 Win 43–16–2 Charley Fusari SD 15 Mar 14, 1951 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Won vacant NBA welterweight title
60 Win 42–16–2 Bobby Dykes TKO 1 (10) Jan 24, 1951 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
59 Win 41–16–2 Sammy Mastrean KO 3 (10) Jan 9, 1951 Rainbo Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
58 Win 40–16–2 Lester Felton TKO 3 (10) Dec 13, 1950 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
57 Loss 39–16–2 Holley Mims UD 10 Nov 27, 1950 Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
56 Win 39–15–2 Johnny Cesario TKO 3 (10) Nov 22, 1950 St. Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
55 Loss 38–15–2 Holley Mims UD 10 Nov 6, 1950 Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
54 Loss 38–14–2 Ike Williams TKO 8 (10) Jan 20, 1950 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
53 Win 38–13–2 Gene Hairston TKO 2 (10) Jan 4, 1950 St. Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
52 Win 37–13–2 Gaby Ferland TKO 2 (10) Nov 18, 1949 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
51 Win 36–13–2 Chuck Taylor TKO 2 (10) Sep 15, 1949 Marigold Gardens Outdoor Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
50 Win 35–13–2 Ramón Álvarez TKO 5 (10) Apr 8, 1949 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
49 Win 34–13–2 Frankie Vigeant TKO 4 (10) Mar 29, 1949 Civic Auditorium, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
48 Win 33–13–2 Chester Rico TKO 6 (10) Feb 25, 1949 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
47 Loss 32–13–2 Ike Williams UD 10 Jan 17, 1949 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
46 Win 32–12–2 Melvin Bartholomew PTS 10 Jan 7, 1949 Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
45 Win 31–12–2 Joe Brown KO 4 (10) Dec 3, 1948 Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
44 Draw 30–12–2 Bobby Lee PTS 10 Nov 29, 1948 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
43 Loss 30–12–1 Bernard Docusen UD 10 Oct 29, 1948 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
42 Win 30–11–1 Luigi Valentini TKO 7 (10) Sep 15, 1948 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
41 Win 29–11–1 Frankie Abrams UD 8 Jul 19, 1948 Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
40 Win 28–11–1 Jackie Solomon KO 1 (10) Jul 6, 1948 Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
39 Loss 27–11–1 Beau Jack TKO 8 (10) Jan 23, 1948 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
38 Loss 27–10–1 Livio Minelli SD 10 Jan 5, 1948 Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
37 Win 27–9–1 Phil Palmer TKO 7 (10) Nov 12, 1947 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
36 Loss 26–9–1 Gene Burton UD 10 Oct 6, 1947 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
35 Win 26–8–1 Herbie Jones KO 8 (10) Aug 4, 1947 Griffith Stadium, Washington, D.C., U.S.
34 Loss 25–8–1 Gene Burton UD 10 Jun 6, 1947 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
33 Loss 25–7–1 Sammy Angott UD 10 May 16, 1947 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
32 Win 25–6–1 Danny Kapilow SD 10 Feb 18, 1947 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
31 Win 24–6–1 Morris Reif UD 10 Jan 24, 1947 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
30 Win 23–6–1 Willie Joyce UD 10 Dec 20, 1946 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
29 Win 22–6–1 Willie Joyce SD 10 Oct 31, 1946 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
28 Win 21–6–1 Richard Polite TKO 3 (10) Oct 18, 1946 Pelican Stadium, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
27 Win 20–6–1 Eddie Lander UD 10 Sep 23, 1946 Marigold Gardens Outdoor Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
26 Win 19–6–1 Roy Cadle TKO 5 (12) Aug 14, 1946 Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
25 Win 18–6–1 Bill Eddy MD 10 Aug 1, 1946 Rainbo Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
24 Win 17–6–1 Pedro Firpo KO 1 (10) May 3, 1946 Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
23 Win 16–6–1 Freddie Dawson UD 10 Apr 12, 1946 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
22 Loss 15–6–1 Ike Williams PTS 10 Jan 20, 1946 Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
21 Loss 15–5–1 Chalky Wright UD 10 Dec 14, 1945 Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
20 Win 15–4–1 Cleo Shans PTS 10 Nov 11, 1945 Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
19 Draw 14–4–1 Cleo Shans PTS 10 Nov 2, 1945 Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
18 Win 14–4 Candy McDaniels TKO 6 (10) Oct 26, 1945 Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
17 Loss 13–4 Dave Castilloux PTS 10 Aug 10, 1945 Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
16 Loss 13–3 Joey Barnum UD 8 Jul 30, 1945 Marigold Gardens Outdoor Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
15 Win 13–2 Melvin Johnson PTS 8 Jul 20, 1945 White City Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
14 Win 12–2 Melvin Bartholomew KO 4 (10) May 14, 1945 Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
13 Win 11–2 Patsy Spataro PTS 8 Mar 26, 1945 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
12 Win 10–2 Jimmy Anest PTS 6 Feb 14, 1945 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
11 Win 9–2 Robert Earl TKO 3 (8) Jan 19, 1945 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
10 Win 8–2 Ted Christie TKO 2 (8) Dec 18, 1944 Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
9 Loss 7–2 Ace Miller PTS 8 Dec 4, 1944 Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
8 Win 7–1 Gene Spencer PTS 8 Nov 24, 1944 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
7 Win 6–1 Gene Spencer SD 8 Oct 9, 1944 Marigold Gardens Outdoor Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
6 Loss 5–1 Gene Spencer UD 8 Sep 25, 1944 Marigold Gardens Outdoor Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
5 Win 5–0 Ted Christie PTS 8 Aug 7, 1944 Marigold Gardens Outdoor Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
4 Win 4–0 Walter Holba TKO 2 (5) Jul 24, 1944 Marigold Gardens Outdoor Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
3 Win 3–0 Alvin Jordan KO 4 (4) Jul 7, 1944 Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
2 Win 2–0 Larry Wright TKO 3 (4) Jun 26, 1944 Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1 Win 1–0 Doyle Hirt PTS 4 Jun 12, 1944 Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

References

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  1. ^ a b www.braggingrightscorner.com Archived 2007-06-10 at the Wayback Machine [failed link]
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Who Got Johnny Bratton's Money, Chicago Tribune, by Roi Ottley, 25 Nov 1956
  3. ^ a b Miles Davis Was a Boxing Fan, Boxing Insider
  4. ^ a b Child of Tragedy, Black World/Negro Digest, by George Puscas, Apr 1962
  5. ^ Johnny Bratton career record, boxrec.com
  6. ^ Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia
  7. ^ a b Nowhere to Run, by John Schulian
  8. ^ a b The Bratton Stories Detroit Free Press, May 16, 1965, Page 154
  9. ^ Panache Report: Archive #5
  10. ^ Motown Encyclopedia: Golden World Records, by Graham Betts
  11. ^ [1], lovinthesoul
  12. ^ These Days, Even Impostors Can Be Successful, LA Times, by Earl Gustkey, 30 March 1991
  13. ^ Ex-Champ Johnny Bratton Not Angered Over Homeless Imposter in N.Y. Hospital, JET magazine, p52, April 1, 1991. ISSN 0021-5996
Achievements Vacant
Title last held by
Sugar Ray Robinson 		NBA Welterweight Champion
March 14, 1951 - May 18, 1952 		Succeeded by
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