Home / Sports / Boxer Barred by Race Gets Statue Honour
Boxer Barred by Race Gets Statue Honour
31 Oct
Summary
- Len Johnson was denied a British title shot due to his skin color.
- He became a prominent civil rights activist after his boxing career.
- A statue will honor him as Manchester's first black person so recognized.
Len Johnson, born in Clayton, Manchester, in 1902, achieved over 90 victories in his boxing career. Despite defeating prominent fighters like Roland Todd and Ted 'Kid' Lewis, Johnson was prevented from competing for the British middleweight title due to a rule barring non-white boxers. This racial discrimination followed him even after he won the Empire middleweight title in Australia, an achievement not recognized in England.
Following World War Two, Johnson became a significant community leader in Moss Side, Manchester, and a member of the Communist Party. He was a delegate at the 1945 Pan-African Congress. In 1953, Johnson's activism intensified when he protested being denied service at a Manchester pub due to the 'colour bar.' His successful campaign contributed to ending racial discrimination in public houses across the city.
Johnson died in 1974. Decades later, campaigners, led by Deej Malik-Johnson, successfully raised funds for a memorial. Manchester City Council recently confirmed that a statue honoring Len Johnson will be erected opposite Manchester Victoria Station, marking the first time a black person will be commemorated with a statue in the city.
