Groundbreaker : Johnson Could Make History by Winning Flyweight Title

ANAHEIM —  If Mark Johnson defeats Francisco Tejedor tonight at the Pond, he will become the first African American to hold a world flyweight title.

To Johnson, a 24-year-old from the projects of southwest Washington, just making history is enough.

“I can be in the books. That keeps me focused and gives me strength,” Johnson said at Thursday’s news conference promoting tonight’s card, which is headlined by Mexican junior featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera.

Chris Ray, who helps train Johnson, said his friend has almost become obsessed with carving a path in a division dominated through the years by Colombian, Japanese, Thai and Mexican boxers.

“He wanted to be the first American to win a world [flyweight] title, but [American] Danny Romero beat him to it,” Ray said.

Why has there never been an African American flyweight champion?

“I don’t think you can find too many Americans this small fighting,” Johnson said.

Romero, the International Boxing Federation’s champion, could not stay small enough and earlier this year had to move up to the super flyweight class. Romero’s problems making the 112-pound flyweight limit cleared the way for Johnson, who was more than ready to fight for a world title.

Johnson feels he’s been ready since he upset the World Boxing Council’s No. 2 contender, Alberto Jimenez, in a 12-round decision in May of 1993 at the Forum. For more than a year, Johnson has been the No. 1 contender in the World Boxing Council, World Boxing Organization and the IBF.

He has defeated all comers convincingly, with style and flair. He has been so consistently sharp, he was given the nickname “Too Sharp.” Johnson, a 5-foot-3 left-hander who talks almost as fast as he punches, has won his last 10 fights by knockouts, beating ex-champions, current champions and top-10 ranked fighters.

Since losing his second professional fight on a controversial four-round decision, he has won 27 consecutive bouts, 20 by knockouts. John Beyrooty, Forum Boxing public relations director, calls Johnson “the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.”

“He’s the only guy I’ve ever seen that gets standing ovations during rounds,” Beyrooty said. “I think he’s a more talented fighter than Barrera.”

Johnson realizes until he’s wearing a world championship belt, the superlatives mean nothing.

“I think this is all happening for a reason,” he said of the delay in his title-fight opportunity. “I have a great family, great friends, a lot of ability. I guess he couldn’t give me everything at once. He made me wait. And they say good things come to those who wait.”

Ray said Johnson hasn’t been as rational about his title quest as he makes it sound.

“He’s been frustrated, but falls back on the tough times whenever he needs motivation,” Ray said. “He thinks back to the way some of his friends turned out and how he could have turned out. Boxing is his way out.”

But Johnson and his family have hardly lost their way. Johnson and his father, Abraham or “Ham,” purchased a barber shop seven months ago in their neighborhood. The shop’s beautician and manicurist is Johnson’s wife, Samantha. Another employee is Johnson’s mother, Pat.

But the reinvestments in his old neighborhood might not stop at the barber shop. Johnson also talks of opening the neighborhood’s first self-service laundry.

“He seems a lot older than he is,” Ray said. “He’s really ahead of his time.”

Johnson’s success in and out of the ring has been shared with Ham, also his trainer and manager. Ham has been with his son since Mark put on his first pair of boxing gloves at age 5. He helped his son become one of Washington’s top amateur boxers and was there during the 1988 Olympic trials, when Johnson lost to eventual champion Eric Griffin in the semifinals.

“A lot of people say father-son relationships just can’t work in boxing,” Mark said. “But we make decisions together. It’s a two-way street for us.”

Johnson wasn’t sure he needed to take his last fight against Raul Rios, Dec. 11 at the Forum. He was already ranked No. 1 by three organizations and he thought Rios was too dangerous, but Ham convinced his son he could win. It wasn’t easy, but Johnson stopped Rios in the third round.

Johnson expects Tejedor (43-4, 31 knockouts), the IBF’s No. 3 contender from Barranquilla, Colombia, to be his toughest opponent yet.

“He’s a former [IBF] champion and I’m sure he wants his belt back,” Johnson said.

But Johnson also wants something--a piece of history.

“I’m going to be nonstop in this fight,” said Johnson, who has 40 friends coming from Washington for the fight. “I’m going to be like the Energizer battery. . . . I’m going to keep going and going. If I win this, this will be the door opening to my future.”