Johnny Bumphus, a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic team and former world junior welterweight titleholder, has died after suffering cardiac arrest on Friday in Tacoma, Washington. He was 59.
“Bump City,” as he was known, and his teammates didn’t compete in the 1980 Games in Moscow because of the United States’ boycott. He reportedly had an amateur record of 341-16.
Bumphus (29-2, 20 KOs) reached his peak as a professional when he narrowly outpointed Lorenzo Garcia of Argenitina to win the vacant WBA 140-pound title on Jan. 22, 1984 in Atlantic City. He lost his belt to Gene Hatcher by 11th-round knockout in his first defense the following June.
Bumphus fought once more for a major title but was stopped in two rounds by WBC welterweight titleholder Lloyd Honeyghan in 1987. He never fought again even though he was only 26 at the time Honeyghan beat him.
He also had victories over Randy Shields and Marlon Starling.
Bumphus was born and raised in Tacoma but was based in Nashville during his boxing career. He was trained by Hall of Famer George Benton.