Johnny Bumphus

Bumphus began boxing as an amateur at the age of eight at the Tacoma Boy's Club Boxing Club, located on 25th and Yakima Avenue.

He was one of four World Champions to begin boxing in Tacoma, the others being Freddie Steele, Rocky Lockridge and Leo Randolph.

His amateur highlights were:

Johnny 'Bump City' Bumphus (August 17, 1960 – January 31, 2020) was an American professional boxer who held the WBA super lightweight title in 1984 and challenged once for the WBC and IBF welterweight titles in 1987.

National Golden Gloves (125 lbs), Honolulu, Hawaii, March–April 1977:

United States National Championships (125 lbs), Winston-Salem, North Carolina, May 1977:

USA–Poland Duals (125 lbs), Las Vegas, Nevada, August 1977:

USA–Romania Duals (125 lbs), Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, January 1978:

USA–Yugoslavia Duals (132 lbs), Memphis, Tennessee, February 1978:

United States National Championships (132 lbs), Biloxi, Mississippi, April 1978:

USA–USSR Duals (132 lbs), Las Vegas, Nevada, January 1979:

Cuba–USA Duals (132 lbs), Havana, Cuba, February 1979:

Southern Golden Gloves (132 lbs), Knoxville, Tennessee, March 1979:

National Golden Gloves (132 lbs), Indianapolis, Indiana, March 1979:

National Sports Festival (139 lbs), July 1979:

Pan Am Trials (132 lbs), Toledo, Ohio, May–June 1979:

USA–FRG Duals (139 lbs), Rapid City, South Dakota, August 1979:

Bumphus qualified for the 1980 American Olympic boxing team, but did not compete due to the American boycott of the Moscow Olympics.

He was the torch bearer for the American Olympians.

In August 1980, he signed with boxing promoter Bob Arum reportedly for $500,000.

Nashville Sheriff's Dept. vs. Jackson Boxing Club (139 lbs), Clearview Shopping Center gym, Mount Juliet, Tennessee, January 1980:

Jackson Boxing Club vs. Nashville Sheriff's Dept. (139 lbs), Jackson Coliseum, Jackson, Tennessee, February 1980:

46th Midstate Golden Gloves Tournament (139 lbs), Franklin Optimist Center, Franklin, Tennessee, February 1980:

USA–Cuba Duals (139 lbs), Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina, February 1980:

Southern Golden Gloves (139 lbs), Knoxville, Tennessee, March 1980:

GDR–USA Duals (139 lbs), Schwerin, East Germany, March 1980:

GDR–USA Duals (139 lbs), Rostock, East Germany, March 1980:

USA–Scandinavia Duals (139 lbs), Biloxi, Mississippi, April 1980:

Southern AAU Tournament (139 lbs), Franklin Optimist Center, Franklin, Tennessee, April 1980:

United States National Championships (139 lbs), Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, May 1980:

Olympic Trials (139 lbs), Atlanta, Georgia, June 1980:

National Junior Olympics Multi-Sports Festival (139 lbs), Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California, August 1980:

Bumphus finished his amateur career at 341–16, (or 354–16 .)

Bumphus qualified at 139 pounds and was a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic boxing team that died in the crash of LOT Polish Airlines Flight 007 in Warsaw, Poland, on March 14, 1980 en route to the USA vs. Poland Box-off as part of "USA vs. the World" event.

Bumphus was not with the team.

Among the USA Boxing teammates who were killed in the crash were Lemuel Steeples from St. Louis, Calvin Anderson from Connecticut, Paul Palomino - the brother of Carlos Palomino, George Pimental and the Olympic coach, Sarge Johnson.

Members of the team who were also not aboard included Bobby Czyz, Alex Ramos and James Shuler.

Bumphus earned his place on the team with a win over Ronnie Shields.

Bumphus did not compete in the Olympics, due to the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott.

In 2007, he received one of 461 Congressional Gold Medals created especially for the spurned athletes.