Johnny Bumphus

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Those in Tacoma's Hilltop area knew of the lure drugs had for Bumphus. Towards the end of his boxing career he developed an addiction to cocaine, which he briefly kicked. When he returned to Tacoma, through a series of bad friends and choices, he resumed taking drugs in 1989, becoming addicted to crack cocaine. In 1995, he spent a year in rehab, and then left Tacoma to work as a trainer for his former manager Lou Duva in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Bumphus had qualified for the 1980 American Olympic boxing team but did not compete due to the American boycott of the Moscow Olympics. Bumphus was the torch bearer for the American Olympians.

Soon afterwards 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:

Southern Golden Gloves (139 lbs), Knoxville, Tennessee, March 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 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.

In 1979 he was ranked #1 U.S. Lightweight by the U.S. Amateur Boxers and Coaches Association, meanwhile, serving as a deputy sheriff with the Nashville Sheriff's Department in Nashville, Tennessee.

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:

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

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

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.

Dubbed "Bump City", Bumphus began his professional career as a hot prospect, winning his first 22 fights, including the Vacant WBA Light Welterweight Title with a decision win over Lorenzo Luis Garcia in 1984. Bumphus lost the belt to Gene Hatcher in June 1984 in Buffalo, New York. Hatcher scored an 11th-round technical knockout that had Hatcher knocking Bumphus down, then slipping and falling on a follow-up attempt, then throwing Bumphus down to the mat when both fighters clinched. A post-fight melee in the ring then ensued, as Hatcher was celebrating in triumph while the now-deposed champion was slugging away in frustration. The fight was named as Ring magazine's Upset of the year for 1984. In 1987, Bumphus took on Lloyd Honeyghan for the WBC and IBF Welterweight Title, but lost with 2nd round technical knock out. He retired after the loss, with a record of 29-2-0.

Bumphus began boxing as an amateur at the age of eight out of 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.