Jimmy Young’s Heavyweight Defensive Gems
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
The late Philadelphia defensive stylist heavyweight contender Jimmy Young (1948-2005) fought 55 pro bouts between 1969 and 1988. It dawned on this reporter to take a historical look at Young’s heyday in his prime in the 1970’s to see who he beat by defensive mastery.
In February 1974, Young traveled to London and stopped future British and European titleholder Richard Dunn in the eighth round. In July 1974, Young outpointed Jose Luis Garcia over ten rounds in Caracas, Venezuela.
However, while solid wins, Young’s first major defensive gem was a ten round draw in a rematch with Earnie Shavers in Landover, Maryland, in November 1974, with Young coming off the canvas in the fourth round.
Young’s second defensive gem was a ten round decision win in his first match with Ron Lyle in Honolulu, Hawaii in February 1975.
Young’s third defensive gem was a 15 round decision loss to Muhammad Ali for the World Heavyweight title in Landover, Maryland in April 1976, televised on ABC Sports.
Young’s fourth defensive gem was a rematch ten round decision win over Ron Lyle in their second confrontation in San Francisco, California, in November 1976.
Young’s fifth defensive gem was a 12 round decision win over George Foreman in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in March 1977, in which young dropped Foreman in the 12th and final round, televised on ABC Sports.
After winning a ten round decision over Jody Ballard in Las Vegas in September 1977, Young then lost a 15 round WBC eliminator split decision to Ken Norton in November 1977, who was subsequently awarded the WBC title. Young then lost to Ossie Ocasio twice, in June 1978, and January 1979. After stopping Wendell Bailey in three rounds in June 1979 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, Young then lost a ten round decision Michael Dokes in Las Vegas in September 1979.
Young’s sixth defensive gem was a ten round decision win in London over British Heavyweight champion John L. Gardner.
After losing to Gerry Cooney by fourth round stoppage in May 1980, Young appeared done. Young then won five fights in a row in 1981. Young stopped 25-0 Gordie Racette in the tenth round in British Columbia, Canada. Young then won ten round decisions over Marvin Stinson, Jeff Sims, Tom Fischer, and Franco Thomas. Young then lost a 12 round decision for the USBA Heavyweight title to Greg Page in Atlantic City in May 1982.
Young lost six comeback fights in a row by decision from 1982 to 1985, including ten round decision losses to Phil Brown, Tony Tucker and Tony Tubbs. Young fought eight more times between 1986 and 1988, winning four and losing three, with one no contest. Young’s final ring appearance was a tenth round stoppage of Frank Lux in Saint Joseph, Missouri, in August 1988 at age 38.
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