Saturday, June 11, 2016

My Salute to Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali was laid to rest today and he will be remembered and honored. 

 It is indeed a very great honor to speak on the truly amazing Muhammad Ali, one of the most influential, awesome personalities the world has ever produced.

I say from my heart, that personality is exactly what describes the legacy of Ali; because, I was blessed to have met and shared precious time with 'The People's Champ" Ali. And let me tell you, Ali was electrifying.

Ali lives on in our thoughts and hearts. This special person Ali went from
villain to a globally loved hero, simply for having the courage to stand on his principles, beliefs and morals.

Also, I learned from my brother Chris that even Bruce Lee was totally amazed by Ali, that he patterned his style and art on Ali. Even mentioning Ali by name in his book. 

Ali was good for life, uniquely influential, and poetry in motion. I love him deeply and miss him; my prayers are with his Family. 

Heaven has a loyal warrior named Ali; but, Ali, that stinging Butterfly, is still alive with us!" Ali is gone but he will never die.

                                                                 

Thursday, June 9, 2016

Reggie “Sweet” Johnson Joins Fight vs. Cystic Fibrosis

Johnson Partners with Boomer Esiason Foundation to Raise Illness Awareness

Reggie Johnson to fight Cystic Fibrosis.
Three-time World Boxing Champion Reggie “Sweet” Johnson announces a partnership with The Boomer Esiason Foundation to support education, awareness and fundraising efforts towards finding a cure for Cystic Fibrosis.

Johnson will help The Boomer Esiason Foundation by providing access to the boxing world audience to educate, share stories and aid support to people and families living with Cystic Fibrosis.

“The overall goal of this partnership is to use Reggie Johnson’s unique and various boxing platforms to promote the Boomer Esiason Foundation and its mission to spread awareness about Cystic Fibrosis in hopes to find a cure for the disease,” said Michaela Johnson President of Team Boomer.

“Reggie Johnson – as an athlete himself – will partner with Team Boomer, the athletic arm of the Foundation that encourages people with Cystic Fibrosis to live active, healthy lifestyles and welcomes all athletes to join the team to raise funds and awareness for the cause.”

About the Boomer Esiason Foundation


Boomer and Cheryl Esiason founded The Boomer Esiason Foundation (BEF) in 1993 after their son
Gunnar was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. (CF) The BEF has raised over $120 million and with Team Boomer encourages people with CF to make exercise an integral part of care to stay healthy.

What is Cystic Fibrosis?


Cystic Fibrosis is an inherited, chronic illness affecting about 30,000 people in the U.S. and 70,000 worldwide. There’s no cure for CF, which causes continuous mucus buildup in the body that has to be removed to prevent infection and illness. The median survival age is 40 years.

“I’m honored to join this mission with The Boomer Esiason Foundation to let people in the boxing world learn about Cystic Fibrosis and that to find a cure, their help is needed,” said Johnson, father to six healthy children and three (soon four) grandchildren.

“Cystic Fibrosis is a 24-7 battle to breathe and stay healthy and strong. There is only one thing to do in a situation like this: fight and keep fighting to make a difference and change lives.”

Reggie Johnson Fight Record


Johnson has a professional boxing record of 44 wins (25 KOs), 7 Losses (0 KOs), 1 draw. He’s boxed 374 rounds, has a 48.08% knockout rate with three world titles and multiple title defenses.

Johnson fought ranked, current and former world champions "Irish" Steve Collins, Lamar Parks, Julio Gonzalez, Ki Yun Song, Roy Jones, Jr., and James Toney. His three world titles are:

The IBA Light Heavyweight title won in a split decision over Julio Cesar Gonzalez, Feb. 23, 2008, in Lake Charles, LA.

The IBF Light Heavyweight title where Johnson knocked out William Guthrie in the fifth round with a one-punch knockout, Feb. 6, 1998, in Uncasville, CT.

The WBA Middleweight title won by majority decision over “Irish” Steve Collins, April 22, 1992, in East Rutherford, N.J.

Johnson is one of eight men to win titles in the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions according to The Ring Magazine, including: Bob Fitzsimmons*, Dick Tiger*, Sugar Ray Leonard*, Thomas Hearns*, Mike McCallum*, Roy Jones Jr. and Bernard Hopkins. (*InternationalBoxing Hall of Fame Inductees.)

Connect with Reggie Sweet Johnson, Team Boomer and The Boomer Esiason Foundation online:

Hashtags:
#TeamBoomer
#GetFit
#CureCF

Facebook:
Reggie Sweet Johnson
The Boomer Esiason Foundation
Team Boomer

Twitter:
@WorldChampX3
@cysticfibrosis
@teamboomer

Instagram:
@reggiesweetjohnson
@team_boomer_usa
@boomeresiasonfoundation

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

I'm On My Way to the International Boxing Hall of Fame

This is a tough week for all of the boxing world with the loss of our hero and the Greatest of All Time Muhammad Ali. Ali was a personal hero of mine and he will be forever remembered and honored. It's a sad time because Ali paved the way in the ring and outside the ring for fighters everywhere.

Ali's funeral is Friday in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. He will be missed and I hear that a lot of fighters are attending from around the world.

Many of those same fighters will then be going to the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) in Canastota, New York. I'm packing my bag and leaving tomorrow for this exciting event.

I've attended since 2005 and the IBHOF events are always high end, quality and exciting. I'll get to catch up with friends, reporters I haven't seen in person for a few years, fighters I've fought and world champions I know, along with fans from around the world. Everyone comes together in one place for one long boxing weekend.

The International Boxing Hall of Fame

The International Boxing Hall of Fame started in 1982 when the people of Canastota decided to honor Carmen Basilio, the former welterweight and middleweight champion of the late 1950s and his nephew Billy Backus who held the world welterweight title in 1970. This proud town raised money to showcase and celebrate the achievements of their two local heroes.

What happened next is that the success and enthusiasm grew into the first international boxing hall of fame and museum which was completed in 1989. Back then, two dozen former boxing champions witnessed the ribbon cutting ceremony of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

In 1990, the first class of boxing legends, including Muhammad Ali, were on hand to receive their long overdue enshrinement into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame added a wing to the Museum and an event pavilion adjacent to the Hall. The Hall of Fame holds an annual induction ceremony every June with a four-day celebration of boxing and its legends.

The International Boxing Hall of Fame is the one place in the WORLD where you'll see more boxers, world champions, boxing celebrities, journalists and supporters in one place. It's a boxing fan's paradise.

What Will I Be Doing at the Hall of Fame?

The highlight of my weekend will be running the 5K on Saturday morning to support Team Boomer.

What is Team Boomer? 

Team Boomer is a program that I support to help introduce Cystic Fibrosis, a chronic illness, to the boxing world.

What is Cystic Fibrosis?

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is an inherited, chronic illness affecting about 30,000 people in the U.S. and 70,000 worldwide. There’s no cure for CF, which causes continuous mucus buildup in the body that has to be removed to prevent infection and illness. The median survival age is 40 years. 

As a Team Boomer member, I'll help spread the word about how exercise helps people with cystic fibrosis. The ultimate goal is to help find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis and to help people with Cystic Fibrosis live longer, healthier, and more fulfilling lives.

The tie-in to boxing is that boxing needs extensive cardiovascular stamina driven by the running that
we do as boxers. Everyone knows boxers run to get the strength and power to go 12, 3-minute rounds. Well that endurance comes from our lungs, our cardiovascular conditioning from regular road work, running, jogging, treadmills, stair climbing, elliptical and swimming. All cardio strengthens the lungs.

Cystic Fibrosis is a challenging disease because the children born with it have to fight every day, all day, just to breathe. Their lungs fill with mucus that has to be removed regularly just so that the child can breathe and prevent infections that cause more illness.

So I'm running Saturday for Team Boomer and I'm honored to help and I hope that you'll help too. Are you a runner? Do you run 5Ks, 10Ks, marathons? Visit the Team Boomer website and learn more.

Who is Team Boomer? 

A little background on how Team Boomer got started. NFL star Boomer Esiason and his wife, Cheryl Esiason, founded the Boomer Esiason Foundation (BEF) in 1993 after their son Gunnar was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. The BEF has raised over $120 million and with Team Boomer encourages people with CF to make exercise an integral part of care to stay healthy.

The International Boxing Hall of Fame Schedule

Here's what's happening in Canastota starting tomorrow:

Thursday, June 9

1 p.m.                      Opening Bell Rings - Museum Grounds

1:30 - 5:30 p.m.       Ringside Lectures - Museum Grounds

Friday, June 10

10 a.m.- 2 p.m.        Ringside Lectures - Museum Grounds

3 p.m.                     Celebrity Fist Casting - Museum Grounds

7:30 p.m.                 Flashback Friday: 1990s Night - Rusty Rail Party House

Saturday, June 11

7 a.m.- 3 p.m.        Golf Tournament of Champions - Casolwood Golf Course

8:30 a.m.               5K Race, Fun Run - Canastota High School

9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Ringside Lectures - Museum Grounds

10 a.m.- 4 p.m.      Boxing Autograph Card Show - Canastota High School

5:30-6:30 p.m.      VIP "Gala" Cocktail Reception - Greystone Castle

8 p.m.                    Banquet of Champions - Syracuse Oncenter Complex

Sunday, June 12

10 a.m.                  U.S Postal Service Tribute - Museum Grounds

1 p.m.                    Parade of Champions - Downtown District

2:30 p.m.               Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - Museum Grounds

Stay tuned for updates from the International Boxing Hall of Fame....

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Reggie "Sweet" Johnson to Support 7th Annual Orlando Black & White Charity Event

(Houston, Texas) -- Wednesday, May 4, Three-Time World Boxing Champion Reggie "Sweet" Johnson arrives in Orlando today to attend the 7th Annual Black and White Weekend, a charity event that supports BASECamp Children's Cancer Foundation in Florida.

Johnson will be in Orlando to plan for the ChampionsForeverTour.com stops in Orlando in 2016 and will visit several children's hospitals privately for BASECamp and for Florida Hospital. Johnson will make several appearances including the opening night of the Black & White Weekend, a party at the Rosen Center.

"I'm here to help BASECamp in anyway that I can. I'm honored to be allowed to visit these children who are fighting hard for their lives and for their health," Johnson said.

The Black and White Weekend is the largest event of its kind in Orlando. Weekend events include a Friday night party, a Saturday golf outing, a pool party Saturday night, and a Mother's Day Brunch on Sunday, May 8.

The Black and White Weekend is a major fundraiser for BASECamp, a Florida children's cancer
charity that provides a year-round base of support to children and their families. When children come to Florida hospitals for cancer treatments, families often cannot stay for the duration because of the economic strain placed on the family.

BASECamp and its staff of volunteers provides help and comfort to children who are often alone at the hospitals with families far away. Volunteers hold children's hands before and after cancer treatments and surgeries, provide family support to parents and siblings, celebrations for ends of treatment, remission, birthdays and other monumental occasions.

Tickets are still available for the Black & White Weekend Weekend which includes access to the other weekend events.








Friday, April 15, 2016

Reggie “Sweet” Johnson Attending International Boxing Hall of Fame
Johnson 1 of 8 to Win Middleweight and Light Heavyweight Titles

 (Houston, Texas) — Friday, April 15, 2016, Three-time World Boxing Champion Reggie “Sweet” Johnson, 49, will be attending the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Johnson announced his intent on social media, his personal blog and to the media today.

 “I’m attending as a spectator this year,” Johnson said. “My three world championships and titles in middle and light heavyweight divisions, my contributions to the sport for decades make me worthy of being recognized as a fighter who should be one day inducted into the International Hall of Fame.”

Johnson has a professional boxing record of 44 wins (25 KOs), 7 Losses (0 KOs), 1 draw. Reggie has boxed 374 rounds, has a 48.08 knockout percentage with three world titles and multiple title defenses.

Johnson will be in Canastota, N.Y., June 9-12 watching the 2016 International Boxing Hall of Fame. Events include a golf tournament, banquet, parade, VIP events, 5K run and autograph card show. Boxing greats past and present attend and the highlight is the Official Enshrinement Ceremony welcoming new Hall of Fame members. 

Johnson is one of eight men to win titles in middleweight and light heavyweight divisions including: Bob Fitzsimmons, Dick Tiger*, Sugar Ray Leonard*, Thomas Hearns*, Mike McCallum*, Roy Jones Jr. and Bernard Hopkins. (*IBHOF Inductees).

Johnson fought ranked, current and former world champions to earn his titles including: Roy Jones Jr., William Guthrie, Jorge Castro (2X in Argentina), John David Jackson, "Irish" Steve Collins, Lamar Parks, Ole Klemetsen, Antonio Tarver, Julio Gonzalez, Ki Yun Song, Charles Oostuizen and James Toney. 

  • Johnson won the IBA Light Heavyweight title in a split decision over Julio Cesar Gonzalez, Feb. 23, 2008, in Lake Charles, LA.
  • Johnson knocked out William Guthrie in the fifth round with a one-punch knockout to win the IBF Light Heavyweight Title, Feb. 6, 1998, in Uncasville, CT.

  • Johnson a majority decision over Steve Collins for the WBA Middleweight Title, April 22, 1992, in East Rutherford, N.J.
Today, Reggie uses his VIP boxing platforms, celebrity appearances and speaking events to bring attention to brands and causes. Anti-Bullying, a national issue, is an effort Reggie supports by talking with elementary, middle and high school students and staff.


The Marketing Square
The Marketing Square is a website and advertising agency handling Reggie Johnson’s events, appearances and marketing. Contact: Rebekah Brown for more information 407-434-9328.

Saturday, April 9, 2016

Reggie "Sweet" Johnson

Reggie "Sweet" Johnson Fought His Way to Titles

Only a handful of people know what it takes to face, surpass and overwhelm opponents fighting for the chance to become a world boxing champion. Reggie “Sweet” Johnson has thrived and achieved this feat not once, not twice but three times in world championship boxing.

Reggie won titles in the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions—1 of only 8 men to do so in these two weight categories--with multiple title defenses as noted by The Ring.

  • Reggie won the IBA Light Heavyweight title in a split decision over Julio Cesar Gonzalez, Feb. 23, 2008, in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

  • Knocked out William Guthrie in the fifth round with a one-punch knockout to win the IBF Light Heavyweight Title, Feb. 6, 1998, in Uncasville, Connecticut.

  • Won a majority decision over Steve Collins for the WBA Middleweight Title, April 22, 1992, in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

  • Won the USBA Inter-Continental Middleweight Title stopping Ismael Negron with a TKO in the 11th round Feb. 4, 1990, in Paradise, Nevada.

  • Defeated Israel Cole on points for the WBA Inter-Continental Middleweight title Sept. 12, 1989, in Inglewood, California.
A skilled southpaw with punching power, heart and drive like no other, Reggie has never side stepped an opponent and fought current or former world champions: Roy Jones Jr., William Guthrie, Jorge Castro (twice in Argentina), John David Jackson, "Irish" Steve Collins, Lamar Parks, Ole Klemetsen, Antonio Tarver, Julio Gonzalez, Ki Yun Song, Charles Oostuizen and James Toney. 

With three world titles comes responsibility and Reggie answers calls to speak to schools, churches, prisons, youth homes, retirement centers, and homeless shelters with motivational talks with members.

Reggie has plenty to share through stories of his personal fight to reach his goals in one of sport’s toughest games. While there, Reggie signs boxing gloves, photos, T-shirts and boxing memorabilia to aid fundraising efforts when needed.


Reggie fields requests for a wide range of appearances at local, national and international boxing, VIP, sports and entertainment events.