Johnny Owen
| Johnny Owen | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | John Richard Owens |
| Nickname(s) | Merthyr Matchstick / The Matchstick Man |
| Rated at | bantamweight |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Nationality | British |
| Born |
7 January 1956 Merthyr Tydfil, Wales |
| Died | 4 November 1980 (aged 24) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 28 |
| Wins | 25 |
| Wins by KO | 11 |
| Losses | 2 |
| Draws | 1 |
| No contests | 0 |
John Richard Owens (7 January 1956 – 4 November 1980) was a professional boxer from Wales who fought under the name Johnny Owen. His fragile appearance earned him many epithets, including 'the Bionic Bantam' and 'the Merthyr Matchstick'. During his brief career, he held the Bantamweight Championships of Great Britain and Europe and became the first ever Welsh holder of the Bantamweight Championship of the Commonwealth. He challenged champion Lupe Pintor for his version of the World Bantamweight title on 19 September 1980, losing a torturously difficult contest by way of twelfth round knockout. Owen never regained consciousness, fell into a coma and died seven weeks later. A statue commemorating his life and career was unveiled in Merthyr Tydfil in 2002.
Johnny Owen was born John Richard Owens, the fourth of a family of eight children to working class parents Dick and Edith Owens in Merthyr Tydfil on 7 January 1956. He began to box at the age of eight and enjoyed a lengthy amateur boxing career taking in some one hundred and twenty six fights. Highlights of his amateur exploits were the winning of several Welsh titles.
Owen was a quiet, reserved, friendly character outside the ring. Inside the ring Owen was a formidable opponent with determination and strength in contrast to his frail looking body and possessed an impressive stamina built by long hours running up the steep hills of the South Wales Valleys.
He finally turned professional in 1976, winning his debut match with a points victory over fellow Welshman George Sutton, in Pontypool, on 30 September; at the time, Sutton was ranked number three contender for the British title.
Owen enjoyed an auspicious start to his professional career, lifting the Bantamweight Championship of Wales after just six contests and knocking out Paddy Maguire to claim the British title after only ten. Guided by manager and trainer Dai Gardiner, Owen steadily grew to dominate the domestic bantamweight scene and by the end of 1978 felt ready to take on his first, big, international test.
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