Johnny Wilson was born Giovanni Francesco Panica on March 23, 1893 in Harlem, New York City. He was a professional boxer who fought from 1911 until 1926. The highlight of Wilson's career came when he captured the world middleweight championship by defeating Mike O'Dowd by decision over 12 rounds on May 6, 1920. Wilson held the crown until he was outpointed over 15 rounds by the all-time great Harry Greb.

After retiring from the ring, Wilson was involved in the ownership/management of several successful nightclubs in New York and Boston. Wilson died on December 8, 1985.

Cameo In 1970 Wilson had a short appearing in Michelangelo Antonioni's Zabriskie Point movie (at 00:42' in Italian edition), when he was 77.

Professional boxing record All information in this section is derived from BoxRec, unless otherwise stated.

Official record

All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as “no decision” bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column. ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes100Loss Maxie RosenbloomUD10Oct 4, 1926 99Win48–20–2 Chief HalbranKO5 (10)Sep 24, 1926 98Loss47–20–2 Maxie RosenbloomPTS12Aug 27, 1926 97Win47–19–2 Rocky MarionKO5 (10)Jun 10, 1926 96Loss46–19–2 Harry GrebPTS10Apr 17, 1925 95Loss46–18–2 Tiger FlowersTKO3 (10)Dec 9, 1924 94Loss46–17–2 Jock MaloneNWS10Sep 17, 1924 93Win46–17–2 Jock MaloneTKO6 (10)Jul 29, 1924 92Loss45–17–2 Tommy LoughranPTS10Feb 12, 1924 91Win45–16–2 Pal ReedPTS10Jan 29, 1924 90Loss44–16–2 Harry GrebUD15Jan 18, 1924 89Win44–15–2 Pat McCarthyRTD3 (10)Dec 18, 1923 88Win43–15–2 Pal ReedPTS10Nov 16, 1923 87Win42–15–2 George RobinsonPTS10Oct 19, 1923 86Loss41–15–2 Harry GrebUD15Aug 31, 1923 85Win41–14–2 Eddie CarterNWS8Jun 22, 1923 84Win41–14–2 Al DemarisKO4 (8)Jul 4, 1922 83Win40–14–2 Reuben K.O. JaffeTKO4 (10)Apr 21, 1922 82Draw39–14–2 Bryan DowneyNWS12Sep 5, 1921 81Win39–14–2 Bryan DowneyDQ7 (12)Jul 27, 1921 80Win38–14–2 George RobinsonPTS10Jul 15, 1921 79Win37–14–2 Joe ChipNWS10May 25, 1921 78Win37–14–2 Mike O'DowdSD15Mar 17, 1921 77Win36–14–2 Navy RostanKO2 (10)Feb 10, 1921 76Win35–14–2 Joe ChipNWS10Jan 17, 1921 75Loss35–14–2 George RobinsonNWS10Dec 9, 1920 74Win35–14–2 Steve ChoynskiKO5 (10)Aug 2, 1920 73Loss34–14–2 Young FisherNWS10Jul 20, 1920 72Win34–14–2 Jakob "Soldier" BartfieldNWS12Jul 1, 1920 71Win34–14–2 Mike O'DowdPTS12May 6, 1920 70Win33–14–2 Pal ReedPTS12Apr 7, 1920 69Win32–14–2 Billy MurrayTKO2 (12)Mar 8, 1920 68Win31–14–2 Jack LondonKO2 (10)Dec 25, 1919 67Win30–14–2 Young AhearnKO1 (10)Oct 20, 1919 66Win29–14–2 Young AhearnKO6 (10)Aug 25, 1919 65Draw28–14–2 Young AhearnPTS12Jul 19, 1919 64Win28–14–1 George RobinsonNWS12Jul 3, 1919 63Win28–14–1 Young FisherPTS12May 12, 1919 62Win27–14–1 Pat McCarthyPTS10May 5, 1919 61Win26–14–1 Cyclone ScottKO3 (10)May 2, 1919 60Draw25–14–1 Pat McCarthyPTS10Apr 17, 1919 59Win25–14 Augie RatnerPTS12May 6, 1918 58Win24–14 Leo HouckPTS12Apr 15, 1918 57Loss23–14 Frank CarboneDQ1 (12)Apr 10, 1918 56Loss23–13 Leo HouckPTS12Mar 11, 1918 55Win23–12 Pinky CrosbyKO2 (10)Mar 5, 1918 54Win22–12 Victor DahlKO1 (12)Jan 28, 1918 53Win21–12 Art MagirlTKO3 (12)Dec 14, 1917 52Win20–12 Jack SavagePTS12Nov 16, 1917 51Win19–12 Victor DahlPTS12Oct 19, 1917 50Loss18–12 Roddie MacDonaldPTS15Jul 28, 1917 49Win18–11 Al NelsonKO1 (10)Apr 27, 1917 48Win17–11 Carl HertzPTS10Apr 19, 1917 47Draw16–11 Jack SavageNWS10Apr 13, 1917 46Loss16–11 Joe WhiteDQ3 (12)Mar 21, 1917 45Win16–10 Al NelsonNWS12Feb 23, 1917 44Loss16–10 George RobinsonPTS10Jan 19, 1917 43Win16–9 Al RogersNWS12Dec 25, 1916 42Win16–9 Jack SavagePTS12Dec 15, 1916 41Win15–9 Roddie MacDonaldPTS10Dec 6, 1916 40Win14–9 Battling McFarlandKO9 (10)Oct 17, 1916 39Win13–9 Roddie MacDonaldPTS12Sep 19, 1916 38Win12–9 Roddie MacDonaldTKO12 (12)Aug 10, 1916 37Win11–9 Joe FarrenKO3 (10)Jul 28, 1916 36Win10–9 Frankie NotterNWS12May 30, 1916 35Loss10–9 Silent MartinPTS12Apr 26, 1916 34Win10–8 Battling McFarlandKO9 (12)Apr 5, 1916 33Win9–8 Jack DonnellyTKO8 (10)Mar 29, 1916 32Loss8–8 Joe WhiteDQ4 (10)Mar 21, 1916 31Loss8–7 Tommy RobsonPTS12Feb 24, 1916 30Loss8–6 Joe WhitePTS10Feb 22, 1916 29Loss8–5 Bill FlemingPTS12Jan 26, 1916 28Win8–4 Johnny MelloKO3 (8)Jan 25, 1916 27Win7–4 K.O. SweeneyPTS12Jan 21, 1916 26Win6–4 Ritchie JasperTKO2 (8)Jan 11, 1916 25Loss5–4 Battling McFarlandPTS12Jun 30, 1915 24Win5–3 K.O. SweeneyNWS10May 27, 1915 23Draw5–3 Mike MazieNWS10May 1, 1915 22Win5–3 Young Kid BroadKO5 (10)Apr 17, 1915 21Win4–3 Billy BushNWS10Mar 19, 1915 20Win4–3 Chic NelsonNWS10Mar 16, 1915 19Win4–3 Red TuckerKO1 (10)Feb 22, 1915 18Draw3–3 K.O. SweeneyNWS10Jan 9, 1915 17Win3–3 Frank CarboneNWS10Oct 5, 1914 16Win3–3 Joe FoxKO3 (10)Aug 29, 1914 15Win2–3 Walter McGirrTKO4 (10)Aug 21, 1914 14Draw1–3 Westside Jimmy DuffyNWS10May 27, 1914 13Loss1–3 Jimmy FryerDQ4 (6)Apr 11, 1914 12Win1–2 Jimmy FryerNWS10Apr 3, 1914 11Loss1–2 Fighting KennedyNWS10Feb 23, 1914 10Loss1–2 Fighting KennedyNWS10Dec 8, 1913 9Win1–2 Sailor DonaghyKO2 (10)Oct 27, 1913 8Draw0–2 Young Battling NelsonNWS10Sep 20, 1913 7Loss0–2 Young McCartneyNWS6Sep 5, 1913 6Loss0–2 Fighting KennedyNWS10Aug 16, 1913 5Win0–2 Young VictorNWS6Feb 4, 1913 4Loss0–2 Paul DixonTKO5 (10)Jan 18, 1913 30–1 Willie CollinsNC6 (10)Nov 1, 1912 2Loss0–1 Charley SmithNWS10Oct 8, 1912 1Loss0–1 Johnny AlbertsTKO7 (10)Oct 5, 1912

Unofficial record

Record with the inclusion of newspaper decisions in the win/loss/draw column. ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes100Loss Maxie RosenbloomUD10Oct 4, 1926 99Win62–28–8 Chief HalbranKO5 (10)Sep 24, 1926 98Loss61–28–8 Maxie RosenbloomPTS12Aug 27, 1926 97Win61–27–8 Rocky MarionKO5 (10)Jun 10, 1926 96Loss60–27–8 Harry GrebPTS10Apr 17, 1925 95Loss60–26–8 Tiger FlowersTKO3 (10)Dec 9, 1924 94Loss60–25–8 Jock MaloneNWS10Sep 17, 1924 93Win60–24–8 Jock MaloneTKO6 (10)Jul 29, 1924 92Loss59–24–8 Tommy LoughranPTS10Feb 12, 1924 91Win59–23–8 Pal ReedPTS10Jan 29, 1924 90Loss58–23–8 Harry GrebUD15Jan 18, 1924 89Win58–22–8 Pat McCarthyRTD3 (10)Dec 18, 1923 88Win57–22–8 Pal ReedPTS10Nov 16, 1923 87Win56–22–8 George RobinsonPTS10Oct 19, 1923 86Loss55–22–8 Harry GrebUD15Aug 31, 1923 85Win55–21–8 Eddie CarterNWS8Jun 22, 1923 84Win54–21–8 Al DemarisKO4 (8)Jul 4, 1922 83Win53–21–8 Reuben K.O. JaffeTKO4 (10)Apr 21, 1922 82Draw52–21–8 Bryan DowneyNWS12Sep 5, 1921 81Win52–21–7 Bryan DowneyDQ7 (12)Jul 27, 1921 80Win51–21–7 George RobinsonPTS10Jul 15, 1921 79Win50–21–7 Joe ChipNWS10May 25, 1921 78Win49–21–7 Mike O'DowdSD15Mar 17, 1921 77Win48–21–7 Navy RostanKO2 (10)Feb 10, 1921 76Win47–21–7 Joe ChipNWS10Jan 17, 1921 75Loss46–21–7 George RobinsonNWS10Dec 9, 1920 74Win46–20–7 Steve ChoynskiKO5 (10)Aug 2, 1920 73Loss45–20–7 Young FisherNWS10Jul 20, 1920 72Win45–19–7 Jakob "Soldier" BartfieldNWS12Jul 1, 1920 71Win44–19–7 Mike O'DowdPTS12May 6, 1920 70Win43–19–7 Pal ReedPTS12Apr 7, 1920 69Win42–19–7 Billy MurrayTKO2 (12)Mar 8, 1920 68Win41–19–7 Jack LondonKO2 (10)Dec 25, 1919 67Win40–19–7 Young AhearnKO1 (10)Oct 20, 1919 66Win39–19–7 Young AhearnKO6 (10)Aug 25, 1919 65Draw38–19–7 Young AhearnPTS12Jul 19, 1919 64Win38–19–6 George RobinsonNWS12Jul 3, 1919 63Win37–19–6 Young FisherPTS12May 12, 1919 62Win36–19–6 Pat McCarthyPTS10May 5, 1919 61Win35–19–6 Cyclone ScottKO3 (10)May 2, 1919 60Draw34–19–6 Pat McCarthyPTS10Apr 17, 1919 59Win34–19–5 Augie RatnerPTS12May 6, 1918 58Win33–19–5 Leo HouckPTS12Apr 15, 1918 57Loss32–19–5 Frank CarboneDQ1 (12)Apr 10, 1918 56Loss32–18–5 Leo HouckPTS12Mar 11, 1918 55Win32–17–5 Pinky CrosbyKO2 (10)Mar 5, 1918 54Win31–17–5 Victor DahlKO1 (12)Jan 28, 1918 53Win30–17–5 Art MagirlTKO3 (12)Dec 14, 1917 52Win29–17–5 Jack SavagePTS12Nov 16, 1917 51Win28–17–5 Victor DahlPTS12Oct 19, 1917 50Loss27–17–5 Roddie MacDonaldPTS15Jul 28, 1917 49Win27–16–5 Al NelsonKO1 (10)Apr 27, 1917 48Win26–16–5 Carl HertzPTS10Apr 19, 1917 47Draw25–16–5 Jack SavageNWS10Apr 13, 1917 46Loss25–16–4 Joe WhiteDQ3 (12)Mar 21, 1917 45Win25–15–4 Al NelsonNWS12Feb 23, 1917 44Loss24–15–4 George RobinsonPTS10Jan 19, 1917 43Win24–14–4 Al RogersNWS12Dec 25, 1916 42Win23–14–4 Jack SavagePTS12Dec 15, 1916 41Win22–14–4 Roddie MacDonaldPTS10Dec 6, 1916 40Win21–14–4 Battling McFarlandKO9 (10)Oct 17, 1916 39Win20–14–4 Roddie MacDonaldPTS12Sep 19, 1916 38Win19–14–4 Roddie MacDonaldTKO12 (12)Aug 10, 1916 37Win18–14–4 Joe FarrenKO3 (10)Jul 28, 1916 36Win17–14–4 Frankie NotterNWS12May 30, 1916 35Loss16–14–4 Silent MartinPTS12Apr 26, 1916 34Win16–13–4 Battling McFarlandKO9 (12)Apr 5, 1916 33Win15–13–4 Jack DonnellyTKO8 (10)Mar 29, 1916 32Loss14–13–4 Joe WhiteDQ4 (10)Mar 21, 1916 31Loss14–12–4 Tommy RobsonPTS12Feb 24, 1916 30Loss14–11–4 Joe WhitePTS10Feb 22, 1916 29Loss14–10–4 Bill FlemingPTS12Jan 26, 1916 28Win14–9–4 Johnny MelloKO3 (8)Jan 25, 1916 27Win13–9–4 K.O. SweeneyPTS12Jan 21, 1916 26Win12–9–4 Ritchie JasperTKO2 (8)Jan 11, 1916 25Loss11–9–4 Battling McFarlandPTS12Jun 30, 1915 24Win11–8–4 K.O. SweeneyNWS10May 27, 1915 23Draw10–8–4 Mike MazieNWS10May 1, 1915 22Win10–8–3 Young Kid BroadKO5 (10)Apr 17, 1915 21Win9–8–3 Billy BushNWS10Mar 19, 1915 20Win8–8–3 Chic NelsonNWS10Mar 16, 1915 19Win7–8–3 Red TuckerKO1 (10)Feb 22, 1915 18Draw6–8–3 K.O. SweeneyNWS10Jan 9, 1915 17Win6–8–2 Frank CarboneNWS10Oct 5, 1914 16Win5–8–2 Joe FoxKO3 (10)Aug 29, 1914 15Win4–8–2 Walter McGirrTKO4 (10)Aug 21, 1914 14Draw3–8–2 Westside Jimmy DuffyNWS10May 27, 1914 13Loss3–8–1 Jimmy FryerDQ4 (6)Apr 11, 1914 12Win3–7–1 Jimmy FryerNWS10Apr 3, 1914 11Loss2–7–1 Fighting KennedyNWS10Feb 23, 1914 10Loss2–6–1 Fighting KennedyNWS10Dec 8, 1913 9Win2–5–1 Sailor DonaghyKO2 (10)Oct 27, 1913 8Draw1–5–1 Young Battling NelsonNWS10Sep 20, 1913 7Loss1–5 Young McCartneyNWS6Sep 5, 1913 6Loss1–4 Fighting KennedyNWS10Aug 16, 1913 5Win1–3 Young VictorNWS6Feb 4, 1913 4Loss0–3 Paul DixonTKO5 (10)Jan 18, 1913 30–2 Willie CollinsNC6 (10)Nov 1, 1912 2Loss0–2 Charley SmithNWS10Oct 8, 1912 1Loss0–1 Johnny AlbertsTKO7 (10)Oct 5, 1912

Titles in boxing Major world titles NYSAC middleweight champion (160 lbs) (2×) NBA (WBA) middleweight champion (160 lbs)

Undisputed titles Undisputed middleweight champion(2×)

See also List of middleweight boxing champions

Notes and references Notes

References

External links Cyber Boxing Zone Harry Greb site