Cleveland welterweight Delante "Tiger" Johnson Uncaged going into Pan-Am Games
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 20 Jul 2019
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 19, 2019) - Boxing medal collector Delante "Tiger" Johnson has been so busy placing at tournaments that he'll soon need an extension on his home to accommodate his overflowing display case.
The Cleveland welterweight has 8 national and 9 international medals. He has captured gold at the 2014 Junior Olympics, 2015 Youth National Championships, 2016 & 2017 Elite National Championships and 2017 Eastern Elite Qualifier, as well as top honors internationally at the 2016 Youth World Championships, 2017 USA vs. Netherlands, Ireland and Germany, and most recently at the 2019 Pan American Qualifier in Nicaragua.
At the 2019 Pan Am Qualifier, Johnson defeated Dominican Republic opponent Rohan Polanco, by walkover, to qualify for the prestigious 2019 Pan American Games, which commences July 27 in Lima, Peru.
Despite all of his medals, Johnson remains hungry going into the Pan Am Games with, of course, one eye on the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
His greatest accomplishment, so far, is winning the Youth World Championship because, as he says, "I was an underdog. Nobody expected me to win and I had a lot to prove."
That he did and his participation in the Pan Am Games is extra special for this gifted 20-year-old. "It's important because I'm the first boxer from my city to go the Pan Am Games, which is a big tournament," Johnson remarked. "I'll be disciplined and focused only on the Pan Am Games. I've trained hard for it, physically and mentally to be prepared.
"I really want to become the fourth boxer from Cleveland to participate in the Olympics. The others have been Raynell Williams (2008), Terrell Gausha (2012) and Charles Conwell, Jr. (2016)."
Born with the nickname "Tiger" because of a birthmark that his father thought looked like a tiger, Jones has had more than 100 amateur bouts to date and counting. He started boxing at the age of seven, largely due to an increasing number of fights he was in at school. His father got him into boxing, and he hasn't looked back.
"At first, he explained, "I didn't like boxing, because the coach was really mean. There were a lot of experienced kids in the gym and I was the new kid. I'm a fast learner but it took a while to get used to the coach and older kids. I did very well in my first sparring session and just kept going."
Being a Team USA member has allowed Johnson to travel across the country and around the world to places like Germany, Russia, Honduras, Nicaragua, Kazakhstan, Ireland and Netherlands. "I like to travel," he noted, "but I just don't like the plane rides."
Now, as he prepares to compete in a critical tournament as the first Cleveland boxer in the Pan Am Games, he rates as one of the favorites, along with Cuban veteran Roniel Iglesias, who didn't compete in the recent Pan Am Qualifier finals due to a hand injury.
"Tiger" Johnson is uncaged and winning routinely!
INFORMATION:
www.usaboxing.org
Twitter: @USABoxing
Instagram: @USABoxing
Facebook: /USABoxing
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 8 JUNE 2026: Ramirez SD Lerrone; Baumstarh SD Bustillos; Vazquez, Mindoro Win in Texas; Yabuki, Moloney, Casimero and Angeletti Win in Japan
By Eric Armit, Tue, 09 Jun 20262026 NBA Finals: Spurs Take Game 3, Beat Knicks in New York 115-111
By Reylan Loberternos, Tue, 09 Jun 2026Casimero still rocking
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 09 Jun 2026Mascarinas faces tough competition in 66th San Carlos Charter Day
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 09 Jun 2026Raymond Muratalla Defends IBF Lightweight World Title Against Former Champion Robson Conceicao in Explosive Co-Main Event to Roach Jr. vs. Zepeda
Tue, 09 Jun 2026IBA represented at the United Nations World Cup Diplomacy Summit in New York
Tue, 09 Jun 2026Historic Costa Rican former champ Bryan Vasquez is arrested
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Tue, 09 Jun 2026Bruce Wren Tatad of Tanza, Cavite rules National Age Group Chess Championship ; vying Singapore chess tilt
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 09 Jun 2026Suslenkov to face Joyce in a thrilling showdown at IBA PRO 19 in Moscow
Mon, 08 Jun 2026Dalton Smith receives inaugural WBC Ricky Hatton Legacy Belt in front of thousands in Mancheste
Mon, 08 Jun 2026Stacey King three time NBA Champion with Chicago Bulls passes away
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Mon, 08 Jun 2026FM Daluz sweeps 10th AQ Prime chess tilt
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 08 Jun 2026Llover vows comeback
By Joaquin Henson, Mon, 08 Jun 2026Banawa, rules National Age Group Chess Championship
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 08 Jun 2026Saludar arrives in Japan to fight on June 10
By Lito delos Reyes, Sun, 07 Jun 2026