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:
Is Floyd chickening out?
By Joaquin Henson, Wed, 01 Apr 2026Bacaro to challenge Toyoshima on April 4
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 01 Apr 2026IBA steps forward as potential organiser for Bivol vs Beterbiev trilogy bout
Wed, 01 Apr 2026PBF president Almario dies
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 01 Apr 2026Portland Trail Blazers have new owner after $4.25 billion sale
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 01 Apr 20262 Time World Champion Marcos Maidana Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
Wed, 01 Apr 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 30 MARCH 2026: Itauma Destroys Franklin in 5; Fundora Dismantles Thurman in 6
By Eric Armit, Tue, 31 Mar 2026Panamanian WBC Judge Jesus Aleman murdered in Panama
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Tue, 31 Mar 2026‘I won’t be holding anything back! – Big Bad Bazley challenges The Pilgrim Ryan Williams for Heavyweight title May 29 in Perth – Thunderdome 54
Tue, 31 Mar 2026ZAYAS AND BOOTS CLASH IN UNIFIED BLOCKBUSTER AT BARCLAYS CENTER, BROOKLYN ON JUNE 27 – LIVE AND EXCLUSIVE ON DAZN PPV
Tue, 31 Mar 2026Manny Pacquiao Promotions Announces Full Card to Join Taduran Vs. Perez on Friday, April 3, at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif. Live on ESPN Knockout
Tue, 31 Mar 202613-0 prospect Marco Romero hasn’t lost a Fight in nearly 7 years and he’s only 20
Tue, 31 Mar 2026WORLD ELITE SUMO ANNOUNCES NEW DATE – SATURDAY, MAY 16 – FOR LIVE PROFESSIONAL SUMO EVENT AT PRUDENTIAL CENTER
Tue, 31 Mar 2026Filipino boy, 15, wins US chess meet
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 31 Mar 202660 Years of Top Rank: Bob Arum’s First Fight Launched a Boxing Empire
Mon, 30 Mar 2026