New Mexico Boxing

In Honor of Jim Johnson

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Jim Johnson, was a heck of a fighter. We fought in the same club, and later fought against each other several times. I met him back in about 1975 when we were both fighting for the Police Athletic Club. We were both fighting at 132lbs. We sparred quite bit a bit. He was a heck of a fighter. And a good guy outside of the ring. One time we fought in about 1979 and Jim got the best of me breaking my nose in the process. But, Jim being the guy we was went back to my dressing room to see how I was doing. I guess this kind of attitude earned him the nick name "Gentle Men Jim." I had seem Jim once or twice before I left Albuquerque, and we talked about the old times, and the times we won the tough man contest. We laughed, and he told me of the work he was involved in coaching the you kids. He was very proud of that, you could see it in his eyes. My condolences goes out to all his family and friends. --Waldo Sam Anaya

I did not know Jim Johnson personally but I felt that I knew him due to mutual friends. For many years I admired the type of work and time that he spent mentoring low income minority kids. His work and program was well known throughout the community. Jim's love and dedication for the kids will be missed in the years to come. He was a true role model for the kids and was an example of the type of role model that adults in the community may follow. The goals of his program must continue. To the Johnson family, my condolence for the loss of such a great husband and father. May Jim's spirit and good works live on in all of us. -- Alvin Vigi

lJim Johnson was a really cool person who treated me like I was a member of his family. Jim was my dad's best friend and our families did a lot of things together. I am 15 years old, and it seems like I've known Jim all my life. I will never forget his smile, laugh, hugs, and jokes. He was a lot of fun to do things with such as fishing, boating, skiing, hiking, and just hanging out and talking about a million things. I loved fishing with him, he made it so much fun. It seemed like we laughed the whole time. He loved fishing and could troll in the boat from sun-up to sun-down and never get tired of it. There were many times that we were some of the first people on the lake in the morning and the last to leave in the evening. Jim was famous for barbecuing, he would cook the biggest steaks I've ever
seen and he loved watching David and I dig in when he put them on our plate. Jim was a great husband and father. He loved his wife Carol and his kids David and Rebecca so much and was very proud of them. I remember when he taught them how to ski and was so happy that it was another thing they could do together as a family. I will always love and remember Jim. I miss him very much, he will always be a special person in my life. He's a "Champion Forever". -- Sean Geissler

Jim Johnson was not only my trainer but I considered him to be a part of my family. He was the most generous man that I had the pleasure of knowing. Jim was always happy and everyone who knew him will say the same. Throughout the many years that I knew him he contributed to the kids at the South San Jose gym, including myself. Challenging us to the next level and encouraging us to be the best that we can be. From the beginning of my amateur career to now, my pro career Jim was in my corner and that is something I will greatly miss, but the memories of him will remain within. Jim you will be greatly missed but you will always be in our hearts. --Joseph Brady

I would just like to say how my heart sank when I heard about Jim's passing. He was a dear friend, and I'll NEVER forget him. He was a man of his word, who never spoke bad about others in my presence, and he was one of the most respected people in my life. He was really a great friend and I'm most glad that he knows The Lord, and is in eternity with my Son (Daniel Sisneros), Charles Anaya, Jim Boggio, Ron Koch and all the other great friends I've made in the world of boxing in New Mexico. --Dan Sisneros

Mr. Johnson,
I'm very sorry to have never met you in life. By the sound of things, it is truly a loss for me. This prayer and my heart go out to your family and you. I don't think you'll be forgotten anytime soon by your friends in the boxing community, or anyone else who have had the pleasure of your presence. -- OBF (Old Boxing Fan)

Jim Johnson was not only my father; he was my mentor and friend. Throughout my life he taught me kindness, love, respect, strength, and the faith to trust in Jesus Christ. There were many hardships in my father's life, more than he could have ever deserved, but he was strong enough to keep going through all of the pain. My Dad is a hero because dedicated so much of his life to helping others. He showed true valor in his boxing by mentoring low income Albuquerque youth. Day after day he would spend many tired hours guiding the young athletes of South San Jose, even providing financial assistance to both individual athletes and the boxing program as a whole. This road was a bumpy one, but my father continued on. Though he trained those young boxers to succeed in the ring, his ultimate message was victory in life through education. When Luis Gutierrez graduated from the Mechanical Engineering department of UNM, it was the proudest moment of my father's boxing career. Just yesterday Luis told me that one of the only things that keeps him from depression after this tragic loss is that he is continuing the legacy that my father and Jake Valencia started. Boxing saved his life, my father saved his life; this is the definition of heroism. My sister and I are as stubborn as any Johnson; we will not give up, we will continue to be an example of my father's legacy through our individual achievements. I love you, Dad. In life I made you proud, I'm not about to
stop.

I will always miss you my beloved father. You have given me strength, I will go on.

--David Johnson

For nearly seventeen years of my life I had the honor of living under the same rooftop as my hero. My hero, known to many as Jim Johnson was a business man, a compassionate friend, a beloved husband and most of all, he was a loving father to my brother and I. Despite a life of tragic loss, my Dad continued to succeed. He knew that he did not deserve such pain, but he did not give up. He had incredible faith in Christ, and planted the seed of God in my heart. Without this example of strength in life, I would not be at the state I can proudly say I stand in, because I lost my hero. This incredible man lost his life and all I am left with is the memory of this amazing hero. Without witnessing his strength in life and realizing that life must continue, I would not be able to maintain the life my Dad would expect of me. I have learned that life is not fair and even after I horrible tragedy, life goes on and we are forced to move with it. I cling to my faith and memories of my Dad in times such as these, and I am able to continue living and trying. Instead of giving up on life, I will try harder as my Dad would. I have a new reason in living; I will do everything in honor of my incredible father. Although his wonderful nature is only a memory of mine, I still learn a new lesson from him daily. I have been taught to overcome outstanding obstacles through the strength passed down to me from my father. Instead of living my life in the clouds of tragedy, I will live life in the rainbow my hero casts down upon me.

"Champions are the ones who get up even when they cannot"

---Rebecca Johnson

I met Jim in 1996 when we all went out to fight in Clovis for Golden Gloves. He worked my corner with Bob Foster and I've got nothing but good things to say about him. I use to always see him at South San Jose when I was training and he was always very nice and I enjoyed talking to him. This past year I often saw him at the grocery store and he was always the same old Jim- he and I would always talk about local fighters and upcoming fights. That's one guy I'm really going to miss. Sincerely, Jason Cordova

Jim was such a great husband, father, brother, and friend. He was a fantastic role model for the many young boxers that he worked with in the Albuquerque area. His generosity and love for these kids is unmatched. As everyone knows, he put is own time, effort, and money in helping out these kids and young adults. His guidance and influence in the lives of so many should be remembered. He was a credit to the sport of boxing in New Mexico and should be remembered for his many contributions. His wife Carol, son David, and daughter Rebecca loved him so much and supported and stood by his side during the many years that he devoted his time, energy, dollars, and love to the sport of boxing and to "his boxing kids". Jim is a great representative of the sport of boxing and for his humanitarian efforts. His memory and good works should be recognized by being inducted into the Albuquerque Sports Hall of Fame. He deserves to be honored and recognized. I am proud to have known Jim for over 35 years, when his family first moved to Albuquerque and later into our neighborhood. As a friend, Jim's generosity, love, courage, loyalty, understanding, and tenderness were second to none. I will never forget Jim and will always treasure the time we and our families spent together. He will be my strength in hard times and my light in my darkest moments. He will forever walk by my side as my
friend and brother. As quoted by Albuquerque Journal sports writer Rick Wright in an article on January 5, 2002, "Albuquerque has lost a hero". I miss you and love you Jim, my brother. -- Patrick A. Geissler

It's a shame there isn't more people like Jim Johnson, especially in this line of business. The many years of great dedication and financial stability he had to offer to our young, up and coming boxers in the industry, was a true show of human kindness, interest and concern for the success of our children throughout the community. Jim always showed compassion and concern for each and every life he touched. His presence's and contributions to the boxing industry will be greatly missed by us all.

My deepest sympathy goes out to his family and friends. May the find some kind of consolation in the fact that he was a great and kind man with a good heart and he was lucky to be able to accomplish the many great things that he cared the most about.

He will be truly missed by my family and he will always be in our thoughts and prayers. -- The Lucero Family

I was always very proud of the fact that Jim Johnson considered me as "his second dad". I worked with him almost all of his boxing career. We were close personal friends, and his passing is a great personal loss to me as well as all of his boxing colleagues. Let me be among the first to offer to establish a memorial plaque honoring Jim, to be placed in the Jack Candelaria Community Center. -- Stan Gallup