1. John Frederic Coulon was a Canadian-American professional boxer who was the world bantamweight champion from March 6,1910, when he wrested the crown from England's Jim Kendrick, until June 3,1914, when he was defeated by Kid Williams in Vernon, California.
Johnny Coulon was a boxing manager late in life and managed, among others, Eddie Perkins.
Johnny Coulon began fighting as an amateur in Chicago two years earlier, once appearing in Kid Howard's Gymnasium, weighing barely one hundred pounds for some bouts.
Johnny Coulon's career, managed by his father, Emile E "Pop" Coulon, stretched from 1905 to 1920.
Johnny Coulon won 26 of his early bouts before losing a 10-round decision to Kid Murphy.
Johnny Coulon defended the title against Earl Denning, Frankie Conley, Frankie Burns, and Kid Williams.
Johnny Coulon faced Harry Forbes, a gifted bantamweight from Chicago, and brother of boxer Clarence.
In March and April 1911, Johnny Coulon fought Phil McGovern and Harry Forbes in ten round no decision title matches in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
From July 28 though December 1912, Johnny Coulon took a six-month boxing hiatus which may have reduced his competitiveness.
Johnny Coulon indisputedly lost the World Bantamweight Title when Kid Williams stopped him in a lop-sided victory ending in a third-round knockout on June 9,1914, in Vernon, California.
Johnny Coulon served in the United States Army during World War I, often instructing soldiers on how to fight.
Johnny Coulon fought no well-known professional bouts from May 1917 though March 1920, while America was at war.
Johnny Coulon boxed twice in France after his service stint with Charles Ledoux and Emile Juliard in 1920, and retired from the ring that year with a total record including newspaper decisions of 67 wins, 11 losses, 12 draws, with 1 no-contest.
Johnny Coulon would appear stripped to the waist and challenge anyone in the audience to try to lift him off his feet.
Johnny Coulon was content to make a living by presenting a baffling stage act.
The trick was that Johnny Coulon would feign a struggle, grabbing the opponent by the back of the neck and right arm and applying pressure to a nerve there.
Johnny Coulon's act included what he described as levitation and his appearing to lose and gain weight at will.
On July 27,1921, at the end of his boxing career, Johnny Coulon married his diminutive Irish wife of over fifty years, Marie Maloney, a native Chicagoan.
Johnny Coulon never saw him fight professionally, but together they opened Coulon's Gymnasium on the South Side of Chicago around 1923.
Johnny Coulon managed junior welterweight champion Eddie Perkins and light-heavyweight contender Allen Thomas.
Johnny Coulon often travelled to find Perkins fights even into his 70s.
Ernest Hemingway visited Johnny Coulon's and insisted on sparring with the local pugs.
Johnny Coulon was not only a topnotch trainer, but living boxing history.
Johnny Coulon was a close friend of Jack Johnson, had frequented Johnson's restaurant, the "Cafe de Champion," and served as a pallbearer at the great champion's funeral.
Johnny Coulon knew every heavyweight champion since the Great John L Sullivan, trained hundreds of fighters and was a revered celebrity in Chicago during the 1960s.
Johnny Coulon celebrated a birthday by walking the length of the gym on his hands.
Johnny Coulon died at 84 in 1973 in Chicago and was buried in St Mary's Cemetery along with his wife.
Johnny Coulon was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1955, was installed in the Catholic Youth Organization's Club of Champions for his contributions to amateur boxing in 1971, and into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1999.
Johnny Coulon was elected to New York's Boxing Hall of Fame on January 6,1966.