Len Johnson with friends, Manchester

MANCHESTER · 1902 — 1974

A BOXER WHO
FOUGHT RACISM
IN THE RING
AND ON THE STREETS.

Read his story→Support the statue
95 WINS·0 TITLES·UNCROWNED·UNDEFEATED IN SPIRIT·95 WINS·0 TITLES·UNCROWNED·UNDEFEATED IN SPIRIT·

CHAPTER ONE

BORN INTO
TWO WORLDS.

Young Len Johnson portrait

Leonard Benker Johnson was born in Clayton, East Manchester, in 1902.

His father, William Benker Johnson, had migrated from Sierra Leone as a merchant seaman. His mother, Margaret Maher, was a Mancunian — "Irish and proud of it."

The interracial marriage meant the family experienced significant racism. Margaret was attacked in the street, suffering permanent disfigurement. Disowned by her own family, the couple found lodgings with the Connell family, who became Len's adopted grandparents.

CLAYTON · 1902

CHAPTER TWO

THE BOXING
BOOTHS.

By 1920, Len was fighting professionally as a middleweight boxer.

Trained by his father in the boxing booths, travelling around fairgrounds, he won 95 of his 134 bouts. A record that rivals Muhammad Ali (56 of 61) and Manny Pacquiao (62 of 72).

In 1928, national newspapers called him Britain's "uncrowned champion." Yet despite his dominance, Rule 24 of the British Boxing Board of Control — requiring title contestants to have "two white parents" — denied him a championship bout. For his entire career.

95 WINS · 134 BOUTS

Len Johnson in fighting stance

BEAT THE CHAMPIONS.
STILL NO BELT.

TED "KID" LEWIS

1925

"The greatest fighter to ever come out of Britain" — Mike Tyson. Beaten by Len.

ROLAND TODD

1926

European and British middleweight champion. Defeated by Len.

LEONE JACOVACCI

1928

European middleweight champion. Thrashed by Len.

MICHELE BONAGLIA

1929

European light-heavyweight champion. Beaten by Len.

CHAPTER THREE · 1911 — 1947

RULE 24.

"TWO WHITE PARENTS."

Winston Churchill, as Home Secretary in 1911, declared a proposed bout between Black American Jack Johnson and British contender Bombardier Billy Wells illegal. This became the precedent banning all high-profile fights between white and Black boxers.

The British Boxing Board wrote it directly into its constitution. The colour bar wasn't repealed until 1947. By then, Len's career was over.

"I AM FED UP."

I am barred from the Albert Hall, from the National Sporting Club and from all fights where there is big money. The prejudice against colour has prevented me from getting a championship bout.

— LEN JOHNSON, 1930

WHY?WHY?WHY?WHY?

WHY NO TITLE?

Because the British Boxing Board of Control wrote racism into its constitution.

WHY NO STATUE?

Because Black British sporting heroes have been systematically erased from history.

WHY NOW?

Because Manchester deserves to honour the man who organised against racism on its streets.

WHY YOU?

Because every contribution — every voice — builds this monument. Join us.

CHAPTER FOUR

BEYOND
BOXING.

Len Johnson with supporters

Boxing made him famous. Activism made him important.

Len's experiences politicised him. A meeting with American activist Paul Robeson at the 1945 Pan-African Congress in Manchester transformed him completely.

He wanted to bring Manchester's different communities together. He fought systemic injustice with the same energy he'd brought to the ring — and won battles the boxing establishment never let him fight.

1945

PAN-AFRICAN CONGRESS

Len attended the Fifth Pan-African Congress in Manchester. Meeting Paul Robeson transformed him from athlete into activist.

1946

NEW INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY

Co-founded an anti-racist space in Moss Side — "true internationalism, colonial liberation, peace, the ending of race discrimination."

1953

OLD ABBEY PROTEST

200 protestors. Four nights. Colour bar officially revoked. Twelve years before the Race Relations Act made it illegal.

1953 · MOSS SIDE

200
PROTESTORS.
ONE PUB.

The Old Abbey pub refused Len a drink. They said they didn't serve "coloured" people.

He didn't walk away. Four nights later, he returned with 200 protestors — Black and white together. The colour bar was officially revoked.

It wasn't illegal under the Race Relations Act until 1965. Len's direct action forced change — twelve years ahead of the law.

200

PROTESTORS

4

NIGHTS

12

YEARS AHEAD

PRESENT DAY

EVENTS
AND CULTURE.

The campaign keeps Len's legacy alive through community events — music, sport, theatre. From thrilling football matches to vibrant music performances, our events bring people together to celebrate Manchester's boxing legend.

Breaking Barz event poster

MUSIC NIGHT

BREAKING BARZ

A regular music night at the Old Abbey Taphouse — the very pub where Len was denied service. A platform for musicians, spoken word artists, DJs and presenters. 14 events so far including a sold-out night at Band on the Wall.

@breakingbarzmcr →
Len Johnson Charity Match - fans and players

ANNUAL FIXTURE

CHARITY MATCH

The annual Len Johnson All-Stars vs. FC United Legends. Past players include Joleon Lescott, Ashley Williams, Andy Burnham, plus Aitch, Avelino, Owen Warner, and current boxing world champion Rhiannon Dixon. Over £10,000 raised in year one.

@lenjohnsonmcr →
Knockout Blow play - Odd Arts production

THEATRE & EDUCATION

KNOCKOUT BLOW

A community-led play exploring Len's life, developed with Odd Arts. Performed to over 5,000 people across Greater Manchester schools, colleges and youth groups. Even shown to councillors in the Town Hall chamber.

Learn more →
Follow for upcoming events→

BACKED BY

CHAMPIONS
FOR LEN.

Andy Burnham

ANDY
BURNHAM

MAYOR OF GREATER MANCHESTER

Anthony Joshua

ANTHONY
JOSHUA

HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION

Ricky Hatton

RICKY
HATTON

FORMER WORLD CHAMPION

Carl Frampton

CARL
FRAMPTON

FORMER WORLD CHAMPION

Natasha Jonas

NATASHA
JONAS

WORLD CHAMPION

Amir Khan

AMIR
KHAN

FORMER WORLD CHAMPION

Tony Bellew

TONY
BELLEW

FORMER WORLD CHAMPION

Anthony Crolla

ANTHONY
CROLLA

FORMER WORLD CHAMPION

2020 — PRESENT

THE
CAMPAIGN.

Following the murder of George Floyd in 2020, a campaign began to build a statue of Len Johnson in Manchester City Centre. Help us deliver justice 100 years late.

01

CONFIRM THE SITE

Working with senior council officers to secure a Manchester City Centre location.

02

PLANNING PERMISSION

Applying with volunteer support from senior planners and heritage experts.

03

RAISE THE FUNDS

Building the statue. Securing its maintenance for the next 100 years.

THE MONUMENT

THE
STATUE.

Following a formal selection from a shortlist of six sculptors, we commissioned Taslim Martin — a London-based sculptor of African and Caribbean heritage — to bring Len back to Manchester. Life-size. A man of the people, just as he lived.

Taslim Martin sculpting Len Johnson maquette

THE SCULPTOR

TASLIM MARTIN

Taslim attended Art School in Cardiff and the Royal College of Art in London. He was awarded the Sir Eduardo Paolozzi Travel Scholarship to research West African sculpture. His works are in the permanent collections of the British Museum and the Horniman Gallery.

"This project feels very personal because I connect with Len's story."

Len Johnson statue maquette

THE MAQUETTE

YOUNG LEN · BOXING STANCE

Taslim captured Len as a young fighter — alert, ready, dignified. The final life-size bronze will stand in Manchester city centre. Not towering above passers-by. At eye level. A man of the people, as he lived his life.

A MEETING POINT.
A PLACE OF EDUCATION.
A MONUMENT TO RESISTANCE.

We hope Len's statue site will become a meeting point and a place of education for Mancunians and visitors for many years to come.

Donate now→Get involved
REMEMBER.HONOUR.BUILD.