Johnny Lira (July 31, 1951 – December 8, 2012) was a professional

lightweight Lightweight is a weight class in combat sports and rowing. Boxing Professional boxing The lightweight division is over 130 pounds (59 kilograms) and up to 135 pounds (61.2 kilograms) weight class in the sport of boxing. Notable lightweight ...

and

welterweight Welterweight is a weight class in combat sports. Originally the term "welterweight" was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like Muay Thai, taekwondo, and mixed martial arts also use it for their own weight division system to classify th ...

boxing contender who was born and died in

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. Lira won the Chicago Novice Golden Gloves championship at middleweight. As a professional, Lira went on to win the United States Boxing Association lightweight title by knocking out undefeated, Andrew Ganigan in the sixth round in August 1978, having started his pro career undefeated in his first 18 professional bouts. In August 1979, Lira fought for the World Boxing Association Lightweight title and lost to then champion Ernesto Espana in his only world title opportunity. Before losing, Lira had knocked Espana down to the canvas, but was unable to finish him. Lira boxed professionally from 1976 to 1984, compiling a record of 29 wins, 6 losses, and 1 draw, with 16 knockouts. Lira retired at age 34 after a ten round decision loss to Russell Mitchell in Illinois in 1984.

Life after boxing

Lira later underwent

liver transplant Liver transplantation or hepatic transplantation is the replacement of a diseased liver with the healthy liver from another person (allograft). Liver transplantation is a treatment option for end-stage liver disease and acute liver failure, al ...

surgery to save his life. Appearing in relatively good health for many years after 'the fight of his life', Lira taught amateur boxing to children at the Union League Boys and Girls Club, and made public appearances at boxing cards in the Chicago area. Lira died of Stage 3 of 4 CTE (not liver disease as many think) at age 61 in his native Chicago, Illinois, on Saturday, December 8, 2012. His brain was donated to Boston University, where CTE was observed. He was survived by his four children: three daughters and a son.

References

External links

* link to professional record:

more on las vegas days at the gym
1950 births 2012 deaths Boxers from Chicago American people of Italian descent Deaths from liver disease American male boxers Welterweight boxers {{US-boxing-bio-stub