By FRANK WALL
(Last in a Series on Johnny Dixon)
Johnny refused to hurry his ring career. He paid strict attention to the business of being proficient with his dukes and those who watched him in action predicted a great future for him. Offers of S750 and $1000, a lot of money for a beginner, poured in, yet Dixon wisely shook his head. “Just wait till I find out what this racket is about,” he’d say
After ten months of intensive training he was ready for his boxing debut. He was a heavyweight. John fought 17 fights in his ring career, win ning 14. all by knockouts. His first four fights he K’O his opponents in less than three rounds.
Dixon’s handlers brought his along slowly. He was considered a harder puncher than Jack Sharkey His right hand came into prominence after his startling knockout of Sam Rice. He also had a hard left hook.
After fighting in the small clubs in the city, Dixie figured he was ready- for a big bout.
Mito would his opponent be? None other than the great Jim Maloney who had picked up $350,000 in his fight career and was in the ring with the best, including the great Jack Sharkey. Maloney was installed a big favorite, but local experts figured Dixie might be too strong and land the big punch. The fight drew national attention and was covered by the press from all over the country. For weeks the Boston papers played It up big in every issue.
Finally came the big night. The preliminary card had Eddie Kid Sullivan of Walpole fighting
Here were Dixon’s measurements for the big fight.
Age 22, Weight 208, Neck 16, Forearm 12, Chest Normal 40, Chest Expanded 43, Thigh 21, Height 6 ft. 4. Reach 82 1/2, Biceps 1/2, Wrist 7 1/2, Waist 32, Calf 15, Ankle 7 1/2.
Here is the actual writeup of the great Jimmy Maloney-John Dixon fight taken from the Boston Globe files Saturday, December 10, 1932, and written by the late Dave Egan
“MALONEY OUTPOINTS DIXON IN THE GARDEN” “South Boston Heavyweight Too Experienced For Long John But 7000 Cheer Loser”
“Jim Maloney of South Boston beat Johnny Dixon formerly of Boston College via Norwood, in the 10-round main bout at the Garden last night, but Elder Maloney will not call college boys sissies any more.
“A few days ago Maloney insinuated that the boys from the cloistered campus were not their in the matter of intestinal fortude when It was a two-man battle and the ball was in midfield.
“Last night for 10 rounds he hacked and hammered at Long John to win the unanimous decision. But not once was Dixon on the floor and not once did the promising young giant from Norwood falter as he tried his hardest to gain national prominence In the boxing game.
“Dixon had never fought anything except preliminaries. He had been under the blaze of lights only 16 times against third and fourth-raters. He was sadly handicapped in boxing experience, and weighed 202 to Maloney’s 210 pounds.
Maloney Groggy Early
“But he fought his way through the mist of Maloney fists so firmly and so bravely that he won an ovation from the 7000 customers when he walked wearily from the ring. Until last night Dixon was an unknown quantity in boxing way, but today he will be accepted as a tough, hard-hitting heavyweight despite his greenness.
“His heavy punches spun Maloney around on four distinct occasions, and had he been blessed with greater experience or more luck, he might have knocked out the veteran from South Boston. In the opening round he boomed a right cross off Maloney’s jaw, and Eider Maloney was slightly goggly-eyed when the round ended.
“Maloney, though, fought a smart, capable fight. He was smacked and smacked solidly by Dixon. But his nodle always worked perfectly though it sat on a fat and ill-conditioned body, and his head work carried him through the first chapter in a come-back campaign which will probably cause a great flurry in local heavyweight circles.
Jim Wins Every Round
The South Boston Irishman was the first to admit Dixon was no part of a roll-over-and lay-dead.
‘”He is much tougher than I thought he was’, said Maloney after the bout. I hit with everything I had, and I thought I had him weakening once or twice, but he always came back with a dangerous punch. Dixon looks like a fine young heavyweight prospect. His defeat’ won’t hurt him, and my victory will bring me other matches.’
“Maloney won all of the 10 rounds, though the first five rounds were very close. It was at close quarters that his experience counted, and there when they were locked head to head, he smashed right after right to Dixon’s body. Those punches weakened the Boston College ex-star, and he was a weary youngster when he left the ring.”
After the Maloney fight Dixie soon retired from the fight game, there were too many odds to surpass, and the risk of injury was great. As John said: “The Maloney fight taught me a lesson that you can’t beat experience.” > So ended the career of John Peter Dixon, fighter. He then settled down to his home town of Norwood to which he brought s much fame. Dixie coached a semi-pro football, team In Norwood and also many Legion and Town Teams, some of which had great records.
Family and Present Life
For the past 16 years he has been teaching physical education at the Norwood Junior High School. Until two years ago he was head baseball and basketball coach. John has had four undefeated baseball teams and three undefeated basketball teams. The one he remembers best was the baseball team of 1946 which compiled a record of 13 wins and no losses. The team scored 104 runs with only 9 scored against. Some of the members of that team were Art Gulla, Bob Ivatts, John Poce, Pete Klingman Art Vietze, Pete Lasinskas, Charlie Mlxis and Charlie “Bo” Fisher.
Asked who was the best athlete he coached, John was quick to name Art Gulla, who played baseball, basketball at the Junior’ High and starred in football at Norwood High and Georgetown. Gulla and John Poce, both, Dixon proteges, are coaching football and baseball at Norwood High.
John is married to the former Ellen Drummey of Norwood and they made their home at 21 Maple Street with their seven children. Mrs. Dixon is a graduate of Emmanuel College and has been very prominent In Norwood’s civic life/
His sons are a chip off the block. Kevin, 22, the oldest, is a recent graduate of Denver University where he starred in basketball and baseball. Kev made the all-state baseball team at Denver and will soon be working for the Peace Corps in South America. In high school, he was all-scholastic in baseball and basketball.
Peter, 21, is a graduate of Trinidad Junior College in Colorado and is presently entered as a junior at Washington University on a football scholarship. Pete also is a great kicker. Sean is 14 and at Boston College High. Jay, 13 years old, is a former Little League star and is in the 7th grade. The youngest boy is Chris, who is 8. They have two girls. Debbie, 16, is at Ursuline Acadamy and Honora is age 10. John has two brothers, Felix and Joe. Felix is athletic director and assistant principal at Norwell High, Mass. Joe is a engineer at Seattle, Washington.
John is a member of the Norwood K of C. He loves fishing and Is a 105 bowler. Recently Dixie has taken up golf. He Is an ardent Red Sox fan and follows the fate of Boston College with keen interest. Bob Couzy is one of his basketball favorites and he marvels at Jimmy Brown of the Browns.
Asked who was the most outstanding athlete he played with or against, John quickly names Al Weston of Boston College as the greatest football player he ever saw.
Johnny claims that kids today have it easy. Everything is laid out for them and they seem to have no desire because of too many things to do. In the old days there was more interest in sports; no cars, T.V., etc. His advice to youngsters: “settle down and take to the books; try to get a college education, don’t be led astray, think for yourself; school is the important part of your life, make use of it.”
Thus we end the story of John Peter Dixon. We hope that you have marveled as we have at his athletic achievements. The old-timers know of him but the youngsters and new people in town do not. He is only one in a list of great Norwood Athletes you will be reading about in this series. (All facts about John Dixon are based on personal interview with him and actual records from Boston newspapers and Boston College files).
🏈 Got a Norwood sports memory? From muddy fields and pep rallies to championship wins and hometown heroes—every game tells a story. Share your vintage team photos, scorecards, yearbook clippings, or tales from the sidelines. Whether it’s Little League, high school track, or a legendary Thanksgiving Day rivalry, we want to hear it.
(All articles originally published in the Norwood Messenger)