"War educates the senses, calls into action the will, perfects the physical constitution, brings men into such swift and close collision in critical moments that man measures man." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Boxing can thank the unknown woman who introduced Matthew to Catholic Social Services for his tenure in the sport, rescuing him from mean Philadelphia streets after being abandoned by extended family following the death of his mother.
Born Maxwell Antonio Loach, Muhammad was unable to clearly speak his own name when asked, upon being taken in by a Catholic foster home, and was mistakenly renamed "Matthew Franklin."
Arrested for "gang activity" three times by the age of seventeen, Muhammad decided to head in a new direction, stuffing clothes inside a makeshift heavy bag and punching walls, teaching himself to fight.
A short amateur career propelled him towards a professional stint, the early goings of which offering just as few luxuries as his childhood.
Twenty fights into his career, Muhammad had either lost to or drawn (albeit generally controversially) with three future belt-holders: Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, Mate Parlov, and the first recognized cruiserweight champion, Marvin Camel.
A solid showing against journeyman Ed Turner set up a clash with the up-and-coming prospect/contender Marvin Johnson.
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Growing up just about as rough in Indianapolis as Muhammad had in Philly, Johnson battled his way to an impressive amateur career, winning two Golden Gloves titles, and eventually a bronze medal in the 1972 Olympics.
Fifteen fights into his professional career, Marvin Johnson was no stranger to the "City of Brotherly Love."
Famed promoter Russel Peltz wound up catching one of Johnson's performances in Indianapolis, and brought him to Philadelphia, where Johnson would fight three times at the classic boxing venue The Spectrum in 1976 and 1977.
Seeking bigger career paydays and attempting to make a name for himself, the eventual three-time light heavyweight champ Johnson took on contender Matthew Franklin for the North American light heavyweight title (NABF) on July 26, 1977.
And the blood-lusting boxing gods were pleased.
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Franklin was 15-3-2 (9), while Johnson carried a record of 15-0 (12) into the ring.
A tense staredown set the tone.
The southpaw Johnson took the fight right to Muhammad Franklin, forcing him to clinch in between attempts at getting Johnson's attention with lead right hands. Action evened up about halfway through the round, as Franklin began ripping uppercuts and hooks to the body, mostly whiffing attempted uppercuts upstairs. Both fighters ended the first round strong.
A high pace continued through the second round, both men taking turns whacking at the other, Franklin generally the more effective as he stopped Johnson in his tracks a number of times with clubbing shots. Johnson broke through near the end of the second, cracking Franklin with a few uppercuts and bloodying his nose, despite going backwards for the first time in the fight.
Both fighters weathered heavy punches to give their own in the third round. The momentum shifted a handful of times; Johnson landed uppercuts and hooks walking back, Franklin marched forward in a beastly robotic fashion, landing measured shots, then haymakers.
Neither guy seemed willing to be outdone in the fourth, eating leather, diving in for seconds and then unleashing. Back and forth. Just when it seemed as though Johnson would take over with more uppercuts and big hooks, Franklin roared back, snatching the round with clobbering shots in the final seconds and stinging Johnson.
Franklin darted forward at the beginning of the fifth before allowing the pace to slow down a bit. Johnson attempted to seize control of the bout not long into the round, but was met with hard return fire. Finally Johnson backed Franklin to the ropes, landing a series of hard straight lefts and carrying the momentum to the end of the round.
Again blood flowed freely from Franklin's nose in the sixth, as Johnson guided him about the ring with constant pressure. Johnson's left hand managed to swell Franklin's right eye, though not without eating some stiff counters himself. Johnson wouldn't be denied though, literally leaping in with hooks and uppercuts, seeming to temporarily tame Franklin's aggression.
Johnson wasted no time in the seventh round, ripping hooks to Franklin's ribs and again backing him up around the ring. Franklin seemed to be trying to weather the storm a bit or take a break, not coming fully alive until late in the round, and then only to interrupt Johnson's rhythm with short, softer punches.
Franklin stepped it up in the eighth round, letting his hands go more consistently and rocking Johnson back on his heels early on while backing up. Standing his ground, Franklin did solid work along the ropes, but still took intermittent punishment. Closing the round strong was Franklin, while Johnson took a deep breath before slowly walking to his corner after the bell.
The ninth round brought more smothering in-fighting from Johnson, who landed a few sickening body punches and hooks early. As Franklin began to turn things around, Johnson again landed a 4-punch combination that rocked Franklin backwards. Shortly thereafter (and nearing the end of the round), Franklin bounced some terrible straight rights off Johnson's forehead and temples that had Marvin's legs rubbery.
Greatly diminished was Johnson's head movement in the tenth, and Franklin slammed right hands home as a result. Sensing a way to end the bout, Franklin dialed in with more right hands, though Johnson continued to walk forward. An arm-weary Johnson forced the brawler out of Franklin with about a minute left, as both guys battled back and forth, stopping each other in their tracks repeatedly. Johnson closed strong, with Franklin's right hands barely missing their mark.
Both fighters entered the eleventh for the first time in their respective careers to that point, and Franklin made an early statement with more right hands. Franklin again moved to the ropes, and Johnson happily crowded him with hooks. After about a minute of phone booth scrapping, Franklin let loose with a combination that seemed to wobble Johnson, and he attacked to the end of the round, unable to put Johnson down. A mistake led to Johnson catching a bit of a break, as the referee believed he had hear the bell 10 seconds before the round actually ended.
Franklin smelled blood in the twelfth, going straight at Johnson with zero regard for the sloppy shots thrown back at him. A huge straight right hand caught Johnson and staggered him, and Franklin swarmed his potential kill, propping Johnson's head up with uppercuts and finishing with right hands. An exhausted Marvin Johnson collapsed to the canvas and was left to lay motionless at 1:12 of the final round.
Both men reportedly earned a mere $2500 each for the bout.
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