The Mary Quaile Club is delighted to announce its latest publication, “I am here to meet all comers”; the story of Len Johnson, Manchester Uncrowned Champion Boxer and Communist, written by Michael Herbert.
The book launch will take place on Saturday 24 January 2026, 2pm, in The Lounge, Central Methodist Hall, Oldham Street, Manchester.
This book tells the story of Leonard Benker Johnson (1902 to 1974) born in Clayton, Manchester. His mother Margaret was Manchester Irish; his father Bill was from Sierra Leone who came to Manchester as a seaman in the 1890s on the Elder Dempster shipping line.
Len was one of the most successful middleweight boxers of the 1920s, defeating leading boxers such as Ted Lewis, Roland Todd and Len Harvey.
In 1926 he visited Australia for several months, fighting in eight contests. On 21 February he defeated the British Empire middleweight champion Harry Collins but this title was not recognised outside Australia.
Despite his successes Len was barred by the British Boxing Board of Control from a chance at a British title because he was not white. This ban was only lifted in 1948.
In 1928 he defeated the European middleweight champion Leone Jacovacci in a contest at Belle Vue, Manchester but was not awarded the European title.
After retiring from the ring in 1933 Len toured the country with his boxing booth until 1939. During the Second World War he worked in Civil Defence in Manchester. After the war he worked as a bus driver and then as a lorry driver.
In 1945 he joined the Communist Party and was an active member, speaking at public meetings and standing for the Council in Moss Side on six occasions between 1947 and 1962. He attended the Pan African Congress in Manchester in 1945 and was a co-founder of the New International Society in Moss Side which campaigned against the “colour bar” and racial discrimination at home and abroad in the late 1940s. Len was a friend of the singer and actor Paul Robeson who in 1949 sang at the NIS to a large crowd gathered outside in the street.
Michael Herbert is a historian who live s in Greater Manchester. His previous published work includes; M.A.L The Journalism and Writing of Madeline Alberta Linford; and “Things are not always what they seem” : the writing and politics of Malcolm Hulke. Madeline Linford was the first woman on the editorial board of the Manchester Guardian; Malcolm Hulke was a scriptwriter on The Avengers, Danger Man, Doctor Who and other classic television series in the 1960s and 1970s
More information about the book and the launch can be found here: https://maryquaileclub.wordpress.com/
