Boxer with no hands
In the first issue of Fight in December 1946, South Africa’s first boxing magazine the lead story was Fight’s Fighter of the month Johnny Le Roux.
It was reported that Johnny Le Roux who was 25-years-old and quoted as one time light heavyweight amateur champion was trying to make a comeback in the professional ring.
Johnny’s entry into the professional ring all began as a bit of a joke, when former British and Empire heavyweight champion Jack London was scheduled to meet South Africa’s Jack Kukard and for some other reason couldn’t keep the date.
London a 126 fight veteran was known to South African boxing fans as he fought former South African light heavyweight and the then current South African heavyweight champion Nick Wolmarans at the Wembley Stadium in Johannesburg on 24 August 1948, winning on points over ten rounds against Wolmarans who was only having his 14th fight.
Eleven days later London travelled to Durban and outpointed Johnny DeVilliers over ten rounds.
Johnny telephone the promoters to say he would go in against Wolmarans, but did not mean it and had no intention of engaging in the fight even if he was acceptable.
It was just a gag, but there were others who felt that it was more than a gag as trainer Joe Rosella and John Hadiaris got in touch with Le Roux and had him go through with a couple of workouts and decided if the Board of Control approved they had a new fighter on their hands.
They then let Le Roux go through a couple of workouts in the gym and decided if the Board of Control approved they had a new fighter on their hands.
Gloves with special surgical sleeves were designed to keep them on Johnny’s stumps and then he went into training under the watchful eye of former South African welterweight champion Joe Rosella.
Spectators at the gym were amazed at the footwork and speed of Johnny and also his solid sock.
At 180 pounds (81.65 kg) the question was could Le Roux who was born in Benoni on 27 June 1921 take it even though he could dish it out.
LeRoux first became interested in boxing when he twelve years old and rose to become amateur light heavyweight champion of Johannesburg.
When the Second World War came along he ran away from home to join the Imperial Light Horse Regiment and saw action up north.
It was in the famous El Alemein Battle that he lost both hands when a shell exploded and when he returned to Johannesburg at the beginning of 1943 he was minus his hands and subsequently went through two operations to have mechanical hands that would permit him .to use the muscles and tendons in his forearms.
However, both operations failed and when he returned to civil life to work at the municipality boxing was far from his mind.
Even though he was at a disadvantage giving away reach and in his forearms; for they were still intact he was prepared to give to ago.
Despite his disability he enjoyed playing soccer, swimming and boxing.
However, it was never recorded if he took part in an actual fight after spending time in the gym sparring.
The Undisputed 