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From his achievements in the ring, Johnny became a local hero.
“Johnny was the hope for the valleys…We were all proud of him. Everybody from south Wales [was],” said his friend, Jean.
In 1980, Johnny Owen fought defending world champion Mexican Lupe Pintor in Los Angeles for the WBC Bantamweight title.
One hundred people from Merthyr travelled to the States to support him.
He died six weeks later after suffering brain damage from being knocked unconscious during the match.
“Never got over it. Just learned to live with it. Never got over it, ever, none of us will,” said his brother Kelvin Owens.
Johnny’s father travelled to Mexico to meet Lupe Pintor to invite him to unveil his son’s statue in Merthyr, which he attended in 2002.
Lupe Pintor said: “For me Johnny Owen was a hero.”
Legends of Welsh Sport: Johnny Owen – The Matchstick Man is available to watch on BBC iPlayer and BBC One Wales from Tuesday, 21st January at 22:40 GMT and later on demand.
BBC News
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