Johnny Kalbhenn

Johnny Kalbhenn was born in Kitchener but his family moved to New Hamburg where he attended Waterloo-Oxford District Secondary School. Kalbhenn started boxing at the age of six at the Dorion Boxing Club, winning his first provincial title in 1971 and reigning as the provincial champion from 1971 to 1977.

In 1978 he moved to the Waterloo Regional Police Boxing Club winning Golden Gloves Tournaments in 1979 and 1980. In 1981, Kalbhenn won his first national title and began representing Canada at international competitions including the Commonwealth Games.

Kalbhenn was a member of the Canadian team at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles where he finished in ninth place. The same year he won the Boxing Ontario Boxer of the Year award.

Following the Olympics, Kalbhenn retired from amateur status and forged a career in professional boxing, winning Canadian Championships in 1989 (Lightweight Title) and 1990. In 1993 he was inducted into the Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame. Kalbhenn’s amateur record is 140 wins to 18 losses, with 68 knock outs. His professional record is 20 wins to 6 losses and 2 draws, with 8 knock outs.

When Kalbhenn retired as an athlete, he focussed on coaching, achieving national coaching certificates in both boxing and soccer. He coaches at the Cabbagetown Boxing Club in Toronto and has been a spokesperson for KidSport raising funds for disadvantaged children to participate in organized sport.

Kalbhenn has appeared in several movies including Rocky Marciano (1999), Against the Ropes (2004), Cinderella Man (2005), and The Phantom Punch (2008).