Bermuda’s Olympic pioneer in the boxing ring is remembered as a gentle giant who mentored others in the sport.

Roy Johnson trained at the Pembroke Youth Centre in Hamilton, now the Sammy Wilson Central Zone Community Centre, where he was revered by youngsters — and inspired the likes of top boxing pro Troy Darrell and Olympic medal-winner Clarence Hill.

Mr Johnson’s coaches at the centre included the highly regarded Stanley Trimm.

Mr Johnson went on to compete in the men's light-welterweight category at the 1972 Olympics held in Munich, in what was then West Germany.

Mr Johnson lost in the first round to Anatoly Kamnev representing the Soviet Union.

The Games were marred by the “Munich massacre” when a group of eight Palestinian terrorists broke into the Olympic Village and killed 11 Israeli athletes and coaches.

Mr Johnson’s bid on behalf of Bermuda came four years before Mr Hill became the island’s first Olympic medal-winner, capturing bronze in Montreal. Robert Burgess, a light-heavyweight who was also a stablemate of Mr Johnson and who is since deceased, was the other boxer in Montreal.

Mr Hill called him a good friend with “a beautiful personality — I never saw Roy get mad”.

“We were all together around at the Centre, and I learnt a lot from Roy and the way he used to box,” Mr Hill added.

“He was a good friend of mine. Seeing him fight, Roy gave me inspiration to train harder. If he could do it as a welterweight, I could too as a heavyweight.”

In February 1978, Mr Johnson took on Dave “Boy” Green, the European light-welterweight champion, who delivered a knockout in the fourth round of a ten-rounder at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Mr Johnson continued his professional career in Canada, crafting a record of 12 wins, eight defeats and four draws before retiring at the end of 1981.

Mr Darrell, formerly ranked globally in the top ten of professional middleweights and a Bermuda Sports Hall of Fame boxer, called him a mentor, beginning in the late 1960s.

“The first time I met Roy was at the Pembroke Youth Centre, which is when I fell in love with boxing.

“I would watch Roy every evening.”

Mr Darrell, who enjoyed global fame in the 1980s, said he admired Mr Johnson’s discipline and dedication.

“He was first-class — he took his boxing very seriously. He slapped me around the ring a few times, which made me harder, and I ended up becoming Bermuda’s No 1 boxer as a professional.”

Mr Darrell added that the older boxer came with a gentle side.

“Roy was a really nice guy, and he liked a joke here and there. But when it came to boxing, that’s what he came there to do.”

Mr Darrell used to appear with Mr Johnson, Mr Hill and other leading boxers at the popular Friday night fights at the Bermuda Athletic Association gym.

Branwen Smith-King, the secretary-general of the Bermuda Olympic Association, said the organisation had been saddened to learn of Mr Johnson’s passing.

“We extend our sympathies to his family and friends,” she said. “Roy was a shining star for Bermuda as a premier boxer and more importantly a wonderful person.

“As an Olympian he reached the highest pinnacle of success as an amateur boxer by competing in the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany.

“A true and dedicated sportsman, Roy demonstrated all the qualities of exceptional sportsmanship with dedication to his craft.

“Mr Johnson was a pioneer in the development of excellent boxers who followed his path to become world-class athletes.

“He embraced his role as a leader and inspired so many athletes to pursue dreams of excellence and achievement in sport. Roy Johnson is a true legend, and he will be sorely missed.”

• Roy Wellington Johnson, an Olympic boxer, was born on July 2, 1948. He died in February 2024, aged 75

UPDATE: this story has been amended to include comment from the Bermuda Olympic Association