Muhammad Ali, the greatest boxer of all time, encountered many formidable opponents during his illustrious career. But there was one man who managed to perplex even Ali: Johnny Coulon, a 76-year-old retired bantamweight champion who stood just 5 feet tall and weighed a mere 110 pounds. Despite his age and size, Coulon had a mysterious ability that left even the strongest of men powerless.
This story is not just about an unlikely encounter between a boxing legend and an old man. It’s about an unexpected challenge that baffled not only Ali but also many heavyweight champions, wrestlers, and weightlifters who faced Coulon throughout his life. What was Coulon’s secret? A trick that became a sensation on the vaudeville circuit and has remained one of the most intriguing and mysterious tales in sports history.
The Unlikely Challenge
Johnny Coulon’s rise to fame as a boxer was impressive, though relatively brief. He won the World Bantamweight Championship in 1908 and retired from the ring in 1914. But it was not his boxing skills that would cement his place in history; it was a remarkable stunt he developed after retiring.
After hanging up his gloves, Coulon became a popular figure on the vaudeville circuit, performing a bizarre trick that no one could quite explain. He would challenge strong men—wrestlers, weightlifters, and even professional boxers—to lift him. At first, the task seemed effortless. A heavyweight would hoist Coulon without breaking a sweat. But then, Coulon would perform a subtle maneuver that would leave the lifter absolutely powerless to lift him, no matter how hard they tried.
The Hidden Move
So, what was Coulon’s trick? How did he go from being an easily-lifted 110-pound man to being completely immovable? The answer lies in a simple yet remarkable technique. Coulon would let the lifter begin their attempt, only to perform a quick, almost imperceptible move. With a precise grip on the lifter’s wrist and a subtle touch near the carotid artery on their neck, Coulon would trigger an extraordinary effect: the lifter could no longer budge him.
This maneuver left even the strongest of men, including Ali, completely baffled. The grip on the wrist, combined with the touch near the neck, created an immediate and stunning loss of strength in the lifter. The result was that no matter how hard they tried, they could not lift Coulon an inch. It wasn’t about weight or strength. It was about control and leverage in a place that most people would never think to look.
What Was the Secret?
While Coulon’s trick was simple in execution, it raised many questions that remain unanswered to this day. Was it a form of leverage? Pressure points? Or perhaps a well-guarded piece of boxing wisdom passed down over the years?
The exact mechanics of the trick remain a mystery, but it’s widely believed that Coulon’s grip on the wrist, coupled with his touch on the carotid artery, disrupted the lifter’s control over their own muscles. The carotid artery plays a crucial role in regulating blood flow to the brain, and even the slightest pressure on it can cause a temporary loss of strength or balance. When combined with the wrist grip, it’s possible that Coulon was exploiting this connection to throw off the lifter’s equilibrium, making it impossible for them to continue the lift.
Some believe it may have been a form of psychological manipulation as well. Coulon’s ability to instill doubt in the lifter’s mind could have led to a mental block, which, in turn, manifested physically. But no matter the explanation, the effect was the same: Coulon remained immovable, even against the might of boxing champions like Muhammad Ali.
A Lasting Legacy
In the end, Johnny Coulon’s trick was more than just a vaudeville act or a curious piece of showmanship. It was a testament to his understanding of the human body, leverage, and perhaps even an early exploration of pressure points in martial arts. While the exact mechanics of the move remain shrouded in mystery, Coulon’s ability to leave even the most powerful men powerless was undeniable. His act became one of the most fascinating and enigmatic stories in the world of sports.
Though Coulon’s career as a boxer ended long ago, his legend endures. His brief but extraordinary act continues to captivate the imagination of sports enthusiasts and martial artists alike, raising questions that may never be fully answered. The story of Johnny Coulon is a reminder that sometimes the greatest feats of strength aren’t just about size or power—but about knowledge, technique, and the ability to use the human body in ways few could ever imagine.
As for Muhammad Ali? Even the “Greatest” was no match for Coulon’s secret trick.