Career
From Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Fleming first found success as an amateur, winning the East of Scotland title in 1919 and the American Bar Association featherweight title in 1920, before turning professional later that year, fighting under the name Johnny Brown. Although lacking a knockout punch, Brown"s speed and skill brought him considerable success. In July 1924 he fought Ted Kid Lewis for the British, Commonwealth, and European welterweight titles at the Royal Albert Hall, Lewis winning on points.
In September 1924 Brown lost his Scottish title to fellow Hamiltonian Tommy Milligan.
In September 1926 Brown regained his Scottish welterweight title by again beating Ireland. Towards the end of his career Brown moved up to middleweight, and fought Steve McCall (who had beaten him at welterweight a year earlier) for the Scottish middleweight title in December 1928.
Brown"s final fight was a defeat to Sandy McKenzie in December 1929. Brown married Jeanetta Winifred Blythe in Glasgow on 29 April 1925.
