Kevin Johnson (boxer)

Kevin Johnson
Statistics
Nickname(s) Kingpin
Rated at Heavyweight
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Reach 82 in (208 cm)
Nationality American
Born (1979-09-07) September 7, 1979
Asbury Park, New Jersey, U.S.
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights 37
Wins 29
Wins by KO 14
Losses 7
Draws 1

Kevin Johnson (born September 7, 1979) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 2003 to 2015, and challenged once for the WBC heavyweight title in 2009.

Amateur career

Johnson started boxing at the age of 18. He was an unheralded amateur with only a 14-2 record but won the New Jersey Golden Gloves, a minor title.

Professional career

He turned pro in 2002. After only three fights the lanky counterpuncher was thrown in with an undefeated Olympian in Timor Ibragimov who had already 13 victories. To the great surprise of the audience he held Ibragimov to a draw. Three fights later in 2004 he handily beat well-known clubfighter Robert Wiggins who was 19-3-1 at the time. After being somewhat inactive in 2005 he had another good win over a clubfighter in Robert Hawkins 2006 against whom he pitched a shutout.

At the end of November 2007 he was 17-0-1 and widely regarded as America's best heavyweight prospect largely to his dominant jab.

On April 18, 2008, at the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Oklahoma, Johnson defeated Terry Smith by unanimous decision. Johnson used his long jab and hand speed to maneuver his way around the aggression of Smith.

Johnson scored the biggest win of his career with a TKO victory over a badly faded Bruce Seldon in September 2008 in Atlantic City.

His last win prior to his title shot was against Devin Vargas on May 15, 2009. Johnson was declared winner by technical knockout after Vargas's corner threw in the towel early in the sixth round.[1]

On 12 December 2009 Johnson took on Vitali Klitschko for the WBC Heavyweight title in Bern, Switzerland. Klitschko was never troubled by Johnson in front of an 18,000-strong crowd in Bern, Switzerland. The previously unbeaten Johnson was unable to land his trademark jab on the 6 ft 7in Vitali, and went on to lose every round of the contest to the Ukrainian. Johnson injured his shoulder 2 weeks prior to the fight.

After the loss to Klitschko, Johnson racked up victories against Charles Davis (19-20-02) and Julius Long (15-14-0) before signing to take place in Eddie Hearn's Prizefighter tournament in the UK.

On Saturday May 30th 2015, Johnson lost by TKO to Anthony Joshua in the 2nd round after being knocked down twice in the 1st. This was Johnson's first stoppage loss.

Retirement

Johnson announced his retirement from boxing after the defeat to Joshua.[2]

Professional boxing record

Professional record summary
37 fights 29 wins 7 losses
By knockout 14 1
By decision 15 6
Draws 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
37 Loss 29–7–1 Anthony Joshua TKO 2 (10), 1:22 May 30, 2015 The O2 Arena, London, England For WBC International heavyweight title
36 Loss 29–6–1 Manuel Charr UD 10 Apr 12, 2014 Telekom Dome, Bonn, Germany
35 Loss 29–5–1 Dereck Chisora UD 12 Feb 16, 2014 Copper Box, London, England For WBA International and WBO International heavyweight titles
34 Loss 29–4–1 Christian Hammer UD 10 Dec 20, 2013 Messehallen, Hamburg, Germany
33 Win 29–3–1 Solomon Haumono KO 10 (12), 2:53 Apr 28, 2013 Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne, Australia
32 Loss 28–3–1 Tyson Fury UD 12 Dec 1, 2012 Odyssey Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland
31 Loss 28–2–1 Tor Hamer UD 3 Jun 20, 2012 York Hall, London, England Prizefighter 25: heavyweight final
30 Win 28–1–1 Albert Sosnowski SD 3 Jun 20, 2012 York Hall, London, England Prizefighter 25: heavyweight semi-final
29 Win 27–1–1 Noureddine Meddoun TKO 1 (3), 2:57 Jun 20, 2012 York Hall, London, England Prizefighter 25: heavyweight quarter-final
28 Win 26–1–1 Alex Leapai TKO 9 (12), 2:22 Apr 1, 2012 Doomben Racecourse, Brisbane, Australia Won IBF Australasian heavyweight title
27 Win 25–1–1 Harold Sconiers TKO 1 (6), 2:18 Jun 25, 2011 Elder Entertainment Center, Decatur, Georgia, U.S.
26 Win 24–1–1 Julius Long UD 8 Jan 22, 2011 The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, U.S.
25 Win 23–1–1 Charles Davis KO 4 (8), 2:54 Oct 29, 2010 Blake Hotel, Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
24 Loss 22–1–1 Vitali Klitschko UD 12 Dec 12, 2009 PostFinance Arena, Bern, Switzerland For WBC heavyweight title
23 Win 22–0–1 Devin Vargas TKO 6 (10), 2:23 May 15, 2009 Broadway by the Bay, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
22 Win 21–0–1 Matthew Greer TKO 3 (10), 2:26 Nov 7, 2008 Bally's, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
21 Win 20–0–1 Bruce Seldon TKO 5 (10), 0:28 Sep 5, 2008 Bally's, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
20 Win 19–0–1 Terry Smith UD 10 Apr 18, 2008 Buffalo Run Casino, Miami, Oklahoma, U.S.
19 Win 18–0–1 Jermell Barnes UD 8 Dec 5, 2007 Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood, Florida, U.S.
18 Win 17–0–1 Andrew Greeley UD 6 Nov 9, 2007 Paradise Theater, New York City, New York, U.S.
17 Win 16–0–1 Damian Wills UD 10 Aug 3, 2007 Far West Rodeo, Doraville, Georgia, U.S.
16 Win 15–0–1 Ron Guerrero UD 8 Jun 9, 2007 Convention Center, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
15 Win 14–0–1 Curtis Taylor KO 1 (6) Mar 29, 2007 The Plex, North Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
14 Win 13–0–1 Charles Davis UD 10 Dec 8, 2006 Paradise Theater, New York City, New York, U.S.
13 Win 12–0–1 Michael Rhodes UD 6 Nov 10, 2006 Birchwood Manor, Whippany, New Jersey, U.S.
12 Win 11–0–1 Demetrice King UD 6 Oct 11, 2006 Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York, U.S.
11 Win 10–0–1 Daniel Bispo UD 10 Jun 10, 2006 Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
10 Win 9–0–1 Robert Hawkins UD 8 Mar 31, 2006 Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S.
9 Win 8–0–1 Robert Kooser TKO 1 (6), 1:16 Jan 27, 2006 Tropicana Casino & Resort, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
8 Win 7–0–1 William Cook UD 8 Jan 8, 2005 Emerald Queen Casino, Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
7 Win 6–0–1 Karl Evans TKO 1 (6), 1:31 Nov 6, 2004 Glendale Arena, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
6 Win 5–0–1 Robert Wiggins UD 8 Sep 30, 2004 Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S.
5 Win 4–0–1 DeSean Harper TKO 4 (6) Jul 28, 2004 Orange County Fairgrounds, Middletown, New York, U.S.
4 Draw 3–0–1 Timur Ibragimov UD 4 Jun 17, 2004 Harrah's, Laughlin, Nevada, U.S.
3 Win 3–0 Elfair McKnight UD 4 Jul 13, 2003 Cedar Beach, Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
2 Win 2–0 William Bolar KO 1 (4) Apr 24, 2003 Days Inn, Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1 Win 1–0 Stanford Brisbone TKO 4 (4), 2:36 Feb 13, 2003 Days Inn, Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S. Professional debut

Titles in boxing

Regional titles
Preceded by
Alex Leapai
IBF Australasian heavyweight champion
April 1, 2012 – June 2012
Vacated
Title discontinued

References

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