Leavander Johnson boxer
- bouts
- 42
- won
- 34
- lost
- 5
- draw
- 2
- Status
- inactive
- Division
- lightweight
- Debut
- 1989-02-14
- Height
- 5′ 9″/175cm
- Reach
- 70″/178cm
- Age
- 35
- Born
- 1969-12-24
- Death
- 2005-09-22
- Nationality
- USA
Leavander Johnson (December 24, 1969 – September 22, 2005) was an American lightweight boxer from Atlantic City, New Jersey, who once held the International Boxing Federation version of the world title. He won the title on June 17, 2005, against the Italian fighter Stefano Zoff, winning after the referee stopped the fight in the seventh round. Johnson lost his first IBF title defense. After walking out of the ring following that fight, he collapsed in the locker room and died of brain injuries several days later.Johnson made his debut as a professional boxer in 1989 following a successful amateur career, during which he fought in over 130 contests. As a professional he quickly built on his reputation as a top prospect by remaining undefeated after his first 22 contests (one of which was drawn). His next fight was against another highly rated youngster, Sharmba Mitchell (who was also undefeated as a professional). Johnson won the fight, earning himself his first world title shot, by knocking his opponent out in the eighth round. The world title fight came on August 6, 1994 against Miguel Ángel González for the WBC Lightweight crown. The fight, which was fought in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, ended with Johnson suffering his first loss as a professional, the fight being stopped in the eighth roundJohnson got his second world title shot in May 1997, this time challenging Orzubek Nazarov for the WBA version of the lightweight world title. Johnson's challenge once again proved unsuccessful as the fight was stopped in the seventh round for his second loss. He did not fight in another world championship fight for six and a half years after this, during which time he lost once more after he was disqualified for headbutting Michael Clark during a contest in Atlantic City. After losing to Javier Jauregui in a fight for the vacant IBF world title in November 2003, he only fought once in the eighteen months after before getting another shot at the IBF crown, against Zoff. Johnson won the fight, in what proved to be the highlight of his career.Johnson defended his title for the first time on September 17, 2005, against Mexican fighter Jesús Chávez. The fight was stopped early in the 11th round after Johnson received a barrage of punches from his opponent. Despite being able to leave the ring under his own momentum, he collapsed in his dressing room shortly afterwards. He was rushed to the hospital and had emergency surgery to correct a subdural hematoma (swelling and bleeding on the brain). Following the surgery, Johnson was placed in a drug-induced coma. Despite initial fears that he would not survive the night even after the surgery, he survived into the next week and was showing some early signs of improvement, but still remained in critical condition. However, his condition stopped improving and on September 22, 2005, it was decided to discontinue efforts to artificially prolong his life. He was pronounced dead at 4:23 p.m. PDT surrounded by his family.Johnson's career record was 34 wins (26 by KO), 5 losses, 2 draws, and 1 no contest.
Date | Opponent | Last Opponents' Results | Place | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2005-09-17 | Jesus Chavez | WWWWLW | MGM Grand, Las Vegas | LOST Technical knockout |
2005-06-17 | Stefano Zoff | LWWWWW | PalaLido, Milan | WIN Technical knockout |
2004-03-27 | Roque Cassiani | LLDLLL | Alltel Arena, Little Rock | WIN Unanimous decision |
2003-11-22 | Javier Jauregui | WLDWWW | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles | LOST Technical knockout |
2002-10-25 | Julian Wheeler | LLWDWW | Foxwoods Resort, Mashantucket | WIN Majority decision |
2002-06-07 | Emanuel Augustus | WWLLWW | Rawhide Arena, Scottsdale | DRAW Split-decision |
2002-02-22 | Jesus Zatarin | DLDLLD | The Roxy, Boston | WIN Unanimous decision |
2001-06-30 | Michael Clark | WWWWLW | Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City | LOST |
2001-03-31 | Ray Minus | WWWWWW | Ballys Park Place Hotel Casino, Atlantic City | WIN Technical knockout |
2000-12-08 | Sean Fletcher | WWWLLW | Ballys Park Place Hotel Casino, Atlantic City | WIN Technical knockout |
2000-07-15 | Larry O'Shields | WLDLLW | Grand Casino, Biloxi | WIN Technical knockout |
2000-04-01 | Juan Polo Perez | LLWWWD | Ballys Park Place Hotel Casino, Atlantic City | WIN Technical knockout |
1999-07-24 | Dominick Monaco | LLLLLL | Shore Sports Arena, South Toms River | NC |
1997-05-10 | Orzubek Nazarov | WWWWWW | Convention Center, Coconut Grove | LOST Technical knockout |
1996-05-18 | Jose Luis Madrid | LWLLLL | Mirage Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas | WIN Technical knockout |
1996-02-10 | Jose Manjarrez | LLDWWL | MGM Grand, Las Vegas | WIN Unanimous decision |
1996-01-13 | Francisco Valdez | LWLWLL | Jai Alai Fronton, Miami | WIN Technical knockout |
1995-07-29 | Fabian Hector Tejeda | WWWWLW | United Center, Chicago | WIN Technical knockout |
1994-08-06 | Miguel Angel Gonzalez | WWWWWW | Plaza de Toros, Ciudad Juarez | LOST Technical knockout |
1994-03-18 | Sharmba Mitchell | WWWWWW | MGM Grand, Las Vegas | WIN KO |
1994-02-19 | Clifford Hicks | LLLLLL | Coliseum, Charlotte | WIN Technical knockout |
1993-12-15 | Mike Moreno | LLLLLW | Aladdin Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas | WIN Corner retirement |
1993-09-10 | Bobby Brewer | LLWLWL | Alamodome, San Antonio | WIN Technical knockout |
1993-04-23 | Rafael Meran | LLWWLL | The Pyramid, Memphis | WIN KO |
1992-11-07 | Frankie Mitchell | LWWWWL | Caesars Tahoe, Stateline | WIN Technical knockout |
1992-06-26 | Floyd Favors | WWWLWL | Cleveland State Convocation Centre, Cleveland | WIN KO |
1992-02-08 | Anthony Suggs | LWWWWW | Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City | WIN Technical knockout |
1991-09-25 | Edwin Ruiz | WLWLLD | Waterloo Village, Stanhope | WIN Technical knockout |
1991-08-02 | Greg Cadiz | LLLLWD | Quality Inn Hotel, Newark | WIN Technical knockout |
1991-05-31 | Pedro Vizcaino | LLLLLL | Kerhonkson | WIN Technical knockout |
1991-04-20 | Robert Hightower | WWWWLW | Caesars Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City | WIN Technical knockout |
1991-01-19 | Luis Castillo | LLWLLL | Convention Center, Atlantic City | WIN Technical knockout |
1990-07-24 | Johnny Glen Alvarado | LWLLLL | Trump Plaza Hotel, Atlantic City | WIN Technical knockout |
1990-04-28 | Cesar Castro | LLLWLW | Taj Majal Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City | WIN Technical knockout |
1990-02-18 | Edwin Diaz | WWWLWL | Resorts International, Atlantic City | WIN Technical knockout |
1990-02-01 | Joe Wallace | WDWW | Trump Plaza Hotel, Atlantic City | WIN Unanimous decision |
1989-12-19 | Angel Gomez | WWWWWL | Caesars Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City | WIN Unanimous decision |
1989-10-20 | Alberto Diaz | WW | Resorts International, Atlantic City | WIN Unanimous decision |
1989-09-12 | Wilfredo Rivera | WWWWWW | Showboat Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City | DRAW Points |
1989-07-11 | Lyndon Walker | W | Showboat Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City | WIN Unanimous decision |
1989-05-09 | Joe Brown | WLLL | Resorts International, Atlantic City | WIN KO |
1989-02-14 | Jesus Rodriguez | debut | Showboat Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City | WIN Technical knockout |