After a successful amateur
career, Atlantic City-based lightweight prospect Leavander Johnson turned pro
in February of 1989 in Atlantic City, NJ. The highly regarded 135-pounder
remained unbeaten in his first 23 fights between 1989 and 1994, earning a shot
at his first title. He beat Sharmba Mitchell in March of 1994 to capture the
NABF lightweight belt. The win over the highly rated, then-undefeated Mitchell
earned Johnson a crack at his first world title in his next fight. Johnson
travelled to Chihuahua, Mexico to challenge undefeated, long-reigning WBC
lightweight titlist Miguel Angel Gonzalez, who was defending the title for the sixth
time. Gonzalez and Johnson waged war but the unbeaten champion held onto his
title with an eighth round TKO over the game challenger. He would take almost a
year off before mounting a four-fight win streak through 1995 and 1996. This
earned him another world title try against WBA world lightweight champion
Orzubek Nazarov. In a courageous effort, Johnson was TKO’d in round seven as
the Kyrgyzstan-born champion defended the title for the sixth time.
After taking 1998 off and
having just one fight in 1999, (ruled a four-round “no contest”), Johnson
rattled off three wins in 2000. In March of 2001, he picked up the WBC
Continental Americas lightweight title with an eighth round TKO over Ray Minus.
His first defence came three months later against Michael Clark in Atlantic
City. An accidental headbutt - and the resulting cut - led to a fourth round
technical decision win for Clark. Johnson remained undefeated in 2002 in three
fights including a draw with talented gatekeeper Emanuel Augustus and a win for
the USBA lightweight title against contender Julian Wheeler. A year later,
Johnson got his third try at a world title when he lined up to fight Javier
Jauregui for the vacant IBF lightweight title at the famous Olympic Auditorium
in Los Angeles. In a grueling battle, Johnson was stopped in the 11th round. He rebounded four months later with a win over 38-fight veteran Roque
Cassiani. This led to a fourth world title attempt for Johnson, this time
turning out to be the charm. Johnson travelled to Milan, Italy to face Stefano
Zoff for a shot at the vacant IBF lightweight title. Johnson put in a great performance
dropping and stopping Zoff in the seventh round. After all the tough battles,
and four trips to the plate, Johnson finally knocked one out of the park and
was a world champion.
His first title defence came
three months later against former WBC world super featherweight champion Jesus
Chavez. The two champions threw down at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in a
grueling battle. Chavez’s non-stop
attack eventually wore down the brave champion, forcing referee Tony Weeks to
step in near the end of the 11th round and save Johnson from further
punishment.
Sadly, Johnson, a 16-year
pro, collapsed after the fight and was rushed to the hospital. Placed in a
medically-induced coma after emergency brain surgery, he never awoke and passed
away five days after the fight, on this day, September 22, 2005, at age 35. DiBella
Entertainment, Johnson’s promoter, issued a heartfelt statement that summed up
the brave champion after his passing, “If there is any comfort to be taken at
this time of great sorrow, it is that Leavander lived his dream and died a champion
doing what he loved most.” That is exactly how Johnson should be remembered: as
a brave, talented, world champion. Gone too soon, but never forgotten.
Rest in Peace, champ!
