Stevie Johnston

Biography

Stevie "Lil' But Bad" Johnston, born September 28, 1972, in Denver, Colorado, emerged as one of the most skilled lightweight champions of the late 1990s. The 5'4½" southpaw compiled an extraordinary amateur record of 260-13 before turning professional in 1993.

Johnston's championship pedigree became evident in 1997 when he captured the WBC lightweight title from Jean Baptiste Mendy via split decision. His first title reign included three successful defences before losing to Cesar Bazan in 1998. Johnston regained the title from Bazan in 1999, embarking on another impressive run with four defences, including victories over Aldo Rios, Angel Manfredy, and Billy Schwer.

In world title fights, Johnston showcased his technical skills, amassing a record of 8-2-1 (1 KO) while going 5-3-1 (1 KO) against former world champions. His victories over notable opponents including James Page, Sharmba Mitchell, and Alejandro Gonzalez were a testament to his boxing prowess.

The turning point in Johnston's career came in 2000 with his loss to Jose Luis Castillo, Ring Magazine's Upset of the Year. Their rematch produced controversy when a scoring correction changed Johnston's majority decision victory to a draw. This marked Johnston's final title opportunity.

His career trajectory changed dramatically after an 11th-round TKO loss to Juan Lazcano in 2003 - his first stoppage defeat. A serious car accident followed, requiring over 100 facial stitches and forcing a two-year hiatus. Johnston's return proved difficult, suffering TKO losses to Vivian Harris (2006) and Rolando Reyes (2007) before his career effectively ended with a devastating knockout by Edner Cherry in 2008.

Johnston's legacy in boxing is a testament to his technical proficiency, championship success, and ability to compete at the highest level across multiple title reigns, despite his relatively small stature for the lightweight division. His contributions to the sport command respect and admiration.