Stevie Johnston

Steven Earl “Stevie” Johnston, known as “Lil’ But Bad,” is an American former world lightweight champion who also competed at light-welterweight. Born in Denver, Colorado, on September 28, 1972, he stood 5ft 4½in, had a reach of 68½in and boxed from the southpaw stance. Johnston completed a 15-year professional career with 42 victories, six defeats and one draw from 49 contests, with 18 wins by knockout. He was twice recognised as World Boxing Council lightweight champion and, at his best in the late 1990s, was one of the division’s most technically accomplished operators.

Johnston arrived in the paid ranks after an extensive amateur education. His reported amateur record was 260-13 and included the 1990 United States light-welterweight championship, a silver medal at the 1990 World Junior Championships in Lima and a gold medal at the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana. He defeated future professional world champion Shane Mosley in the 1991 United States Olympic Festival before losing the final to Terron Millett. Johnston later finished second at the 1992 United States Olympic trials, losing to Vernon Forrest in the final and again in the subsequent box-off. It was a demanding apprenticeship against several men who later became significant professionals.

Johnston made his professional debut at Denver’s McNichols Sports Arena on February 16, 1993, stopping Frank Cordova in the third round. He won his first 24 contests and quickly demonstrated that he was considerably more than an ordinary prospect. An early indication came in June 1994, when he stopped the unbeaten Sharmba Mitchell in nine rounds. Mitchell later became a WBA light-welterweight champion, but Johnston’s sharper punching and superior control settled their meeting. In May 1995, Johnston stopped Howard Grant in nine rounds to win the vacant North American Boxing Federation lightweight championship. Successful defences against Paquito Openo, Jesus Rodriguez and Mark Fernandez carried him towards a world-title opportunity.

That chance came against Jean-Baptiste Mendy at the Halle Georges Carpentier in Paris on March 1, 1997. Johnston travelled to the champion’s home country and won the WBC lightweight title by split decision after 12 rounds. It was a close contest, but the result established Johnston as a world-class lightweight. He successfully defended the championship in Japan against Hiroyuki Sakamoto, again by split decision, and then outpointed Saul Duran and George Scott. Scott entered their February 1998 meeting with only one defeat and was dropped in the eighth round as Johnston retained by wide unanimous decision. Johnston’s first reign ended in June 1998 when Cesar Bazan defeated him by split decision at the Sun Bowl in El Paso. One judge favoured Johnston 116-112, but the other two returned scores of 115-113 for Bazan.

Johnston regained the championship from Bazan in Miami on February 27, 1999, winning another split decision over 12 rounds. His second reign included victories over Aldo Nazareno Rios, Angel Manfredy, Billy Schwer and Julio Alvarez. The Manfredy defence at Foxwoods in August 1999 was one of Johnston’s most assured performances. Manfredy was a prominent television fighter who had defeated Arturo Gatti and Ivan Robinson, but Johnston used his southpaw angles, movement and cleaner straight punching to win a unanimous decision. Three months later he travelled to Wembley Arena and outpointed Britain’s Billy Schwer. Alvarez was stopped in the second round in Denver in March 2000, giving Johnston the 30th victory of his career.

His championship was lost to José Luis Castillo at the Bicycle Club in California on June 17, 2000. Castillo, then comparatively unknown outside Mexico, won a majority decision by scores of 116-111 and 115-113, with the third judge marking the contest even at 114-114. The result was named The Ring magazine’s Upset of the Year, although Castillo’s later achievements confirmed that Johnston had lost to an opponent of exceptional quality rather than an accidental champion. Their rematch in Denver three months later produced one of boxing’s more confused conclusions. Johnston was initially announced as the majority-decision winner, but an error was subsequently found in judge Ken Morita’s addition. His card, first given as 115-114 for Johnston, should have been 114-114. The corrected result was a majority draw, allowing Castillo to retain the title. Johnston never again challenged for one of the principal world championships.

Johnston continued to operate near the top of the lightweight rankings, defeating former world champion Alejandro Gonzalez by majority decision in 2002. His position was seriously damaged in September 2003 when Juan Lazcano stopped him in the 11th round of a WBC eliminator at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. It was the first stoppage defeat of Johnston’s career. Later that year he suffered severe injuries in a road accident, reportedly going through a windscreen and requiring more than 100 stitches to his face. The injuries kept him out of the ring for more than two years. He returned in October 2005 and won four consecutive contests, collecting the NABC light-welterweight and IBO super-lightweight titles, but was stopped in seven rounds by former WBA champion Vivian Harris in July 2006 after being knocked down repeatedly.

There were still occasional successes. Johnston won the vacant IBA lightweight championship by defeating Tyron Harris in January 2007 and retained it against Humberto Toledo. Rolando Reyes then forced him to retire after the tenth round in October 2007. Johnston’s final appearance came against Edner Cherry at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, on May 21, 2008. With the ten-round contest nearing its conclusion, Cherry knocked him unconscious with a right hand at 2:34 of the final round. Johnston did not box professionally again. His final record stood at 42-6-1, including 18 stoppage victories and four defeats inside the distance.

Johnston’s strengths were speed of thought, balance, accuracy and his command of range. He was not a heavy knockout puncher, but he could place quick combinations from the southpaw position and make opponents pay for following him without proper footwork. His career was defined principally by the two WBC lightweight reigns between 1997 and 2000, his victories over Mendy, Bazan, Manfredy and Schwer, and the two closely contested meetings with Castillo. Reliable published information concerning his employment, family life or continued involvement in boxing after retirement is limited, and no firm claims should be made beyond the documented record of his fighting career.