Boxer Stevie Johnston: Little and Bad

Born in his longtime home of Denver, CO on September 28th, 1972, Stevie Johnston had a storied amateur career that ended with a record of 260-13, and became arguably the best boxer ever produced by the state of Colorado.

In 1989 he met and lost to future Hall of Famer "Sugar" Shane Mosely at the US Amateur Championships. He moved up a division to Light Welterweight the next year, came back to win the US Amateur title, and then went on to win a Silver at the World Championships. In 1991 he got revenge on Mosley at the USA Sports Festival, but lost in the finals to future welterweight beltholder Terron Millett. Johnston then went to the Pan-American Games and won the Gold Medal there. 1992 saw him lose the US Light Welterweight Amateur title to old rival Shane Mosley, then go to the 1992 Olympic Trials to get revenge on Millett, but lose to future Mosley rival and welterweight champion Vernon Forrest both in the trials and the box-offs. Unable to go to the Olympics in such a talent-packed field (Oscar de la Hoya was also on the 1992 team), he turned pro in February 1993 in his hometown of Denver.

The 19 year old Johnston's career path was very different from that of the typical talented novice boxer. In October 1993, and in only his 5th fight, he met 10-1 James Page. Page would later go on to win a 147lbs world title, and had twice the experience, but nevertheless Johnston had enough stuff to eek out an 8 Round Majority Decision. Then in June 1994, the 11-0 Johnston fought 30-1 Sharmba Mitchell, a future 140lbs world champion who had already won and lost the NABF regional belt. Johnston was leading on two scorecards when he stopped Mitchell in the 9th. These two wins would grow in luster as both Mitchell and Page rose to the top of the sport in later years.

Stevie Johnston called himself "Lil' but Bad," and he lived up to that moniker. Johnston stood 5'5" with a 70" reach. That made him short, even for a lightweight, but with competetively long arms. Comparing him to some of the other major lightweights of his time, Angel Manfredy was an inch taller, Jose Luis Castillo three inches taller, and Shane Mosely and Ivan Robinson were both four inches taller. The prime Johnston was a southpaw, fast, tough, smooth boxer with good tool kit, excellent stamina, a solid chin, and average power. He could hit, but was a technician rather than a puncher.

From late 1994 to January 1997, Johnston kept busy by fighting able, but overmatched journeymen and campaigning for a 135lbs title shot. This he received in March 1997 when the 24 year old, 20-0 Johnston met 49-5-2, 34 year old Jean Baptiste Mendy, a Senegalese fighter based in Paris, France. Johnston had already fought and stopped a more talented man in Mitchell, but Mendy was motivated to keep his title, and the crafty veteran held Johnston to a Split Decision. Nevertheless, a win is a win and Johnston walked away with Mendy's WBC Lightweight Title.

Johnston defended his title three times through 1997 and early 1998 before his next major fight with Mexican Cesar Bazan.

Dueling with Bazan

Cesar Bazan was something of a freak at Lightweight, standing an amazing 5'11" tall and wielding a 75" reach. On paper that looks formidable, but to be freakishly tall and make weight leaves a skinny fighter desperately vulnerable on the inside. A man can get far on sheer height and reach, but it takes a truly good boxer to make enough out of those two things to make it to the top. The 31-2-1 Bazan had not lost a fight in almost 4 years, and was good enough to beat Johnston in a Split Decision victory.

Johnston bounced back by knocking out 20-2 journeyman Demetrio Ceballos, and then met Bazan in a rematch in February 1999. "Lil' but Bad" turned the tables on Bazan and then some: despite losing a point for rabbit punching, Johnston still won back his title on a very Split Decision (115-113, 115-113, 114-113).

Now a two-time champion, Johnston did not rest on his laurels. He became the first man to beat then undefeated future trialhorse Aldo Rios of Argentina. Then in August he won a resounding points victory over dangerous conteder Angel Manfredy. He closed 1999 and opened 2000 with wins over journeymen.

Discovering Jose Luis Castillo

In June 2000, Stevie Johnston went to Bell Gardes, CA and got in the ring with 40-4 Jose Luis Castillo. Unlike Bazan, Castillo was not on a lengthy winning streak: his last loss had been a mere two years before. This record concealed just how good Castillo really was, and his ability certainly took Johnston by surprise. In what was The Ring's Upset of the Year, Castillo took Johnston's title by Majority Decision (2 cards for Castillo and one a draw).

The pair met in a rematch 3 months later before Johnston's hometown crowd in Denver. Once again, Johnston proved dangerous in a rematch and improved on his performance, seemingly enough to win the day. Johnston was declared the winner by Majority Decision, but it was soon discovered that one judge's scorecard had been incorrectly tallied, and the actual result was a Draw. Castillo kept the title.

The 28 year old Johnston was now considered by some to be over the hill, as it was still obscure just how good Castillo really was: thus far Castillo's only claim to fame had been beating and then drawing Johnston. Ignoring his critics, Johnston started a comeback and got his next big fight against 32-2-1 Juan Lazcano in September 2003, just weeks shy of Johnston's 31st birthday. This bout was to be an eliminator to determine the #1 contender for the WBC Lightweight Title, and thus the road to Johnston getting a crack at retrieving his belt. Lazcano went to the canvas in the 2nd, but Johnston was sent down in the 1st, 10th, and 11th, and finally knocked out in the 11th. It was a shocking loss for a man who had never before been stopped.

Car Crash

Shortly after the awful loss to Lazcano, Johnston was involved in a car crash and spent the next 2 years recovering. If he was fading before the crash, he was certainly not the same after it. Perhaps drawing inspiration from his amateur days, Johnston started his 2005 comeback at Junior Welterweight, but this time around he was too old and too small. He was beaten up and knocked out by former beltholder Vivian Harris in 2006. In 2007 he dropped a decision to a journeyman, and in 2008 he was knocked out for a third time, only this time by the hard 1-2 of another journeyman, and not a world contender.

42-6-1 with 18 knockouts, Stevie Johnston has yet to retire, although his best days are clearly behind him. He left Denver and now lives in Vero Beach, Florida.

Sources: boxrec.com; personal experience; HBO.com; YouTube fight footage; live fight footage; The RIng