Kevin Johnson (boxer)


Kevin Blue Johnson is an American professional boxer. He has challenged once for the WBC heavyweight title against Vitali Klitschko in 2009. He holds a notable win over former world champion Bruce Seldon.

Amateur career

Johnson started boxing at the age of 18. He was an unheralded amateur with only a 14–2 record but won the New Jersey Golden Gloves.

Professional career

He turned pro in 2002. After only three fights the lanky counterpuncher was thrown in with an undefeated Olympian in Timor Ibragimov, who already had 13 victories. To the great surprise of the audience, Johnson held Ibragimov to a draw. Three fights later in 2004 he handily beat well-known clubfighter Robert Wiggins, who was 19–3–1 at the time. After being somewhat inactive in 2005 he had another good win over a clubfighter in Robert Hawkins 2006 against whom he won a shutout decision. He was widely regarded as America's best heavyweight prospect largely to his dominant jab.
On April 18, 2008, at the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Oklahoma, Johnson defeated Terry Smith by unanimous decision. Johnson used his long jab and hand speed to maneuver his way around the aggression of Smith. Johnson scored the biggest win of his career with a TKO victory over a badly faded Bruce Seldon in September 2008 in Atlantic City. Johnson defeated Devin Vargas on May 15, 2009. Johnson was declared winner by technical knockout after Vargas's corner threw in the towel early in the sixth round. With the win, Johnson earned a shot at the world title.
On 12 December 2009 Johnson took on Vitali Klitschko for the WBC Heavyweight title in Bern, Switzerland. Klitschko was never troubled by Johnson in front of an 18,000-strong crowd. The previously unbeaten Johnson was unable to land his trademark jab on the 6 ft 7in Vitali, and went on to lose every round of the contest to the Ukrainian. Johnson injured his shoulder 2 weeks prior to the fight.
After the loss to Klitschko, Johnson racked up victories against Charles Davis and Julius Long before signing up for in Eddie Hearn's Prizefighter tournament in the UK. Johnson would lose in the final against Tor Hamer. Johnson would settle in a gatekeeper role after the tournament, dropping decisions to Tyson Fury, Christian Hammer, Manuel Charr, and Dereck Chisora, but beating Solomon Haumono.
On Saturday May 30, 2015, Johnson lost by TKO to Anthony Joshua in the 2nd round. Johnson had been knocked down twice in the 1st. This was Johnson's first stoppage loss.
Johnson announced his retirement from boxing after the loss to Joshua.
He returned in 2017 with a points win over journeyman Jamal Woods and later challenged Kubrat Pulev for the WBA Inter-Continental title. Despite being outboxed from the start, he managed to take Pulev 12 rounds. Johnson lost a unanimous decision 120–108, 120–108, and 119–109. On October 14, 2017, Johnson beat Francesco Pianeta via TKO in the seventh round.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
52Loss34–17–1 Mariusz WachUD10Jun 12, 2020Konary, Poland.png" />For vacant Republic of Poland International heavyweight title
51Loss34–16–1 Martin BakoleTKO5, 0:58Oct 19, 2019Utilita Arena, Newcastle, England.png" />
50Loss34–15–1 Oleksandr ZakhozhyiUD8Oct 11, 2019Karlsruhe, Germany.png" />
49Loss34–14–1 Shigabudin AlievUD10Jul 22, 2019Red Square, Moscow, Russia.png" />
48Loss34–13–1 Nathan GormanPTS10Mar 23, 2019Leicester Arena, Leicester, England.png" />
47Win34–12–1 Haris RadmilovicTKO3, 1:12Dec 22, 2018Offenbach, Germany.png" />
46Loss33–12–1 Filip HrgovicUD8Dec 8, 2018Dražen Petrović Basketball Hall, Zagreb, Croatia.png" />
45Win33–11–1 Haris RadmilovicTKO3, 2:17Dec 1, 2018Dessau, Germany.png" />
44Loss32–11–1 Daniel Dubois10Oct 6, 2018
43Loss32–10–1 Andy Ruiz Jr.UD10Jul 7, 2018Save Mart Center, Fresno, California, U.S..png" />
42Loss32–9–1 Petar MilasTKO8, 0:45Mar 10, 2018Braunlage, Germany.png" />Lost IBO International heavyweight title
41Win32–8–1 Francesco PianetaTKO7, 2:48Oct 14, 2017Unterschleißheim, Germany.png" />Won IBO International heavyweight title
40Win31–8–1 Engin Solmaz2, 3:00Aug 26, 2017Halberstadt, Germany.png" />
39Loss30–8–1 Kubrat PulevUD12Apr 28, 2017Arena Armeec, Sofia, Bulgaria.png" />For WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title
38Win30–7–1 Terrell Jamal WoodsUD6Mar 11, 2017Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S..png" />
37Loss29–7–1 Anthony JoshuaTKO2, 1:22May 30, 2015The O2 Arena, London, England.png" />For WBC International heavyweight title
36Loss29–6–1 Manuel CharrUD10Apr 12, 2014Telekom Dome, Bonn, Germany.png" />
35Loss29–5–1 Dereck ChisoraUD12Feb 16, 2014Copper Box Arena, London, England.png" />For WBA International and WBO International heavyweight titles
34Loss29–4–1 Christian HammerUD10Dec 20, 2013Messehallen, Hamburg, Germany.png" />
33Win29–3–1 Solomon HaumonoKO10, 2:53Apr 28, 2013Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne, Australia.png" />
32Loss28–3–1 Tyson FuryUD12Dec 1, 2012Odyssey Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland.png" />
31Loss28–2–1 Tor HamerUD3Jun 20, 2012York Hall, London, England.png" />Prizefighter 25: heavyweight final
30Win28–1–1 Albert Sosnowski3Jun 20, 2012Prizefighter 25: heavyweight semi-final
29Win27–1–1 Noureddine MeddounTKO1, 2:57Jun 20, 2012
28Win26–1–1 Alex LeapaiTKO9, 2:22Apr 1, 2012Doomben Racecourse, Brisbane, Australia.png" />Won IBF Australasian heavyweight title
27Win25–1–1 Harold SconiersTKO1, 2:18Jun 25, 2011Decatur, Georgia, U.S..png" />
26Win24–1–1 Julius LongUD8Jan 22, 2011The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, U.S..png" />
25Win23–1–1 Charles DavisKO4, 2:54Oct 29, 2010Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S..png" />
24Loss22–1–1 Vitali KlitschkoUD12Dec 12, 2009PostFinance Arena, Bern, Switzerland.png" />For WBC heavyweight title
23Win22–0–1 Devin VargasTKO6, 2:23May 15, 2009Broadway by the Bay, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S..png" />
22Win21–0–1 Matthew GreerTKO3, 2:26Nov 7, 2008Bally's, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S..png" />
21Win20–0–1 Bruce SeldonTKO5, 0:28Sep 5, 2008
20Win19–0–1 Terry SmithUD10Apr 18, 2008Miami, Oklahoma, U.S..png" />
19Win18–0–1 Jermell BarnesUD8Dec 5, 2007Hard Rock Live, Hollywood, Florida, U.S..png" />
18Win17–0–1 Andrew GreeleyUD6Nov 9, 2007Paradise Theater, New York City, New York, U.S..png" />
17Win16–0–1 Damian WillsUD10Aug 3, 2007Doraville, Georgia, U.S..png" />
16Win15–0–1 Ron GuerreroUD8Jun 9, 2007Convention Center, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S..png" />
15Win14–0–1 Curtis TaylorKO1 Mar 29, 2007North Charleston, South Carolina, U.S..png" />
14Win13–0–1 Charles DavisUD10Dec 8, 2006New York City, New York, U.S..png" />
13Win12–0–1 Michael RhodesUD6Nov 10, 2006Whippany, New Jersey, U.S..png" />
12Win11–0–1 Demetrice KingUD6Oct 11, 2006Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York, U.S..png" />
11Win10–0–1 Daniel BispoUD10Jun 10, 2006Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S..png" />
10Win9–0–1 Robert HawkinsUD8Mar 31, 2006Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S..png" />
9Win8–0–1 Robert KooserTKO1, 1:16Jan 27, 2006Tropicana Casino & Resort, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S..png" />
8Win7–0–1 William CookUD8Jan 8, 2005Emerald Queen Casino, Tacoma, Washington, U.S..png" />
7Win6–0–1 Karl EvansTKO1, 1:31Nov 6, 2004Glendale Arena, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S..png" />
6Win5–0–1 Robert WigginsUD8Sep 30, 2004
5Win4–0–1 DeSean HarperTKO4 Jul 28, 2004Orange County Fairgrounds, Middletown, New York, U.S..png" />
4Draw3–0–1 Timur Ibragimov4Jun 17, 2004Harrah's Laughlin, Laughlin, Nevada, U.S..png" />
3Win3–0 Elfair McKnight4Jul 13, 2003Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S..png" />
2Win2–0 William Bolar1 Apr 24, 2003Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S..png" />
1Win1–0 Stanford Brisbone4, 2:36Feb 13, 2003