# Kevin Johnson (boxer)

Kevin Vladimirovich Johnson (born September 7, 1979) is an American-Russian professional boxer. He has challenged once for the WBC heavyweight title in 2009. He holds notable wins over former world champions Bruce Seldon and Yoan Pablo Hernández.

## 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 Timur 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 regarded by some 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 Derek Chisora, but beating Solomon Haumono.
On Saturday May 30, 2015, Johnson lost to undefeated Anthony Joshua by second-round knockout, after having been knocked down twice in the first round. 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.
After three consecutive losses following his Pianeta victory, Johnson recorded his 33rd and 34th wins against Haris Radmilovic, with a pair of third-round technical knockout victories both coming against Radmilovic in December 2018.
Five consecutive losses later, Johnson scored a seventh-round knockout victory against former IBF and The Ring cruiserweight champion Yoan Pablo Hernández on August 22, 2020.
The following year, Johnson returned to the ring on June 5, 2021, to face undefeated Agit Kabayel. Johnson suffered the 18th loss of his career, losing a unanimous decision with scores of 118–111, 118–111, and 119–110.

## Personal life

In 2023 he settled in Samara, Russia, and in January 2024 he was granted Russian citizenship. He also declared that he will use 'Vladimirovich' as his patronymic to honor Vladimir Putin.

## Professional boxing record

| 60 fights | 36 wins | 22 losses |
| By knockout | 20 | 3 |
| By decision | 16 | 19 |
| Draws | 2 | 2 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 60 | Loss | 36–22–2 | Mark Petrovskii | MD | 6 | Aug 18, 2023 | Moscow, Russia | |
| 59 | Win | 36–21–2 | Aydin Yildirim | TKO | 5 (8), 2:58 | Apr 8, 2023 | Rayong Fight Club, Lauingen, Germany | |
| 58 | Draw | 35–21–2 | Andre Bunga | SD | 8 | Sep 24, 2022 | Kickboxen-Team-Xander, Cologne, Germany | |
| 57 | Loss | 35–21–1 | Viktor Vykhryst | PTS | 8 | Aug 27, 2022 | ECB Boxgym, Hamburg, Germany | |
| 56 | Loss | 35–20–1 | Ihor Shevadzutskyi | PTS | 8 | Aug 13, 2022 | ECB Boxgym, Hamburg, Germany | |
| 55 | Loss | 35–19–1 | Ali Eren Demirezen | UD | 8 | May 28, 2022 | Die Bucht, Hamburg, Germany | |
| 54 | Loss | 35–18–1 | Agit Kabayel | UD | 12 | Jun 5, 2021 | Seebühne Elbauenpark, Magdeburg, Germany | For WBA Continental heavyweight title |
| 53 | Win | 35–17–1 | Yoan Pablo Hernández | KO | 7 (8), 2:04 | Aug 22, 2020 | Seebühne Elbauenpark, Magdeburg, Germany | |
| 52 | Loss | 34–17–1 | Mariusz Wach | UD | 10 | Jun 12, 2020 | Palac w Konarach, Konary, Poland | For vacant Republic of Poland International heavyweight title |
| 51 | Loss | 34–16–1 | Martin Bakole | TKO | 5 (8), 0:58 | Oct 19, 2019 | Utilita Arena, Newcastle, England | |
| 50 | Loss | 34–15–1 | Oleksandr Zakhozhyi | UD | 8 | Oct 11, 2019 | Palazzohalle, Karlsruhe, Germany | |
| 49 | Loss | 34–14–1 | Shigabudin Aliev | UD | 10 | Jul 22, 2019 | Red Square, Moscow, Russia | |
| 48 | Loss | 34–13–1 | Nathan Gorman | PTS | 10 | Mar 23, 2019 | Leicester Arena, Leicester, England | |
| 47 | Win | 34–12–1 | Haris Radmilović | TKO | 3 (8), 1:12 | Dec 22, 2018 | Challenge Club Arena, Offenbach, Germany | |
| 46 | Loss | 33–12–1 | Filip Hrgović | UD | 8 | Dec 8, 2018 | Dražen Petrović Basketball Hall, Zagreb, Croatia | |
| 45 | Win | 33–11–1 | Haris Radmilović | TKO | 3 (8), 2:17 | Dec 1, 2018 | Glaspalast, Dessau, Germany | |
| 44 | Loss | 32–11–1 | Daniel Dubois | PTS | 10 | Oct 6, 2018 | Leicester Arena, Leicester, England | |
| 43 | Loss | 32–10–1 | Andy Ruiz Jr. | UD | 10 | Jul 7, 2018 | Save Mart Center, Fresno, California, U.S. | |
| 42 | Loss | 32–9–1 | Petar Milas | TKO | 8 (10), 0:45 | Mar 10, 2018 | Maritim Berghotel, Braunlage, Germany | Lost IBO International heavyweight title |
| 41 | Win | 32–8–1 | Francesco Pianeta | TKO | 7 (10), 2:48 | Oct 14, 2017 | Ballhausforum, Unterschleißheim, Germany | Won IBO International heavyweight title |
| 40 | Win | 31–8–1 | Engin Solmaz | RTD | 2 (6), 3:00 | Aug 26, 2017 | Fitness Club Aiko Steffen, Halberstadt, Germany | |
| 39 | Loss | 30–8–1 | Kubrat Pulev | UD | 12 | Apr 28, 2017 | Arena Armeec, Sofia, Bulgaria | For WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title |
| 38 | Win | 30–7–1 | Terrell Jamal Woods | UD | 6 | Mar 11, 2017 | Metroplex, Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. | |
| 37 | Loss | 29–7–1 | Anthony Joshua | TKO | 2 (10), 1:22 | May 30, 2015 | The O2 Arena, London, England | For WBC International heavyweight title |
| 36 | Loss | 29–6–1 | Manuel Charr | UD | 10 | Apr 12, 2014 | Telekom Dome, Bonn, Germany | |
| 35 | Loss | 29–5–1 | Derek Chisora | UD | 12 | Feb 15, 2014 | Copper Box Arena, London, England | For WBA and WBO International heavyweight titles |
| 34 | Loss | 29–4–1 | Christian Hammer | UD | 10 | Dec 20, 2013 | Messehallen, Hamburg, Germany | |
| 33 | Win | 29–3–1 | Solomon Haumono | KO | 10 (12), 2:53 | Apr 28, 2013 | Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne, Australia | |
| 32 | Loss | 28–3–1 | Tyson Fury | UD | 12 | Dec 1, 2012 | Odyssey Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland | |
| 31 | Loss | 28–2–1 | Tor Hamer | UD | 3 | Jun 20, 2012 | York Hall, London, England | Prizefighter 25: heavyweight final |
| 30 | Win | 28–1–1 | Albert Sosnowski | SD | 3 | Jun 20, 2012 | York Hall, London, England | Prizefighter 25: heavyweight semi-final |
| 29 | Win | 27–1–1 | Noureddine Meddoun | TKO | 1 (3), 2:57 | Jun 20, 2012 | York Hall, London, England | Prizefighter 25: heavyweight quarter-final |
| 28 | Win | 26–1–1 | Alex Leapai | TKO | 9 (12), 2:22 | Apr 1, 2012 | Doomben Racecourse, Brisbane, Australia | Won IBF Australasian heavyweight title |
| 27 | Win | 25–1–1 | Harold Sconiers | TKO | 1 (6), 2:18 | Jun 25, 2011 | Elder Entertainment Center, Decatur, Georgia, U.S. | |
| 26 | Win | 24–1–1 | Julius Long | UD | 8 | Jan 22, 2011 | The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, U.S. | |
| 25 | Win | 23–1–1 | Charles Davis | KO | 4 (8), 2:54 | Oct 29, 2010 | Blake Hotel, Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. | |
| 24 | Loss | 22–1–1 | Vitali Klitschko | UD | 12 | Dec 12, 2009 | PostFinance Arena, Bern, Switzerland | For WBC heavyweight title |
| 23 | Win | 22–0–1 | Devin Vargas | TKO | 6 (10), 2:23 | May 15, 2009 | Broadway by the Bay, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 22 | Win | 21–0–1 | Matthew Greer | TKO | 3 (10), 2:26 | Nov 7, 2008 | Bally's, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 21 | Win | 20–0–1 | Bruce Seldon | TKO | 5 (10), 0:28 | Sep 5, 2008 | Bally's, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 20 | Win | 19–0–1 | Terry Smith | UD | 10 | Apr 18, 2008 | Buffalo Run Casino, Miami, Oklahoma, U.S. | |
| 19 | Win | 18–0–1 | Jermell Barnes | UD | 8 | Dec 5, 2007 | Hard Rock Live, Hollywood, Florida, U.S. | |
| 18 | Win | 17–0–1 | Andrew Greeley | UD | 6 | Nov 9, 2007 | Paradise Theater, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 17 | Win | 16–0–1 | Damian Wills | UD | 10 | Aug 3, 2007 | Far West Rodeo, Doraville, Georgia, U.S. | |
| 16 | Win | 15–0–1 | Ron Guerrero | UD | 8 | Jun 9, 2007 | Convention Center, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. | |
| 15 | Win | 14–0–1 | Curtis Taylor | KO | 1 (6) | Mar 29, 2007 | The Plex, North Charleston, South Carolina, U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 13–0–1 | Charles Davis | UD | 10 | Dec 8, 2006 | Paradise Theater, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 13 | Win | 12–0–1 | Michael Rhodes | UD | 6 | Nov 10, 2006 | Birchwood Manor, Whippany, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 11–0–1 | Demetrice King | UD | 6 | Oct 11, 2006 | Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York, U.S. | |
| 11 | Win | 10–0–1 | Daniel Bispo | UD | 10 | Jun 10, 2006 | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 10 | Win | 9–0–1 | Robert Hawkins | UD | 8 | Mar 31, 2006 | Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 8–0–1 | Robert Kooser | TKO | 1 (6), 1:16 | Jan 27, 2006 | Tropicana Casino & Resort, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 7–0–1 | William Cook | UD | 8 | Jan 8, 2005 | Emerald Queen Casino, Tacoma, Washington, U.S. | |
| 7 | Win | 6–0–1 | Karl Evans | TKO | 1 (6), 1:31 | Nov 6, 2004 | Glendale Arena, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 5–0–1 | Robert Wiggins | UD | 8 | Sep 30, 2004 | Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S. | |
| 5 | Win | 4–0–1 | DeSean Harper | TKO | 4 (6) | Jul 28, 2004 | Orange County Fairgrounds, Middletown, New York, U.S. | |
| 4 | Draw | 3–0–1 | Timur Ibragimov | UD | 4 | Jun 17, 2004 | Harrah's Laughlin, Laughlin, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Elfair McKnight | UD | 4 | Jul 13, 2003 | Cedar Beach, Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | William Bolar | KO | 1 (4) | Apr 24, 2003 | Days Inn, Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Stanford Brisbone | TKO | 4 (4), 2:36 | Feb 13, 2003 | Days Inn, Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |

## Exhibition boxing record

| 1 fight | 1 win | 0 losses |
| By decision | 1 | 0 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Viacheslav Datsik | SD | 3 | Mar 31, 2023 | Dynamo Volleyball Arena, Moscow, Russia | |

## Viewership
### Germany

| Date | Fight | Billing | Viewership (avg.) | Network | Source(s) |
| 12 December 2009 | Vitali Klitschko vs. Kevin Johnson | Klitschko Time | 11,160,000 | RTL Television | |
| | Total viewership | | 11,160,000 | | |