Brunch Boxing Remembers: Stevie Johnston
- Matthew Brown
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
02/11/2026
Two time WBC lightweight champion Stevie Johnston was one of the finest technicians of his era. Known as “Lil’ But Bad,” the Denver southpaw blended speed, balance, and ring IQ into a style that frustrated elite opponents. At both amateur and professional level, Johnston proved he belonged with the very best.
Slick, clever, and precise, Stevie Johnston could box from the outside or trade in close quarters when required. He shared the ring with elite competition during one of the sport’s deepest lightweight eras.
Johnston turned pro in 1993 and steadily climbed the lightweight ranks. In March 1997 he traveled to Paris to challenge Jean Baptiste Mendy for the WBC Lightweight Title. Johnston edged Mendy by split decision to claim his first world championship. He defended the belt three times before dropping a close decision to Cesar Bazan in 1998.
In 1999, at age 26 and near his peak, Johnston regained the WBC crown by defeating Bazan in a tight rematch. It was a significant moment in his career and one that confirmed his resilience. During this second reign he defended the title four times, including a strong win over Angel Manfredy. He also beat Billy Schwer and continued to press for a unification bout with IBF champion “Sugar” Shane Mosley. The two had met three times as amateurs, with Mosley holding a 2 to 1 edge, but a professional rematch never materialized.
Johnston’s reign ended in 2000 when he faced a relatively unknown Mexican contender named José Luis Castillo. In a rugged and competitive fight, Castillo won by majority decision. Ring Magazine named it the Upset of the Year for 2000, as many believed Johnston was the superior and more established fighter. Only later did the boxing world realize how special Castillo truly was.
A rematch later that year produced one of the strangest endings in title fight history. Johnston was initially announced the winner by majority decision. Minutes later officials discovered that Judge Ken Morita’s scorecard had been totaled incorrectly. What had been read as 115 to 114 for Johnston was actually 114 to 114. The correction changed the outcome to a draw, allowing Castillo to retain the title. It proved to be Johnston’s final opportunity at a major world belt. In a show of sportsmanship, he personally brought the championship belt to Castillo’s dressing room once the error was confirmed.
Johnston rebounded with five straight wins and entered a WBC Lightweight Title Eliminator against Juan Lazcano in 2003 on the Mosley versus Oscar De La Hoya II undercard in Las Vegas. In a shocking result, Lazcano stopped Johnston in the 11th round. It was the first stoppage loss of Johnston’s career and a stunning moment for a fighter long known for his durability.
Later that year Johnston survived a horrific car accident that nearly ended his life. He went through the windshield and required more than 100 stitches in his face. “I’m lucky to be alive, never mind fighting,” he said. The injuries forced him into more than two years of inactivity.
He returned in 2005 and continued his career across both lightweight and junior welterweight. In 2006 he faced former WBA 140 pound champion Vivian Harris. Johnston was dropped twice in the first round and again in the fourth and seventh before losing by seventh round TKO. In 2007 he was stopped by Rolando Reyes.
His final bout came in 2008 against Edner Cherry. In the closing seconds of the tenth and final round, Cherry landed a sharp left jab followed by a right cross that struck Johnston cleanly on the chin. Johnston fell backward, hitting the back of his head on the canvas and remaining unconscious for several minutes after the count. It was a sobering end to a proud career.
Johnston retired with accomplishments that deserve lasting respect. As an amateur he compiled a remarkable 260 and 13 record and won gold at the 1991 Pan Am Games in Cuba. He faced future standouts such as Mosley, Vernon Forrest, and Terron Millett. As a professional he became a two time WBC lightweight champion and also captured the IBO 140 and IBA 135 pound titles later in his career.
Though he never secured the defining showdown with Mosley, “Lil’ But Bad” remains one of the most skilled champions of his generation and a fighter whose craft still earns admiration today.
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