by James Slater: Two former world champions who are now well into the veteran stage of their careers fought last night in Jacksonville, North Carolina, with varying degrees of success. Former IBF cruiserweight champion “King” Arthur Williams did okay, out-pointing 5-4-1(5) journeyman Clarence Moore over six rounds to win a unanimous decision of 60-52 on all three judges’ cards. The 43-year-old Williams scored two knockdowns in the 2nd round. “King” Arthur improved his record to 44-15-1(30)..
Former WBC lightweight champion Stevie “Lil’ But Bad” Johnston was not so lucky in his attempts at defying Father Time. Going in against a much better calibre of opposition than Williams, in facing the talented Edner “Cherry Bomb” Cherry, Johnston suffered a quite brutal KO. Decked in the 3rd round, as well as in the 9th, the 35-year-old ex-champ was finally crushed in the 10th round. A big right hand bomb put Johnston down in the 10th, and he stayed down for quite some time. Happily, despite the painful knockout he’d suffered, Stevie seemed fine later. The time of the stoppage was 2 minutes and 34 seconds. Johnston fell to 42-6-1(18). The 25-year-old Cherry improved to 24-5-2(12).
Clearly, the once great lightweight must now retire. And Johnston was an excellent fighter in his prime. Capturing the WBC crown back in March of 1997 with an away win against the Frenchman, Jean-Baptiste Mendy, southpaw Johnston would go on to successfully defend his belt no less than seven times over a period of two reigns. Stevie lost the title to Mexico’s Cesar Bazan in June of ’98, only to avenge his split decision loss eight months later – thus becoming WBC champ for a second time. Eventually, in summer 2000, in what was Ring magazine’s upset of the year, Johnston lost his title to Mexican warrior Jose Luis Castillo, on a majority points verdict. A drawn rematch later, Stevie’s time fighting for recognised world titles was over.
Still soldiering on, right up until last night, Johnston would have a very up and down career. Fighting at both lightweight and light-welterweight, the former champ would lose four times after the Castillo fight. Last night’s KO loss to Cherry marked the fourth stoppage loss of Johnston’s career. He’s still a brave fighter, he still has flashes of his old brilliance, and he is still a big name, but Stevie Johnston simply has to retire after what happened to him last night.
After a career that began way back in 1993, “Lil’ But Bad” has nothing left to prove.