Listing 10 opponents of Kevin Johnson who have either won or challenged for a world heavyweight title
- BRUCE SELDON (W RSF 5 – SEPTEMBER 2008)
Johnson was unbeaten in 20 fights when he took on ex-WBA titlist Seldon in Atlantic City. A right hand dropped the veteran to the mat and he was deemed unable to continue by the referee. - VITALI KLITSCHKO (L UD 12 – DECEMBER 2009)
Making his third defence in his second reign as WBC king, Klitschko comprehensively outpointed Johnson in Switzerland to become the first man to defeat the durable American. - ALBERT SOSNOWSKI (W SD 3 – JUNE 2012)
In the semi-final of an international Prizefighter tournament in Bethnal Green, Johnson got the better of former WBC title challenger Sosnowski on the scorecards to secure his spot in the final. - TYSON FURY (L UD 12 – DECEMBER 2012)
Stepping in as a late substitute, Johnson was widely outscored by Fury in a WBC title eliminator in Belfast. Three years later, the larger-than-life Englishman became a unified world champion. - DERECK CHISORA (L UD 12 – FEBRUARY 2014)
Two years after unsuccessfully challenging for the WBC crown, an in-form Chisora welcomed Johnson to Stratford. “Del Boy” recorded a knockdown en route to a comfortable win on the cards. - ANTHONY JOSHUA (L RSF 2 – MAY 2015)
By now fully settled into his role as a sturdy gatekeeper, Johnson suffered his first-ever inside-schedule loss at the hands of Joshua in Greenwich. Just over 10 months after this, “AJ” won his first world title. - KUBRAT PULEV (L UD 12 – APRIL 2017)
Performing in front of his home fans in Bulgaria, Pulev cruised to a wide points success over Johnson. Nearly two-and-a-half years prior to this, the Eastern European challenged for the unified world championship. - FRANCESCO PIANETA (W RSF 7 – OCTOBER 2017)
Johnson’s triumph over local favourite Pianeta in Germany was his first noteworthy victory in close to four-and-a-half years. The previous WBA, IBF and WBO title contestant was finished by a body shot. - ANDY RUIZ JNR (L UD 10 – JULY 2018)
Fresno in California was the venue as Johnson was convincingly defeated over the distance by Ruiz, who would go on to be crowned as a unified world ruler just 11 months later. - MARIUSZ WACH (L UD 10 – JUNE 2020)
An ex-challenger for the unified world title, Wach inflicted a familiar defeat upon Johnson in Poland. Of the New Jersey native’s 17 career losses, 14 have come over the long route.
Read a special interview with the colourful Kevin Johnson here