(INSIDE
BOXING) Former WBC Lightweight Champion Stevie (Lil' But Bad) Johnston (32-1-2,
16 KO's) remains the bridesmaid in the division even though he is widely
regarded as the toughest opponent available.(INSIDE
BOXING) Former WBC Lightweight Champion Stevie (Lil' But Bad) Johnston (32-1-2,
16 KO's) remains the bridesmaid in the division even though he is widely
regarded as the toughest opponent available.
Available seems to be the crucial word as neither IBF Champion Paul (The Pittsburgh Kid) Spadafora (34-0, 15 KO's) nor WBA Champion Julien Lorcy (49-2-2, 29 KO's) want any part of Johnston.
The current WBC Champion Jose Luis Castillo (43-1-4, 40 KO's) has twice beaten Johnston. The first time he scored an impressive unanimous decision dethroning Johnston in California. The second time, in a title defense, he went into Johnston's hometown of Denver, Colorado and retained the title on a controversial scoring error. When the error was corrected, Castillo was given a majority draw allowing him to keep the belt.
The WBA Champion Lorcy is content just being the champion and would surely not risk his newfound championship against a contender such as Johnston. Who Lorcy will fight next is anyone's guess.
The IBF champion Spadafora would prefer to take on the likes of his most recent punching bag, Charles Tschorniawsky, who he toyed with but could not put away. The rumblings have Spadafora waiting for Floyd Mayweather, Jr. to move up in weight to challenge for the IBF title.
This leaves Johnston no choice but to remain active. Waiting until one of the alleged champions decides they want to fight is his current position. Being the number one contender, by all recognized boxing analysts, apparently means nothing.
The Riviera Casino in Blackhawk, Colorado gives Johnston the opportunity to stay active. On September 23rd Johnston will fight unranked Brad Jensen (10-2) in a facility that allows for 400 fight fans to view.
The 28 year old Johnston could care less if he was fighting in front of 400 or 4,000 fans. He just wants to fight! Waiting and being inactive are words Johnston has deleted from his vocabulary.
"The champs don't want to fight", he said. "They know once I get another shot I'll have all three belts. Spadafora has been ducking me for the longest and another fight between Castillo and me seems my best chance. But sooner or later, somebody is gonna take a chance and I'll be ready".
The WBA and IBF lightweight champions are awaiting the opportunity to get that "big payday" and do not venture too far from friendly confines. The risks of fighting a Stevie Johnston are seemingly too great.
The WBC champion, Jose Luis Castillo, has proven to all that he is capable of winning on the road or in his home country of Mexico. The attitude of a true champion is what he does possess.
While Spadafora waits for Floyd Mayweather, Jr. to add a few pounds and Lorcy just waits, the lightweight division is in a sort of limbo. The majority of lightweights are, at best, sparring partners. This leaves the champions to fight one another or take on the best lightweight available.
Until then, Stevie Johnston is left to wonder…and so are we.