BOXING: INJURED BOXER DIES JOHNSON SUFFERED BRAIN INJURY IN FIGHT.Byline: Robert Morales Staff Writer Boxer Leavander Johnson Leavander Johnson (December 24 1969 – September 22 2005) was an American lightweight boxer. He once held the International Boxing Federation version of the world title. , who Saturday in Las Vegas suffered a brain injury during a fight against Jesus Chavez, has died. Johnson had been hospitalized at University Medical Center in Las Vegas after undergoing surgery to relieve pressure and swelling caused by a subdural hematoma Subdural Hematoma Definition A subdural hematoma is a collection of blood in the space between the outer layer (dura) and middle layers of the covering of the brain (the meninges). . He had a good day Sunday and doctors became optimistic after a noticeable reduction in swelling, but he took a turn for the worst and had to undergo additional surgery Tuesday after the swelling returned. Johnson was pronounced dead at 4:23 p.m. Thursday. He was 34-5-2 with 26 knockouts. Johnson, who was 35, was from Atlantic City, N.J. He was attempting to make the first defense of his International Boxing Federation “IBF” redirects here. For other uses, see IBF (disambiguation). The International Boxing Federation, or IBF, is one of three major organizations recognized by IBHOF which sanction world championship boxing bouts, alongside the WBA, WBC. lightweight title Saturday at MGM MGM in full Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. U.S. corporation and film studio. It was formed when the film distributor Marcus Loew, who bought Metro Pictures in 1920, merged it with the Goldwyn production company in 1924 and with Louis B. Mayer Pictures in 1925. Grand, but he was defeated by Chavez via 11th-round technical knockout after absorbing tremendous punishment to the head throughout the fight. Johnson never went down, but was stopped while being pummeled on the ropes. He said he was ``all right'' afterward, but he began to suffer from a severe headache as he made his way to his dressing room. ``We at DiBella Entertainment are devastated dev·as·tate tr.v. dev·as·tat·ed, dev·as·tat·ing, dev·as·tates 1. To lay waste; destroy. 2. To overwhelm; confound; stun: was devastated by the rude remark. by the loss of our great friend and champion,'' said Johnson's promoter, Lou DiBella. ``Our prayers are with his parents, children, siblings and loved ones. Johnson won the vacant IBF IBF See: International Banking Facility belt with a seventh-round technical knockout of Stefano Zoff last June 17 in Italy in his 16th year as a prize fighter. Reporters who covered the fight questioned several of the events that took place Saturday. Most could not figure out why Johnson was even allowed to go out for the 11th round after having taken so much punishment in the 10th and appearing to have no chance to win. Either the ringside ring·side n. 1. The area or seats immediately outside an arena or ring, as at a prizefight. 2. A place providing a close view of a spectacle. physician, Dr. Margaret Goodman, or Johnson's trainer, his father, Bill, could have asked referee Tony Weeks to stop the fight before the 11th round. Then it seemed Weeks could have stopped the fight six or seven punches before he did in the 11th. Richard Schaefer, CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Golden Boy Promotions Golden Boy Promotions, Inc. is a boxing promotional firm started by former world champion in six weight divisions, Oscar de la Hoya, whose nickname is The Golden Boy. Superstars Bernard Hopkins and Shane Mosley have also joined the firm. , said now is not the time to point fingers. Golden Boy promotes Chavez and was Saturday's lead promoter. ``It is a tragedy for everybody, bigger than anything,'' Schaefer said in nothing more than a whisper. ``A life is gone. He fought in the hospital, but I guess it wasn't supposed to be. All we can do now is pray for him and pray for his family.'' Schaefer spent time with Chavez on Thursday, and described him as being ``in shock'' upon hearing the news. Chavez praised Johnson in a statement released by Golden Boy. ``All of my prayers are with Leavander Johnson and his family in this difficult time,'' Chavez said. ``He was a true warrior with a tremendous heart, and every day I will think of him and say a prayer for him. He will never be forgotten.'' Robert Morales, (626) 962-8811, ext. 2213 robert.morales(at)sgvn.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: JOHNSON |
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