Comatose fighter’s condition improving

Monday, Sept. 19, 2005 | 8:52 a.m.

Lightweight boxer Leavander Johnson remained in a medically induced coma Sunday at University Medical Center's intensive care unit after undergoing emergency brain surgery following his championship fight Saturday night.

Trauma surgeon William Smith, who performed the operation to control bleeding on Johnson's brain and relieve pressure as a result of a subdural hematoma, told the Associated Press that Johnson was improving and "moving in the right direction."

Johnson absorbed a one-sided beating from Jesus Chavez in their IBF title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on the undercard of Marco Antonio Barrera's victory against Robbie Peden.

Chavez landed 409 punches while Johnson landed only 148, according to CompuBox punch statistics, before the fight was stopped in the 11th round, a technical knockout for Chavez.

Shortly after the fight Johnson was taken to the UMC trauma center by ambulance, accompanied by neurosurgeon Al Capanna.

"My prayers go out to Leavander Johnson and his family," said Chavez, who also had a big edge in power punches landed, 299 to 91. "He suffered trauma after the fight, which is unfortunate. We hope he gets well soon and we hope to have him back again."

Of the fight's first 10 rounds, Chavez won all but one round on one judge's scorecard and all but two on the other two judges' cards.

Referee Tony Weeks stepped in and called a halt to the fight 38 seconds into the 11th round after Chavez connected with a barrage of punches, many to Johnson's head.

At the conclusion of the bout, Johnson said only, "I'm all right. ... I'm all right."

Weeks was not permitted to comment, but Dr. Tony Alamo of the Nevada State Athletic Commission said the commission supported the ref's actions.

"Everything was done appropriately," Alamo said. "The referee did a great job. We support him stopping the fight at the time he stopped it."

A ringside physician examined Johnson after the 10th round and reported there was no change in his neurological condition at that time. Johnson, 35, of Atlantic City, was transported to UMC after doctors and paramedics examined him in the dressing room, Alamo said.

"Sugar" Shane Mosley, who beat Jose Luis Cruz in a welterweight co-main event Saturday, said Johnson's injury was a "bad blow" to boxing but that no one was to blame in the unfortunate incident.

"Jesus Chavez did what he had to do to win," Mosley said. "Maybe the ref should have stopped it a little earlier, maybe not. I just wish a speedy recovery for Leavander Johnson."

Oscar De La Hoya, the head of Golden Boy Promotions, which presented the card at the MGM that drew 10,215 fans, said his thoughts were with Johnson.

"We will pray for him," De La Hoya said. "We hope he and his family are doing OK."

Johnson (34-5-2, 26 knockouts) was making the first defense of his IBF belt, which he won by stopping Stefano Zoff in June in Italy.

Johnson is trained and mentored by his father Bill Johnson and managed by his brother Craig.

At a prefight news conference last week, Johnson spoke of his excitement about returning the MGM Grand for the first time since his knockout of Sharmba Mitchell in 1994.