Johnson, nicknamed "Sweet", began his pro career in 1984. His only loss oin the build-up was to a certain Adam George. He rose to fame in a close 1991 loss to James Toney for the IBF Middleweight Title, a fight in which he shockingly knocked the iron-jawed Toney down in the 2nd round.
In 1992 he captured the Vacant WBA Middleweight Title by taking a close decision over Steve Collins. After three defenses, among others vs the undefeated Lamar Parks he lost the belt to fellow southpaw John David Jackson. He failed twice in challenging Argentinan Jorge Fernando Castro for the WBA Middleweight Title, both hotly disputed decisions in Argentina.
He later moved up to Light Heavyweight, and captured the IBF Light Heavyweight Title by knocking out undefeated William Guthrie in the 5th by a rare one-punch knockout , a fight in which Guthrie left the ring on a stretcher. Johnson defended the title twice before getting shut out by Jones in 1999. In 2002 Johnson dropped a close decision to southpaw Antonio Tarver and retired.
He returned in 2005 for one fight. In February 2008 Johnson scored a split decision win over former champion Julio Cesar Gonzalez to capture the IBA light heavyweight title.
Johnson is the cousin of welterweight contender Golden Johnson.
Johnson was indicted on March 18, 2008 for a second degree felony of theft of $120,000. The funds were grant money distributed through the Urban League from the Red Cross to aid children displaced by Hurricanes Rita and Katrina. Johnson, doing business as "Pugilistic Drama, Inc." was supposed to put on a series of camps helping more than 40 children, but the camps never materialized. If convicted, Johnson could face a sentence up to 20 years in prison. Johnson also has prior convictions which one being a felony theft in which the F.B.I. charged him with.
