Kirk Johnson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kirk Johnson |
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| Statistics | ||||||||||||||
| Real name | Kirk Cyron Johnson | |||||||||||||
| Nickname(s) | Bubba | |||||||||||||
| Rated at | Heavyweight | |||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in | |||||||||||||
| Reach | 81 in | |||||||||||||
| Nationality |  Canadian |
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| Born | June 29, 1972 North Preston, Nova Scotia, Canada |
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| Boxing record | ||||||||||||||
| Total fights | 41 | |||||||||||||
| Wins | 37 | |||||||||||||
| Wins by KO | 27 | |||||||||||||
| Losses | 2 | |||||||||||||
| Draws | 1 | |||||||||||||
| No contests | 1 | |||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Kirk Cyron Johnson (born June 29, 1972), also known as "Bubba," is a Canadian former professional boxer. He competed in boxing from 1993 to 2010. Kirk Johnson even fought for a major world title, the WBA heavyweight title, in 2002.
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Kirk Johnson's Early Boxing Days
Before becoming a professional, Kirk Johnson was an amateur boxer. This means he competed in boxing for fun and experience, not for money. He represented his home country, Canada, in big competitions around the world.
Amateur Achievements
Kirk Johnson had a very successful amateur career. He won a gold medal at the Junior World Championships in Puerto Rico in 1989. This was a huge win for him! He also earned a bronze medal at the Trofeo Italia in 1991.
He competed in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. This is a dream for many athletes! He made it to the quarter-finals, which is the round before the semi-finals. His amateur record was impressive, with 76 wins and only 7 losses.
Becoming a Professional Boxer
After his amateur success, Kirk Johnson decided to become a professional boxer. This meant he would now fight for money and aim for world titles. His first professional fight was on April 24, 1993.
Big Fights and Challenges
In 2002, Kirk Johnson got a chance to fight for the WBA Heavyweight Title against John Ruiz. This was a very important fight for him. During the match, Kirk Johnson was disqualified in the tenth round. This happened because the referee said he hit below the belt too many times.
Later, in 2003, Kirk Johnson faced another famous boxer, Vitali Klitschko, in New York. Klitschko was a very strong fighter, and Kirk Johnson lost this match in the second round.
Making a Comeback
After the fight with Klitschko, Kirk Johnson took some time off but then decided to make a comeback. He won several fights, showing his determination. He won against Gilbert Martinez in 2004 and Yanqui Díaz in 2005.
In 2006, he had a fight against Javier Mora. During this fight, Kirk Johnson dislocated his knee, which was a tough injury. However, the result of this fight was later changed to "No Decision" because the injury was accidental.
After a four-year break, Kirk Johnson returned to the ring in 2010. He won his comeback fight against Douglas Robertson in the first round. Kirk Johnson finished his professional boxing career with a great record of 37 wins, 2 losses, 1 draw, and 1 fight that was ruled a "no contest." He had 27 knockout wins!
Community Involvement
Kirk Johnson is not just a boxer; he also cares about his community. In 2003, he started a legal case against the Halifax Regional Police. He claimed that he was stopped by police many times because of his race.
As a result of this case, Kirk Johnson was awarded money for damages and travel expenses. The police service was also ordered to create a scholarship in his name. This scholarship helps students from his hometown, North Preston, go to school. Since 2003, many students have received this award, showing Kirk Johnson's positive impact beyond the boxing ring.
