Former two-time WBC lightweight champion Stevie Johnston of Denver is scheduled to defend his IBA title and fight for at least one other belt Aug. 11 at the Pepsi Center.
No opponent has been named, but Johnston’s manager, Jim Rider, has challenged the three top-ranked lightweights in the world, guaranteeing as much as $200,000 to fight Johnston in his native city.
“We want one of the champions to come. That’s our ultimate goal,” Rider said. “We may have to settle, but we’re putting a lot of money out there and possibly more when we announce the TV deal.”
Among the challenged – Mexican Juan Diaz (ranked No. 1), American Julio Diaz (No. 2) and Cuban Joel Casamayor (No. 3) – the closest deal is with Casamayor (34-3-1), the WBC champion.
Rider hopes to forge an agreement with Casamayor’s handlers Monday.
Casamayor, 35, won his title Oct. 7 by default over Diego Corrales. Corrales failed to make weight for the bout, and then lost in a split decision.
Juan Diaz (32-0) is the WBO and WBA champion; Julio Diaz (34-3) owns the IBF belt.
Johnston, 41-4-1 and ranked 38th in the world, easily won his Front Range setup bout May 18 at the Broomfield Event Center. He beat Humberto Toledo in a unanimous decision to help prove his comeback at age 34 is for real.
“I worked my way back into position to fight any of those guys. I’m ready to go,” Johnston said. “It doesn’t matter which one, I just want to fight the best, and eventually unify all of the lightweight titles.”
Rider said a contract with the Pepsi Center has been signed for Aug. 11, and that the main event also would carry the vacant IBO lightweight belt.
This will be Johnston’s second fight at the Pepsi Center. In 2000, Johnston returned the WBC belt to Jose Luis Castillo shortly after being named the 12-round winner. A scoring error was detected and the bout was ruled a draw, keeping the belt in Castillo’s hands.
Johnston, an alcoholic, is 11-2 since that fight. He said he’s been sober the past two years.
Staff writer Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com.
