It’s a long way from North Preston,Nova Scotia to the upper tier of the heavyweight boxing division…But it’s a road that Kirk Johnson travelled, and what a ride it was! Kirk first became interested in boxing as a young boy. He and his dad, Gary, would tape every fight they could find on TV, and they’d watch them for hours and hours. Kirk’s favourite was Sugar Ray Leonard – he loved the fluidity of his movement, and he marvelled at the speed of his hands. Years later, when Kirk was a force in the heavyweight division, you could see the Leonard influence. “He fought like a middleweight,” says Russ Anber, noted Canadian trainer and commentator. “That’s the ultimate compliment you could give to a heavyweight – that he had the skillset, the moves, the speed, and the subtleties that usually you find in the lighter weight classes. Kirk wasn’t just looking to club you with one punch. He was a true boxer.” Former Herald reporter Monty Mosher covered the boxing beat for years. He always marvelled at Johnson’s athleticism. “He had some of the best hands and best feet on a heavyweight I’ve ever seen,” recalls Mosher. “And he was one of the smartest guys in the ring that I ever saw. He could really set up an opponent. A lot of that, I’m sure, came from watching thousands of hours of boxing with his father, Gary.” 

Gary Johnson didn’t know a lot about boxing at first. But when Kirk began to show interest, that all changed. Gary immersed himself in the sport, and even wound up opening his own gym, “The City of Lakes Amateur Boxing Club.” He became Kirk’s first and favourite trainer, and was with him for every fight of his career. “If it wasn’t for my Dad, none of my career would have ever happened,” says Kirk. “He loves me, but whenever I would do something wrong, no matter how much I cried or how much I complained, he would not let me make excuses. If I lost and said, ‘Oh the guy was just a better man,’ he’d say, ‘No, he wasn’t a better man, you just didn’t train the right way. God gave you the talent, you were the one who didn’t work hard enough.’ That honesty is a big part of why he was so valuable to me.”

With his father by his side, Kirk Johnson put together a truly outstanding boxing career. As an amateur, he won 72 of his 78 fights. He won five consecutive Canadian National Amateur titles and the 1989 Junior World Amateur Championship. He represented Canada at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and lost a close quarterfinal fight to the eventual silver medalist. Johnson turned pro in April of 1993. He was undefeated through his first 33 fights and earned a shot at the WBA World Heavyweight Title in July of 2002. Johnson lost that fight by disqualification. At the time the fight was stopped, Johnson had both thrown and landed more punches than his opponent. “Think about that for a second,” says Monty Mosher. “A guy from a small community in Nova Scotia, with the help of his father, works his way through the choppy waters of the heavyweight division. They navigate all of the politics, all of the backroom wheeling and dealing… they play the game the right way and they manage to get to a WBA Championship fight with an undefeated record. That’s incredible, and something to be so proud of.”

“He got there,” adds Russ Anber. “I think we have to remember how crowded the heavyweight division was during Kirk’s time and how he was on the world scene for so many years as a legitimate, bonafide contender to the heavyweight crown. It’s a short list of Canadians who can say that.” Johnson would never fight for the heavyweight title again, but finished his career with a sparkling record of 37 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw. Along the way, he never forgot where he was from, and carved a permanent spot in this province’s Mount Rushmore of boxing.

“In my mind there are three true greats in the history of Nova Scotia boxing,” says Mosher. “Three true greats. George Dixon, Sam Langford, stack them anyway you want, one or two. They’re untouchable and without doubt the two greatest fighters ever to come out of this province. Kirk Johnson’s number three and for me, and there’s any awfully big gap between Kirk and whomever you want to put at number four.” Kirk Johnson was dominant and ferocious when the gloves were on but gentle, humble and gracious when the gloves were off… a combination that many admired then, and many admire still. “He always conducted himself with class and dignity” says Anber. “I think that’s the most important thing we can ask of an athlete, especially one who reached his level. I’ll never forget that about him. And I’ll tell you – the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame, already esteemed, becomes even more so when Kirk is inducted.”

***Kirk Johnson lives is HRM with his wife Stephanie, son Velmari and daughter Kierra. You can still often find him working out and mentoring young boxers at his father’s club.***

Written by Bruce Rainnie