Delante “Tiger” Johnson, a 2020 U.S. Olympian, will have to wait a little longer for his welterweight debut.
Johnson was set to face Quashawn Toler in an eight-round bout on Friday at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City until a weight issue caused the bout’s cancellation.
Johnson, a 26-year-old from Cleveland, and his team were informed last night that Toler had contacted Top Rank, the event promoter, for the contract weight to be changed. A new deadline was set for Toler’s weight, which he failed to meet, forcing the bout’s cancellation.
For Johnson, 14-0 (6 KOs), who turned professional in 2021, it was an opportunity to showcase his skills in a new weight class. Trained by Prenice Brewer and Ramon Matthews Jnr, Johnson spent camp alongside heavyweight Jared Anderson in Houston. Johnson fought three times in 2024 and most recently competed against Yomar Alamo, winning a unanimous decision.
Toler, a 32-year-old from Cincinnati, sought to right the ship after a two-fight losing streak against contenders Julian Rodriguez and Vlad Panin. Toler, 17-3 (12 KOs), now will have to look for another opportunity to compete on the world stage.
Lucas Ketelle took an unconventional path to boxing, eventually finding his stride in gyms and media. For the past decade, he has hosted the “Lukie Boxing” podcast, filmed training camps for fighters like Arnold Barboza Jnr, Mikey Garcia and Caleb Plant, and worked with top professionals such as Mike Bazzel. Ketelle is also an author of “Inside the Ropes of Boxing,” a guide for young fighters, a writer for ProBox TV, BoxingScene and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Find him on X at @LukieBoxing.
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