Steve Johnson Sr. on the difficulty of building boxers independently

“Why do people criticize fighters attempting to carve out independent paths and facing opponents they consider bums when a big promoter builds fighters the same way?”

It’s a hypothetical that Steve Johnson Sr. pondered as he was discussing his son, junior featherweight Steve Johnson Jr. (2-0, 2 KO), and the steering of his career.

Johnson Jr. was scheduled to fight on Aug. 31 in Oakland, but the bout fell through. His intended opponent, James Mulder (0-2), will now face recent Golden Boy signee Jordan Fuentes on the undercard of Saturday’s Vergil Ortiz Jr.-Serhii Bohachuk headliner at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

Meanwhile, Johnson Jr. has pivoted to a fight in Mexico later this month set for Sept. 28.

Frustration was evident on the elder Johnson’s face when discussing the matter. His 21-year-old son has won a national title with USA Boxing, faced 2024 U.S. Olympian Jahmal Harvey in amateur competition and defeated Olympic nominee Emilio Garcia in lightweight competition. Despite the obvious pedigree of Johnson Jr., major promoters and managers have yet to bite, prompting the father-son duo to return to their Bay Area roots and pursue an independent course – a harsh reality for many post-amateurs.

“These promoters are hesitant to sign young prospects,” Johnson Sr. said. “It’s an economic shift, similar to changes in the housing market.”

The topic raises valid questions. Where is the fairness for fighters who slip through the cracks? How do talented regional competitors who often lack opportunities to prove themselves on larger stages get ahead?

Johnson strives for a consistent standard as he navigates his son’s career, aiming for lucrative opportunities rather than mere break-even fights or bouts that offer no future financial incentive.

But it’s a catch-22. The independent route – which may mean sourcing fights from Mexico, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and beyond – means costs similar to those traveling to USA Boxing national tournaments, Johnson Sr. said.

“It costs as much to move a fighter’s career independently as it does to attend these nationals,” the father said.

After a hiatus following his loss to Adel Mason in 2021, Johnson Jr. returned to the amateurs in 2023, culminating in a defeat to Jeroson Garduward in Pueblo, New Mexico, last September. Johnson faced criticism in his region for planning to fight journeyman Mulder, 30, in an upcoming bout. But with Mulder now slated to face a fighter from a major promoter who trains in Antioch, California, that criticism has waned.

Is it a case of perennial dissatisfaction, or do individuals – either knowingly or unknowingly – favor major promoters? Additionally, very few boxing publications cover regional-level fighters, making it challenging to find exposure through club-level bouts.

“Many amateur boxers leave disheartened because major promoters aren’t calling, often unrelated to the boxer’s ability,” Johnson Sr. said. “They’re hesitant to take chances on prospects anymore. They want to see what you can do, how you promote yourself, your team, who is involved – the whole package.”