Boxer Johnson in Critical State After Brain Surgery

Lightweight boxer Leavander Johnson suffered a serious head injury and underwent brain surgery Saturday night at University Medical Center trauma center after collapsing following his fight against Jesus Chavez in the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The surgery was to relieve pressure caused by a subdural hematoma, said Tony Alamo, a commissioner on the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

Johnson was listed in critical condition in the intensive care unit following surgery performed by Dr. William Smith.

The 35-year-old fighter was severely beaten in the match before it was stopped by referee Tony Weeks 38 seconds into the 11th round of the scheduled 12-rounder. By that point, Chavez had connected on 409 punches to only 148 for Johnson, including 299 power punches.

At the end of the 10th round, ringside physician Margaret Goodman went to Johnson’s corner to check on his condition.

“Basically, he was fine,” Goodman said. “He was alert. I talked to him. There was no change in his neurological condition.”

No attempt to stop the fight was made by Johnson’s corner. His trainer is his father, Bill; his manager is his brother, Craig.

In the 11th round, Johnson, up against the ropes, took a series of unanswered punches from Chavez before Weeks stepped in between the fighters.

“The referee did a great job,” said Alamo in a statement. “We support his stoppage.”

Weeks refused comment.

Goodman again approached Johnson in the ring after the fight.

“It was the same thing [as her examination after the 10th round],” Goodman said. “I asked him if he had a headache or was dizzy and he said, no.”

It was only as Johnson left the ring that it became apparent he had medical problems.

“He started dragging his leg and staggering, “ said William Berliner, another ringside physician who accompanied Johnson to the dressing room.

Johnson, in a state of semi-consciousness, was put in an ambulance with Albert Capanna, a neurosurgeon; Lou DiBella, Johnson’s promoter, and paramedics.

“I squeezed his hand in the ambulance and he opened his eyes and said he had a terrible headache,” DiBella said. “Then he passed out again.”

Johnson is the fourth fighter to suffer a hematoma in Las Vegas this year. Martin Sanchez died after a fight against Rustam Nugaev in July. The other two fighters -- William Abelwyn and Leopoldo Gonzalez -- survived.

In May, Ruben Contreras, fighting in Staples Center, suffered a brain injury in his match against Brian Viloria.

Contreras has since recovered much of his muscle control and mental awareness.

Johnson, whose record fell to 34-5-2 with 26 knockouts, was coming off the biggest win of his career. That was three months ago when he defeated Stefano Zoff in Milan, Italy, on a seventh-round technical knockout to win the International Boxing Federation crown, which had been vacant.

It was the fourth time Johnson, who lives in Atlantic City, N.J., had tried to win a major title. Each of the three previous efforts had ended in defeat. But overall, Johnson had won three of his last four.