Golden Boy signs Bahamian boxer Tureano Johnson

The middleweight division is rapidly becoming one of the more interesting weight classes in boxing, with such stars as Gennady Golovkin and Miguel Cotto currently plying their trade at 160-pounds. Golden Boy Promotions has now added another name to that mix, signing WBA International Middleweight and WBC Silver Middleweight champion Tureano Johnson (18-1, 13 KOs) of the Bahamas.

"At this point in my career, it is important for me to stay focused on my goals which are to fight, to provide for my family, to make my Country proud, but ultimately to do what I was born to do to become a World Champion," said Johnson. "I have had many good offers but this decision was made based on my purpose, for I believe boxing is not a sport, it's a lifestyle. For that reason and with a new team trainer, Tyrone Jones, new manager Garcia O Staley Sr. from Titanium Sports and Entertainment, and promoter Golden Boy Promotions, I would say I made a Golden decision, the legacy lives."

Johnson joins a quality stable of middleweight fighters at Golden Boy Promotions, including superstar Canelo Alvarez and IBF Middleweight World Champion David Lemieux. Johnson has shown himself to be a fierce competitor, racking up an impressive 18 victories with only one loss (a controversial tenth round stoppage against Curtis Stevens in 2014).

Johnson, a former 2008 U.S. Olympian who now trains in Georgia, is currently ranked in the top five of middleweight rankings for WBC, WBA, and IBF, and ranked eleventh by the WBO.

"Tureano Johnson has proven himself to be a top contender in the middleweight division," said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. "This year, the middleweight division has catapulted itself back into the forefront of boxing with a caliber of talent reminiscent of legendary fighters like Carlos 'Escopeta' Monzon, 'Marvelous' Marvin Haggler and Bernard 'The Alien' Hopkins. Johnson has demonstrated his ability to become a champion and with Golden Boy Promotions at his side, he has the opportunity to grow into a top middleweight of this era."

Boasting a stellar amateur career of more than 300 fights, Johnson accumulated many accolades early in his career, including the best boxer award at the Caribbean Amateur Boxing Association Championships an impressive four times.

In 2008, Johnson advanced to the quarterfinals on the U.S. Olympic team in Beijing, China. At the age of 26, Johnson made his professional debut in 2010 and quickly amassed 18 wins.

Johnson opened up 2015 with an impressive victory over Alex Theran in January, earning the vacant WBA International Middleweight and vacant WBC Silver Middleweight Titles.

By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com