Kevin Johnson replaces Travis Kauffman; Facing Julius Long on ‘Redemption’ PPV card:
Former world heavyweight title challenger Kevin “Kingpin” Johnson has replaced an ill Travis Kauffman against dangerous Julius “Towering Inferno” Long (15-14, 13 KOs) in an 8-round bout on Saturday night’s “Redemption In America: The Journey Begins Now” Pay-Per-View event, headlined by living legend, Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield (43-10-2, 28 KOs) defending his World Boxing Federation heavyweight title against challenger Sherman “Tank” Williams (34-11-2, 19 KOs), live from America’s resort — The Greenbrier’s Colonial Hall — in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
“Travis has the flu,” ARK Promotions president Rick Lazes explained. “He’s dehydrated and unable to train. Travis has withdrawn but, fortunately, we were able to replace him with a former world title challenger, Kevin Johnson, who has stepped-up to the challenge of fighting 7’ 1” Julius Long.”
“Redemption,” presented by ARK Promotions in association with The Greenbrier, is being distributed in North American by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 9 PM/ET 6 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay per view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, Avail-TVN and DISH Network in the United States, as well as Viewer’s Choice and Shaw PPV in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.
Johnson (23-1-1, 10 KOs), fighting out of Atlanta, has only suffered one career loss, by a 12-round decision 13 months ago to WBC Heavyweight Champion Vitali Kilitschko in Switzerland. A tough competitor who has never been stopped, Johnson’s most notable victories have been against previously undefeated (17-0) Devin Vargas (WTKO6), former world champion Bruce Seldon (TKO5) and Brazilian Olympian Daniel Bispo (WDEC10).