The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

They are in different camps and weight categories, but Taureano ‘Reno’ Johnson and Ryan ‘Big Youth’ McKenzie both produced another successful showing at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York, on Saturday night.

While Johnson improved his middleweight record to 11-0 with a fourth round stoppage over Cleven Ishe of Los Angeles for his eighth knockout and sixth TKO, light heavyweight McKenzie scored a sixth round TKO over Borngood Washington of Queens, the first time he went the distance as he completed his 10th straight victory.

Johnson, the former Olympic sensation, was so impressive that he opened a cut over the left eye of Ishe (3-9) that forced the doctor at ringside to call a halt at 2:23 of round four of a scheduled six. Both fighters stood toe to toe in the first round, each scoring with overhand rights.

Johnson settled down in the second round and started to score to the body and with uppercuts that opened the cut that ended the bout.

“I wasn’t expecting this to go more than the first round, but to my surprise, my research was not as good as it should have been,” Johnson told The Tribune. “This guy was a very durable guy. He could withstand a lot of pressure and punishment. But in the end, I came out on top with the victory.”

After Ishe got cut over his left eye, Johnson said he knew it would only be a matter of time before the bout would be stopped.

“I think my performance stepped up,” he said. “I’ve been working on a few things later and just watching me execute them, I can only say that I’m getting even better and better as I continue to work on a few things. I can give this performance an eight, judging it from one to 10.”

As for McKenzie, his fight came just before Johnson.

McKenzie, who was unavailable for comments, was caught in the first round with his left hand too low for a flash knockdown by Washington. However, McKenzie readjusted and dominated the shorter foe for the next four rounds. In the final stance, McKenzie landed an overhand right that floored Washington who barely made it to his feet.

Referee Charlie Fitch rightly decided he was done and called a halt at 2:36.

Johnson, who now resides in Atlanta, Georgia with his family, said he was delighted to be fighting on the same card with another Bahamian. He said it reminded him of his amateur days when he competed with a team as he watched McKenzie, who now fights out of New York after taking a leave of absence from his job at the Riu Hotel on Paradise Island.

“It brings back that good feeling of a team,” he said. “I know we don’t have the same manager or promoter, but we are from the same country and we’re fighting for the same course, which is to become a world champion. It only makes me feel good that we are fighting for the same course.

“It was a pleasure to have him out there and I was excited to be a Bahamian. Hopefully we can do this again. But it was a proud moment for me.”

Johnson, 28, is scheduled to return to the ring on September 21 when he travels to California for his next fight. His opponent has not been named as yet.

“I’ve said it once and I will say it again. I wouldn’t be in the sport today if I didn’t think I could be the world champion,” Johnson said. “Whether it’s a world champion or a local guy, I’m going in there to win the fight on September 21.”

In the meantime, Johnson said he just wants to continue his quest to win a title before he returns home.

“There’s still a lot of work to be done and I’m still here doing my masters duty,” he said. “I want to become a world champion. I don’t want to come home swinging my hands. I need to bring home some hardware just like the ‘Golden Knights’. Congratulations to those guys and the whole Olympic team.

“I’m very proud of all of them. So I myself would like to bring home some hardware when I return home.”