By Eric Edwards – Somewhere in Douglasville,GA at 3:15am an alarm clock rings. Kevin Johnson, the KINGPIN, as he is affectionately known stretches his massive 6’4″ 225lbs. body on his kingsize bed. Still groggy, KINGPIN knows the early bird gets the worm.
Before KINGPIN the boxer’s day starts, Kevin the dad’s day begins. He sneaks into his 8 year old daughter Fatimah’ room to check on her. 3:45am, right on time his babysitter and his promotional manager both arrive. The promotional manager drives his car behind KINGPIN as he begins his 7 mile run.
Back home at 5:30, KINGPIN takes a quick shower, then job #3. “It’s my job to wake up the roosters” jokes the 29 year old undefeated heavyweight. After the roosters get rattled awake, Kevin begins breakfast for his daughter. On this morning, Kevin cooks her favorite waffles with maple syrup. great he thinks, now I’m a chef..
Kevin drives his daughter to school everyday, along with ten other neighborhood kids. Just another job for KINGPIN. Kevin usually talks to Fatimah’s teacher two or three times a week, you know just to make sure his daughter is doing all right.
Today is a slow day for the WBA #5 ranked fighter, he along with his promotional manager John travel to Sports Authority to sign autographs. What was supposed to be a 2 hour signing turned into a seven hour job. A job KINGPIN will do anytime for free. Byron Horn, manager of Sports Authority was shocked by the kindness Johnson displayed. “he went above and beyond what we expected”. Horn added “We had another boxer in here, after two hours he left, Kevin took time for all the people. He is such a great ambassador to the sport”. Great now KINGPIN has to play diplomat, just another job.
Back home KINGPIN turns back into Kevin, the dad. He picks the neighborhood kids up from school, then its back to his house for homework hour. Kevin dedicates one hour a day to help with any homework his daughter, or her friends have.
Then its on to the gym. 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm everyday, monday through sunday. Under the watchful eye of veteran trainers Charles Young and Mark Murdock, Kevin, err KINGPIN hopes to capture one of the elusive Heavyweight Championship belts that have eluded the American scene.
KINGPIN has been accused of being arrogant, a jerk, loudmouthed. Well the loudmouthed arrogant jerk side of KINGPIN was put on display on August 3, 2007. While driving to Far West Rodeo Club for his SHOBOX fight against Damien Wills, Kevin and his sister got lost. None of his team could find him. Numerous phone calls to KINGPIN went unanswered. Then his team received a call-from KINGPIN. His promotion manager was asked to drive back (in rush hour traffic) ten miles to meet Kevin. KINGPIN was on the side of the road parked behind a minivan. John, his promotional manager pulled up and started freaking out. Kevin was changing a lady’s blown tire. KINGPIN could not see someone stranded on a busy Georgia highway. Lo and behold the lady’s husband was a die hard fan of the sweet science. She was trying to get home, so they can go to the sold out fight. Her reason: she wanted to see that jerk Kevin Johnson knocked out.
Kevin and TEAM KINGPIN gave the family a ringside table for the fight. Boy were they surprised when the arrogant loud mouthed jerk they came to boo was the same nice man that risked cutting his hand, getting injured possibly missing the fight. Great another job, Mechanic.
Kevin KINGPIN Johnson has done many jobs, been involved in many blowouts, served as a sparring partner ,cleaner (of the heavyweight division) and ruffled alot of feathers along the way, but one job that Kevin works towards everyday is Heavyweight Champion.
Somewhere in Douglasville Ga at 3:15 am an alarm clock rings……Just another day in the life of KINGPIN.