Family Grieves Over Amateur Boxer Who Lost Life in Fight

An amateur boxer died Tuesday after being in a coma from injuries sustained at the Toughman Competition in Oklahoma City on Saturday. Nathan Johnson's family said he wasn't a fighter, and that's not why he entered the Toughman event.

Wednesday, February 24th 2010, 10:58 pm

By: News 9


By Colleen Chen, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- An amateur boxer died Tuesday after being in a coma from injuries sustained at the Toughman Competition in Oklahoma City on Saturday. Nathan Johnson's family said he wasn't a fighter, and that's not why he entered the Toughman event.

"He's a competitor. Baseball was number one, but if you were going to bowl with him or play checkers with him, he wanted to win," said Susie Maeder, Johnson's mom.

The Toughman fight was supposed to just be another way 23-year-old Johnson could quench his competitive drive. Johnson had been a star baseball player during his time at Latta High, and a proven leader on the baseball team at Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

"He gave 100 percent, his whole heart, into everything he did," said Matt Hinds, Johnson's teammate.

Family members said Johnson was a strong man of faith and wanted everyone he knew to know the Lord the way he did, and his leadership stretched beyond his faith to his little brother TJ.

"My brother would lead me anywhere, and it was always in a positive way," TJ Johnson, Johnson's brother.

Johnson's fiancé Andrea is expecting a baby girl.

"It's the happiest I've ever seen my son for him to have fallen in love and be expecting a beautiful baby," Maeder said.

Maeder said she plans on telling her granddaughter, "He loved you. He loved your mother. He loved you from the moment he knew you were coming."

On Monday, Johnson's family gathered together in what they called a time of promise between Nathan and his fiancé. A pastor led Andrea McKerley in making the following four promises to Nathan:

1) I promise to love you as long as I live

2) I promise our daughter will know you and will know about you and will know without a doubt that her daddy loved her before she was ever born

3) I promise our daughter will grow up knowing Jesus loves her just like he loved her daddy

4) I promise that I will teach her the knowledge of the Savior that has you in His hands. I love you Nathan.

While the time of promise is not a marriage certificate, Maeder said she considers Andrea her new daughter-in-law.

Johnson's impact continues in death as his organs have been donated to save other lives. His mother has a message for anyone who receives her son's gift.

"You have a little piece of my sweet boy. May he bless your life the way he has blessed our family," Maeder said.

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