It was a rough road to get to the smooth performance that Delante “Tiger” Johnson recently turned in.

Johnson knocked out Kendo Castaneda on March 29 at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas. It marked his debut as a welterweight after spending much of his professional career at or around junior welterweight. 

Johnson, 15-0 (7 KOs), had a tough start to his career. Though he is undefeated, the 26-year-old from Cleveland, Ohio, had a pair of wins come via split decision and majority decision. 

Beside him is trainer Prenice Brewer, a 37-year-old former boxer who has helped Johnson transition from amateur to professional. 

“He got off to a rough start,” Brewer told BoxingScene. “I feel he was being matched pretty tough.”

Johnson, who competed in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, simply wasn’t looking as spectacular as fellow Olympians like Keyshawn Davis. In a world of immediacy, Johnson slowly began to fall to the back of the room. 

“Just seeing him being consistent and then having a great performance in a new weight class, that was fulfilling for me to see,” Brewer said. “I know he doesn’t say anything, but everyone pays attention to what other people are saying.”

One of the transitions in Johnson’s career is obvious, but one that was hard to change. Johnson was one of the best amateurs in USA Boxing, but he had to adjust to a pro style. Though that seems obvious, it also doesn’t occur overnight. 

Brewer said he keeps Johnson focused and not looking for a knockout, even though some have questioned his power in recent fights. 

“There’s a time and a place for everything,” Brewer said. "We work on boxing the right way, following game plans, breaking people down systematically, and if the opportunity comes to get the knockout, then we will take it, but we are not going to force it.”

Brewer holds a special place for Johnson. The trainer still contacts his peers for advice and guidance as he harnesses the reins for a coaching career. 

“He's the first professional fighter I’m the head trainer for,” Brewer said. “I reach out to BoMac [Brian McIntyre] a lot for advice. Sometimes I reach out to Bozy Ennis, you know, Coach Al [Mitchell] he gives me a lot of games. Brian Schwartz as well, can’t forget about him. I’m just learning along the way as well. One thing I told myself is I would never get to a point where I think I know everything.”

Brewer last fought in 2019 and retired with a record of 21-4-1 (8 KOs). He is the first to tell you that he underachieved as a professional. 

When asked if he has brought more urgency to his coaching career based on some of his failures as a pro, Brewer responded: “I guess you could say there is some truth to that. As a kid, one of my dreams was to make it into the boxing hall of fame. I didn’t fulfill that as a fighter. 

“I got another chance at it with this. That gives me a lot of motivation. I know that I want to be a Hall of Fame trainer,” Brewer said. “Knowing what I could have been, it just makes me apply myself that much more with this chance to reach the same goal.”