On November 20, 1999, at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Vaden won the vacant USBA junior middleweight title by knocking out Stephan Johnson in the 10th round. Johnson never regained consciousness and died 15 days later. Johnson had lost by knockout 7 months prior to his fight with Vaden, and it is suspected he might have entered the bout with Vaden with a pre-existing brain injury. Vaden was to retire shortly after the Johnson fight.
