DENVER (AP) Former WBC lightweight champion Stevie Johnston will apply the purse from his next fight to child support to stay out of jail.

The 30-year-old Johnston owes $55,000 to the three mothers of four of his children, ages 7 to 11, for back child support.

Prosecutors had sought an 18-month jail sentence during a closed-door, contempt of court hearing Monday in Denver District Court, said Johnston's attorney, Sharon Liko.

"That would've ruined his career," Liko said. "His manager thinks he has a couple of years left, but he hasn't had a big fight since April 20 and he doesn't have any other way of making money."

A bout tentatively scheduled for late September could gross Johnston about $25,000 and net $12,500 after expenses, Liko said.

The boxer was sentenced to a two-month jail term in March after falling behind $136,000 in child support over an 18-month period.

He was released early after he agreed to put his winnings from a fight on April 20 toward child support.

Liko said the hearing will continue Sept. 9 to determine if the order setting child support payments should be vacated.

Johnson, 34-2-1, held the title from March 1997 until June 2000.

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