By Jake Donovan

Anxious to get in the thick of things in a reloaded middleweight division, Tureano Johnson opted to make several career moves. The biggest among them was his signing with Oscar de la Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions, the two sides formally announced on Thursday.

"At this point in my career, it is important for me to stay focused on my goals which are to fight, to provide for my family, to make my Country proud, but ultimately to do what I was born to do to become a World Champion," Johnson said in a statement through Golden Boy's press office. "I have had many good offers but this decision was made based on my purpose, for I believe boxing is not a sport, it's a lifestyle. 

"For that reason and with a new team trainer, Tyrone Jones, new manager Garcia O Staley Sr. from Titanium Sports and Entertainment, and promoter Golden Boy Promotions, I would say I made a Golden decision, the legacy lives."

Johnson (18-1, 13KOs) has been out of the ring since January, with his name mentioned in a number of potential fights only for none to come to fruition. Needless to say, it has been frustrating times for the middleweight, who came within one win of medaling in the 2008 Beijing Olympics on behalf of his native Bahamas. 

The 31-year old has won four straight since the lone loss of his career, a heartbreaking 10th round stoppage in his thriller with Curtis Stevens last April. Johnson was well in control but got caught late, and fell prey to what many consider to have been a premature stoppage. 

A rematch was sought, but wound up becoming one of several fights that failed to materialize for Johnson. Included among the greatest misses was a desired shot at unbeaten middleweight knockout artist Gennady Golovkin and the possibility of participating in a middleweight eliminator. 

With nothing on the horizon, Johnson and former promoter Gary Shaw agreed to part ways. 

No longer a free agent after Thursday’s formal announcement, Johnson now joins Golden Boy Promotions at a time when the California-based company has its hands in several key events atop the middleweight division. 

Golden Boy represents middleweight titlist David Lemieux, who faces Golovkin on Oct. 17th in a unification bout at Madison Square Garden in New York City. A deal is also expected to be announced shortly for a tentatively slated Nov. 21st showdown between reigning World middleweight king Miguel Cotto and Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, the former super welterweight champion and currently the biggest star in Golden Boy’s revamped stable. 

In addition to co-promoting the two biggest middleweight fights this year, the company will now do its part to put another divisional player into contention. 

"Tureano Johnson has proven himself to be a top contender in the middleweight division," said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “This year, the middleweight division has catapulted itself back into the forefront of boxing with a caliber of talent reminiscent of legendary fighters like Carlos 'Escopeta' Monzon, 'Marvelous' Marvin Haggler and Bernard 'The Alien' Hopkins.

“Johnson has demonstrated his ability to become a champion and with Golden Boy Promotions at his side, he has the opportunity to grow into a top middleweight of this era.”

Golden Boy plans to announce Johnson’s first fight under its promotional banner in the coming weeks.

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox