Glen Johnson replaces Mikkel Kessler
Boxing fans have been dealt a surprise as veteran Glen Johnson as steps in to replace Mikkel Kessler in the Super Six World Boxing Classic tournament.
It was thought by many that with one group match left, Allan Green would leave making Carl Froch v Arthur Abraham and Andre Ward v Andre Dirrell the semi finals. Instead the 41-year-old Jamaican legend is looking for an Indian summer to his career with a spectacular triumph at the Super Six.
In fact “Road Warrior” becomes the eighth fighter to compete in the Super Six as the organisers get their sums wrong. First Jermaine Taylor pulled out and put his career in a disillusioned state of hiatus, before Kessler was left with no choice but to quit following his eye injury.
It is a bit of a shock because Johnson is typically a light-heavyweight not a super-middleweight and will have to slim down half a stone ahead of a November the 2nd clash with Green as the two subs battle it out.
Everyone who follows boxing knows what Johnson brings to the table. A tough fighter who never shirks a challenge and has been in with all the great and good of his division, with a record of 50-14-2 with 34 KO’s, its clear to see that Johnson is a straight up all action fighter, although this can work against him as his record includes a streak of two wins in nine in fights the late 90s to early 00s.
He boasts the scalps of Roy Jones Jr, Antonio Tarver and Montell Griffin but has racked up defeats to the likes of Bernard Hopkins, Chad Dawson and in August Tavoris Cloud. He has been the Ring fighter of the year and held the IBF title but has also been something of an enigma, losing to fighters he should have beaten, such as Merqui Sosa and Syd Vanderpool.
Johnson may be the victim of his own ambitions as he will literally step up to any challenge and on more than one occasion he has had decisions go against him in controversial circumstances, such as his first bout against Dawson. He has a succinct style, keeping his gloves up high to his face and bearing down on his opponents and boasts a lot of power. However, his 14 defeats, regardless of controversial decisions, tell a tale of a fighter who despite occasional flashes of brilliance hasn’t quite cemented himself at elite level.
At 41, he is no spring chicken and will surely lose some of his power having to slim down to a weight he hasn’t fought at in ten years in such a short space of time. It may be a disappointment to boxing fans, especially as Johnson will pick up Kessler’s points, which makes a bit of a mockery of proceedings.
It would have been slightly better to see some more come in more suited like Lucian Bute or even Kelly Pavlik. Just handing him the points doesn’t seem fair at all and quite frankly the tournament has taken a turn for the worst.
Still if Road Warrior keeps on the right track he may surprise a few people.
Tags: