by Luke Chance
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Johnson has been in with a lot of good fighters in his time as a pro, the likes of Bernard Hopkins, Syd Vanderpool, Thomas Ulrich, Eric Harding, and Julio Cesar Gonzalez to name but a few. Glencoffe has suffered terrible decisions against the likes of British fighter Clinton Woods, Omar Sheika and the highly rated Daniel Judah, who was himself quoted as saying 'I thought I lost', after their summer bout.
The judges may not be any kinder to him when he faces Jones in September. There will be a lot of money in a Jones/Tarver rubber match, and it seems Johnson may need a KO victory to win this fight. Hopefully though the judges will be impartial.
Johnson is a champion, waiting too long to get a belt, and now he has one. I'm willing to bet my mortgage he will fight like a demon to keep it. People may be putting this down as an easy win for Jones, but this is boxing, and there is always room for an upset. Write Glen Johnson off at your peril. I caught up with Glen for a TalkingBoxing.com interview to ask him a few questions about the Jones fight and his career in general.
GLENCOFFE JOHNSON
Luke Chance: So Glen, how did it feel to win the IBF light heavyweight belt, to finally get the credit you deserve after so many hometown decisions have gone against you?
Glen Johnson: Hey you know, it was a beautiful feeling. It made me have belief in me. and it showed that finally all my hard work had paid off, even if it was overdue. It was a wonderful feeling.
Luke Chance: Are you even more prepared and in even better shape for the Jones fight than you were for the Woods fight, knowing that a win here could mean huge money unification fights against the likes of Antonio Tarver?
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Glen Johnson: Oh yeah definitely. I'm prepared for the Roy Jones fight. I was in top shape for the Woods fight, and it will be the same for Jones. I won't say I'll be in better shape, but its all about reaching a plateau. I still have seven weeks. I'm taking my time and training is progressing nicely.
Luke Chance: Knowing that judges, for whatever reason, have scored a lot of your fights in a questionable manner, will you be looking for a stoppage? Especially given Jones' last outing against Antonio Tarver?
Glen Johnson: Well, I'm looking for a win. I know how the judges are, and I've seen what happened with the de la Hoya fight, and now De la Hoya has Hopkins. The Tarver fight is a big fight, and people want to see it. But I'm going for a win, I don't care how I achieve it. I just gotta go out there and do what I gotta do.
Luke Chance: You must be happy to be the champion, instead of people referring to you as an 'opponent' Glen, do you think this will make you fight even better, now you have a belt to defend?
Glen Johnson: Definitely. They try to make me opposition, but I have different hopes and dreams to fulfill. I have to do whatever I need to, to fulfill my dreams and ambitions.
Luke Chance: You have always fought top class fighters including the likes of Bernard Hopkins and Julio Cesar Gonzalez. Are you at all phased by Roy Jones' reputation, or do you think that your experience against so many top class fighters will show through?
Glen Johnson: Roy Jones has fought good fighters and his reputation is good. I don't have anything to say about the guy. He is looked at as one of the worlds best fighters. I mean what can you say against him. But come September 25th, I'm gonna let the world know who I am, and there is going to be another notch, another win, on my record.
Luke Chance: There was a lot of talk about you fighting Joe Calzaghe, obviously he played the injury card. Do you think he was trying to make you pass your training peak, that he maybe had second thoughts about fighting a peak Glen Johnson who had just looked impressive in dominating Clinton Woods twice?
Glen Johnson: There was a lot of talk, but I don't really know what the real deal is, and I think it would make me less of a man to speculate. But now I don't need Calzaghe, the Jones fight is better for me and Calzaghe isn't even on my mind. Now I'm dealing with Roy Jones Jr. and if Calzaghe is about after that then I'll take care of him too.
Luke Chance: It seems you surprise the experts time and again, knocking out Thomas Ulrich, and dominating Clinton Woods for 24 rounds in his own back yard. Are we just beginning to see the best of Glen Johnson?
Glen Johnson: No, I don't think so. I think boxing is something you never master. A lot of fools think they are the greatest, but the day you think you are great is the day you lose. I think every time I step in the ring I continue to learn. I'm here to give the fans what they want, and if I'm not giving the fans what they want. I'll find out what they do want and give it to them then. I only get better every time I step into the ring.
Luke Chance: To date, who has given you the toughest challenge of your professional boxing career?
Glen Johnson: Bernard Hopkins. Without a doubt. He's the only guy I know would beat me. Everyone else was a fight, a battle, I won some rounds they won some rounds. Some of the fights the judges stole off me. But he was the only guy who shut me down, the only time that when I watched the fight back I was unable to score a round to myself.
Luke Chance: There is some talk of Bernard Hopkins maybe coming up to light heavyweight for a blockbuster mega fight after his twenty title defences. Would you fancy a big money rematch?
Glen Johnson: I'll fight anybody. If they weigh in at 175lbs I'll fight. That's always been my way. Anyone. Anytime. Anywhere.
Luke Chance: The division is very lively at the moment, with young fighters like Zsolt Erdei and Rico Hoye, and blemished fighters like Dariusz Michelczewski, who else is on your radar at the moment?
Glen Johnson: The only person on my radar is Roy Jones Jr. When I have finished dealing with this guy, I'll look to the next. I mean best of luck to the up and coming young fighters. I need them to keep me in business. I need guys with big names so I can fight them in the future. But when they get to me I will take care of them
Luke Chance: You often mention after fights that you have a family to support, how far are you driven to success by the need to support them?
Glen Johnson: You know, things are looking good at the moment. Im not complaining and there is a lot of money to be made. But first of all I look after my family. Whatever is left just comes as a bonus to me.
Luke Chance: You have fought with success at Middle, Super Middle and Light Heavy, are you planning to stick at Light Heavy now, or if the money was right and you had the opportunity would you shift weights again?
Glen Johnson: I'm at the top in the light heavyweight division, and I won't leave without a good reason. I want to take charge, to make sure everyone knows that I'm the man. Some guys are talking about going up to heavyweight and this and that, and I have no plans to do that. If an opportunity arises, I will take it, but for now I'm dealing with the light heavyweight division and Roy Jones Jr.
I'd like to thank everyone at Goossen Tutor Promotions, Henry Foster and of course Glen Johnson who kindly granted me the time for this interview. It was a real pleasure to speak to him.
