Talking Boxing with GLENCOFFE JOHNSON
"There's more credibility when someone else recognizes you as the best"
by
Coyote Duran
3/2 - Dig this. You're watching the news and you catch this story about some cat or chick that wins the
Lotto or
Powerball or whatever. Well, there's a really hip story behind this particular winning ticket because the cat or chick that won was homeless or unemployed or, at one time, abducted by aliens and experimented on...wait...what was I talking about?
Oh! Oh, yeah! The lottery. Well, every now and then you'll hear about someone winning the lottery who really needs it. In boxing, the analogy is The Ring Magazine World Light Heavyweight Champion Glen Johnson. Not only did Johnson (42-9 with 2 draws and 28 KOs) spend his last dollar to buy a winning ticket against Great Britain's Clinton Woods in a rematch for the IBF Light Heavyweight title vacated by then-WBC titlist Antonio Tarver, he won the strap only to turn around and defend it against former light heavyweight pharoah Roy Jones Jr. in September of 2004. An underdog with oddsmakers, Johnson would prove to be the odds killer in the ring as he flattened Jones in the ninth, punctuating a sentence Antonio Tarver had written less than 4 months earlier when he had knocked out Jones with one punch in the second round to secure The Ring and WBC titles.
But what really spoke to fans was when Tarver and Johnson met in December to decide who was the ruler of the 175 pound weight class, once and for all. This bold move would not go unnoticed by the alphabet gangs for they would soon after throw one big corporate hissy-fit when Tarver and Johnson decided to not defend against their respective mandatories, Paul Briggs and Rico Hoye, but challenge each other for the one true belt that counted........Oh, yeah. There was an IBO belt thrown in there, too, but that's neither here nor there, right?
When all was said and done, the nicest guy in the light heavyweight division, Glen Johnson, arose as the man at the top. It's about time, too. After years of crap decisions and fighting for short pay, the man known as "The Road Warrior" is finally having his day in the sun.
I talked to the champ recently and he filled me in on a potential Johnson-Tarver rematch, why he claimed he wasn't "the best" after defeating Jones and Tarver and why a rematch with Bernard Hopkins might just happen!
Read on, howlers, and find out how and why some nice guys sometimes do finish first.
GLENCOFFE JOHNSON
Coyote Duran: What's shakin' Glen? How's everything goin'?
Glen Johnson: I'm good! Everything is moving along nicely. I can't complain at all.
Coyote Duran: That's wonderful. The first thing I feel that I need to say, and if Antonio Tarver were here, I'd have to say the same thing to him; is thank you for dropping that IBF belt to make a great fight against Antonio Tarver for the fans.
Glen Johnson: Oh, Thank you! Thank you very much.
Coyote Duran: Are you still looking to grant Tarver that rematch?
"Right now, we're waiting for a date from HBO"
Glen Johnson: Yeah, definitely! Right now, we're waiting for a date from HBO.
Coyote Duran: It was just about a year ago that you beat Clinton Woods in the rematch for the vacant IBF belt. Before that, you've been on the receiving end of a lot of lousy decisions. What kept you going when you could've easily and understandably walked away from the sport in disgust?
Glen Johnson: Well, you know, like I said a few times, I may have lost but was never defeated. I can't walk away. I have an ambitionand a drive that was not fulfilled. I have to keep going until those things are met.
Coyote Duran: Sure! After knocking out Roy Jones, you said that you were "not the best." You were "just willing to fight the best." After decisioning Antonio Tarver, you said you "were still looking for 'Mr.Best'." Dude, you are the best in the 175 pound division now. Do you still feel that you're looking for "Mr.Best" and why?
Glen Johnson: Well, I made those statements 'cause, everybody, you know... as soon as they win a fight, somebody sticks a mike in their face. You know , they (say they) are the best in this and that and they haven't fought anybody yet. You know, claiming that you are the best is so played out already. There's more credibility when someone else recognizes you as the best and that's why I say that I'm not claiming to be the best. I'm just willing to fight THE best. If somebody else is out there that people consider as better and they want me to fight him, I'm ready and I'm able. I'm not backing down. A lot of guys, they fight....They have most of their fights that they believe they're going to win. Stacked in their favor. I take on every fight. Whatever. It doesn't matter where. It doesn't matter who and it doesn't matter when. The only thing I'm concerned about is how much (money)? And that's the difference between me and almost everybody else. You know what I mean?
Coyote Duran: Absolutely. I think you've proven that time and time again.
Glen Johnson: Thank you. Thank you very much!
Coyote Duran: I know that you're a family man and that you're a dad like I am. How do your children see their dad now that he's the world champion now?
Glen Johnson: Well, you know, they're enjoying it. They go to school. They hear people talk. You know, we go out and they see people recognizing me and whatever. But you know how kids are! It's fun for them! They're enjoying the moment and I'm happy for that.
Coyote Duran: Good! (Undisputed World Middleweight Champion) Bernard Hopkins has mentioned that he's looking at you as a future opponent. What are your thoughts about this and are you willing to attempt to avenge your loss to him?
Glen Johnson: The only thing I care about is "how much" and "where" and "when".
Coyote Duran: Gotcha.
"If the "dollars sense" is right, the fight is mine"
Glen Johnson: I'm always interested in fighting anyone who wants to fight me. But that's the only thing I'm concerned about. If the "dollars sense" is right, the fight is mine.
Coyote Duran: Now that Roy Jones has been beaten soundly by both you and Antonio Tarver, do you honestly see him returning and would you even give him a chance to reverse things? Is it something he can actually come back from?
Glen Johnson: I don't think there's anything wrong with Roy Jones! I mean, Roy Jones is still Roy Jones. Outside of me, he'll probably go back and do what he did already. I just feel like I have his number. Prior to my fight, everybody looked at him like he was the king. You know, he went up to the heavyweight division and conquered there. He came back down and had the (first) fight with Antonio Tarver which most of everybody who saw that fight believed Roy Jones won it. Going into the next fight, he was winning the first round! He was tattooing Antonio Tarver and he got caught! He got knocked out and that happens. In my fight, from the bell rings, I was in control of the fight. I won almost every round, if not all the rounds and I finally knocked him out. They were two totally different fights. It's not a matter of Roy Jones or if there's something wrong with him. It's a matter of how I fought.
Coyote Duran: Glen, if you could choose only one of your past opponents who has gained a dubious win over you, who would you select to fight in order to avenge a loss that you never found fair?
Glen Johnson: The only guy that I have an interest in fighting that I fought already is Bernard Hopkins. But you said other guys that have wins over me, right?
Coyote Duran: Yeah, fights that really should've gone your way. The ones where everyone thought you got jobbed.
Glen Johnson: Well, you know, none of those guys are important to me no more. You know what I mean? The only guy that I have interest in is Bernard Hopkins. Bernard Hopkins fought a fabulous fight when we fought before. He beat me properly, convincingly and that's the only fight that makes sense to me. It makes "dollars sense" and it also makes the sense of a challenge. And that's what I'm into. I'm into the good fights. I'm into the challenge and I'm into making money. The other fights, I'm not interested in because they won't bring much money and most people already know that I won those fights properly. There's nothing to prove in that.
Coyote Duran: Now that you're at the top of the light heavyweight division, what's left for you to accomplish as "the man"?
Glen Johnson: You know? Money. That's the only thing that I haven't got yet. You know, I've made some money but, you know, compared to a lot of the other fighters, I'm probably the least paid guy so far 'cause I haven't made any money to compare yet. Most of my fights throughout my years are peanuts and then I've had some fights where I've made no money. I'm asking for the fights for the big payday. I need to rack up a few of those and then once I accomplish "dollars sense", I can go into some business of my own and maintain myself and my family. That would be my accomplishment.
Coyote Duran: Dude, that sounds great. Being that you're looking for the money now, if you saw a big money fight in the future that would have you jump up in class from cruiserweight or heavyweight, would you think about that or would you perform better at 175?
Glen Johnson: Well, I definitely believe that 175 is my weight class. Once again, I'm trying to make money and if such a fight presents itself, it would be something I'd think about, seriously.
Coyote Duran: As far as significance, you are, to me, the legitimate world light heavyweight champion with holding The Ring Magazine belt. That is a belt that defines history as opposed to, and this is meant without offense to you, the IBF strap you held. Like all the other sanctioning bodies, that organization is always mired in controversy. How important is it for you to hold that Ring belt now?
Glen Johnson: Well, it means a lot to me. The Ring belt is the belt. And not just in the light heavyweight division. But not all the best champions in each weight class have that belt. The best fighter might have the WBC belt and they might have The Ring Magazine belt as well. The best fighter might have the IBF or the WBO or whatever. The bottom line is, in each weight class, the best fighter always ends up with The Ring Magazine belt.
Coyote Duran: That's absolutely right!
Glen Johnson: I have that. I have to recognize myself.
Coyote Duran: And you don't have to pay one single dime to defend that belt! (Laughs) That's really great!
Glen Johnson: (Laughs) And that's another bonus!
Coyote Duran: Glen, is there anything you'd like to say to your fans or any of your future opponents before I let you go?
"To my fans, I just want them to know that I love them dearly"
Glen Johnson: Yeah, definitely. To my fans, I just want them to know that I love them dearly and I can't do it without them. For those of you who are my fans, bless you! I appreciate your support. And to all my opponents, any of you who might want to fight me, please step up and fight me! I'm here, I'm ready, I'm willing and we can get it going!
Coyote Duran: Thank you for your time, Glen. You're a fantastic and gracious champion. Talking Boxing and all of your fans appreciate that you're finally getting all the rewards you've worked so hard for and we hope the rest of your career is just as prosperous because you deserve it, my friend.
Glen Johnson: Hey, thank you, man! I appreciate your kind words. Be blessed and good luck to you and your family and take the best care you can of them.
Coyote Duran: You too, my good man.
Talking Boxing would like to thank the very gracious and incredibly kind Glen Johnson for his time and talking to us. Major thanks also to my very dear friend, the super-gorgeous Rachel Charles of Goossen-Tutor Promotions for all of her wonderful assistance and help.
Coyote Duran can be reached at coyoteduran@talkingboxing.com
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