Can Glen Johnson do a Bernard Hopkins on Carl Froch?
 By John J. Raspanti (May 31, 2011) Doghouse Boxing (Photo © Howard Schatz)
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Bernard Hopkins recent victory over Jean Pascal totally inspired Glen Johnson. Hopkins is four years his elder at 46, while Johnson is a spry and energetic 42. If Hopkins is “the professor” then Johnson is the Willy E. Coyote of the sport.
Johnson faces Carl Froch (27-1, 21 KOs) on June 4 at the historic Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The winner will get unbeaten Andre Ward, in the Super Six Boxing Classic final, sometime in the fall.
Johnson boasts a record of (51-14, 35 KOs) and is fresh off an eighth round stoppage of overrated Allan Green. His nickname of “The Road Warrior” fits Johnson perfectly. In a career spanning eighteen years, he has fought in Michigan, Texas, Illinois, California, Louisiana, Philadelphia and Las Vegas. Johnson has even ventured across the Atlantic on six different occasions.
A seasoned veteran? You think?
In Johnson's 65 fights, he has faced some of the divisions top fighters. He knocked out Roy Jones in 2004 but also lost close decisions to Chad Dawson, Clinton Woods and Antonio Tarver. His professional resume is loaded with grit, experience and grace under fire.
But, can he beat Carl Froch? If you ask Gen Johnson the answer is a resounding yes.
“My advantage is being Glen Johnson. I think I know boxing inside and out. I’m going to go in there confident and use my skills to my potential and you’ll see me come out victorious. Carl Froch is a great fighter and I have no disrespect toward him. This is a business and I’m going in there to win the fight. All the talk and all the other stuff goes out the window. This is for all the marbles so we’re going in there to win the fight”, he replied a few days ago.
Froch respects Johnson but has a totally different mindset entering their fight. His last foray into the squared circle was a dominating victory over Arthur Abraham. Froch, boxing smartly behind a long jab, won an easy decision over the former champion.
“The Cobra's” performance was a surprise to some who had witnessed Froch in previous fights leading with his chin instead of his left. His jabbing kept Abraham off balance all night. Prior to his fight with Abraham, Froch had seen his unbeaten streak end at 26 in a slugfest with Mikkel Kessler. Froch still burns when he ponders that fight.
“As far as I’m concerned, I’m an unbeaten fighter coming into this fight,” Froch said. “I still consider myself unbeaten. That loss (to Kessler) was maybe a little injection, a kick in the ass, whatever you want to call it, to get me back to where I was when I beat Jean Pascal. I come in to this fight very, very confident and strong. The one thing about Glen Johnson is I won’t have to go looking for him. I think I’ll get my vengeance against Glen Johnson. He’s a great fighter and I won’t disrespect him. He knows what he’s doing but I would have rather fought Mikkel Kessler just purely for the revenge.”
So who wins on June 4?
Both fighters enter their June 4 contest supremely confident and in excellent physical condition. Johnson, even at 42 years old, is still hungry. Froch is even hungrier. He burns with a desire to show the naysayer’s what a talented fighter he is.
Johnson will apply pressure throughout with Froch adopting the same game plan he used against Arthur Abraham. He will jab, jab, and jab some more. Froch is two inches taller then Johnson, and nine years younger, which could rear itself at some point.
Johnson will attempt to get under the jab and work Froch’s body. His game plan is get Froch to engage. Froch will counter back with some big shots of his own. His discipline and game plan will be tested, but he should be able to land more punches then Johnson.
Carl Froch by close but unanimous decision over Glen Johnson.
On to the finals we go.
Questions/comments johnboxing1@hotmail.com
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