GLEN JOHNSON: ‘THIS FIGHT ISN’T ABOUT GEORGE GROVES

Don’t let Glencoffe Johnson’s soft lilt or mild manners dissuade you that he is anything other than a hard, hard man.

 

In a career spanning close to 20 years and 70 fights, including 11 for ‘Big Four’ world championships, the Miami based Jamaican has been halted just once – on a cut – 15 years ago.

 

This weekend, ‘The Road Warrior, a one time IBF and IBO world light-heavy champ, docks at London’s ExCel Arena to challenge unbeaten George Groves for Commonwealth super-middleweight spoils, live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Ch. 437/Virgin Ch. 546).

 

And if the mallet-fisted Londoner requires hard rounds before embarking on his inevitable world title assault in 2013, then ‘Johnson appears the ideal foil to oblige him.

 

Shortly after he landed in the UK this week, boxing writer Glynn Evans cornered the amiable, obliging 43 year old to reflect on his life in boxing and assess Saturday’s assignment.

 

You didn’t start boxing until you were 20. What sports did you do before? Do you think you’d have been even more successful if you’d begun even earlier?

Though I played a little bit of soccer and cricket with friends in the neighbourhood back in Jamaica, I was never involved in any organised teams. When I moved to Miami at 14, I did nothing until I picked up boxing at 20. I was working in construction and putting on a little weight so decided to find a gym. I had no aspirations to become a boxer but the boxing gym was free for neighbourhood kids and free suited my budget at the time!

Gradually I improved and got involved in the amateur program for three years. I had 35 wins and five losses, won back to back Florida Golden Gloves championships then went pro.

Yeh, if I’d chanced upon boxing in my mid teens I’d probably have been better. I’d have been able to fight better competition at an earlier stage in the pros. I was still very much in the learning process during my early years as a pro. That said, I’d probably have burnt out earlier and not still be fighting top guys at 43. God work in the way he want you to go through your life. It’s not something I stress about.

 

Remarkably you won your first 32 before running into Bernard Hopkins, then the IBF middleweight king, in July 1997. ‘The Executioner’ became the only man to stop you in your 20 year career and, 15 years on, you still list him as the finest opponent you’ve faced. What made him so difficult to overcome?

I think we were just at two very different stages of our development. Bernard was already very seasoned and really understood boxing whereas I was still learning. To be truthful, I really wasn’t ready. He never knocked me down but I got cut, they took me to the doctor and then waved it off. No complaints.

 

By your own concession, you’re not blessed with the greatest amount of innate talent. What other qualities do you perceive have contributed to your success?

Hard work. It may take more time but if you really want something and you really believe that you can attain it, then it becomes possible. We can’t have everything we ask God for, because it may not be good for us but The Lord helps you in everything and will help carry you through, if He believes that it’s good for you.

It’s true, I’m not a natural. But I always did a lot of strength work at the gym and kept working away at the other bits. Don’t call me an old ‘master. You never master boxing. You can just hope that you get better today than you were yesterday.

 

How do you account for your remarkable durability?

It’s not just about being a tough guy, being physically hard. There’s plenty of Tough Man competitions. I’d like to think that, over the years, over time, I’ve developed into a pretty good fighter. In addition to being rugged, you need to have skills, and know how to use them, to survive.

 

You’re no stranger to the UK having stopped Toks Owoh at the York Hall way back in 2000, then having that epic trilogy with Clinton Woods, all for the IBF light-heavyweight title.  What is your opinion of boxing in the UK?

I really love coming here. It’s a really great place for boxing. The fans are tremendous, really understand their boxing and I never lose sight that it’s those fans that put food on Glen Johnson’s table. The media are also wonderful.

Fans can always support who they want. They’re not obliged to cheer for Glen Johnson and they don’t have to like me. I just focus on myself and do what I can do to be the best person I can possibly be but your fans have always been fair to me.

Throughout my career, I feel I’ve been mistreated by the judges on way too many occasions when I’ve fought against the local fighter. But the UK is the only place where the home fans booed in my favour when I was robbed. (The first Woods fight was controversially called a draw when Glencoffe appeared a clear victor).That stuck out, persuaded me you Brits are decent minded people.

The only think I dislike is your cold weather!

 

Of course you had a very special rivalry with Clinton, drawing, winning then losing to the Sheffield man. What do you recall of that trilogy? Have you hooked up with him since arriving in the UK this trip?

Clinton was a good fighter and a tough, tough guy. I have a lot of respect for him. I’ve not spoken to him yet but we did hook up when he challenged Tavoris Cloud for the IBF title in the US a couple of years back (August 2009).

Like I say, most felt our first fight was a bad decision, though not as bad as when I won pretty much every round against Silvio Branco in Italy. It worked out okay because, thanks to God, the IBF mandated a rematch and I got paid twice!

Winning that IBF title remains the highlight of my career,  more so even than knocking out Roy Jones Jnr or beating Antonio Tarver. Winning a world title in any sport, is always the ultimate and it may not necessarily come against the best fighter.

The third fight was extremely close. I thought I shaded it but I can’t say it was a robbery. It could’ve gone either way and it went Clinton’s way. Another draw might have been fair.

 

Another Brit to cross your path was Nottingham’s Carl Froch who edged past you by a majority decision in the semi final of Showtime’s Super Six tournament last year. How do you assess ‘The Cobra’? What impressed you about him?

Again, a good, tough fighter. Carl was very intelligent in the ring. He knows his limitations, and sticks with what he does well. He has subtle skills which aren’t instantly evident to the naked eye.

That said, I wasn’t surprised when he was schooled by Andre Ward, a much better fighter. Ward was my pick to win the whole tournament right from the beginning when he was largely unknown. A special talent.

 

Following the Froch defeat, you conceded to Montreal’s Lucien Bute, in an IBF super-middle tilt. It was your sixth successive ‘world’ title defeat.

However, after losing widely to Poland’s Andrzej Fonfara in July, you announced your retirement stating you were ‘no longer able to do the things you used to’.  What persuaded you to give the game another go?

I guess I just realised that I’d been slacking. There were a lot of things I’d been missing off and it caught up with me on the night. Since returning to the gym, I realised I still had a lot left and I was willing to learn again. I’ve been working very hard at the things that I need to be doing.

I’ve had at least two months notice for the Groves fight and it’s been a very successful camp back in Miami. I’ve had plenty of sparring and I only spar with the very top guys. I’m not great with names, just faces but I’m extremely happy with how things have gone. I’m very excited about Saturday night.

 

What have you seen and heard about Saturday’s opponent George Groves?

I’ve not heard a great deal and I’m not really one to study opponents greatly. I’ve watched George’s last fight on tape plus a couple of others but I tend to flick through, watch a few rounds here and there, rather than whole fights.

From what I’ve seen, I’m not impressed as such but I respect George as an unbeaten prospect with a lot of potential.

 

What type of fight are you expecting? Why are you confident that you can spring an upset?

I envisage a good fight, a tough fight. My body is wonderful, I’m definitely in shape and I’m looking forward to it.

The way I look at it, the fight isn’t about George Groves. Right now, I feel good about what I can still do. If I fight smart I’m the better fighter. It’ll be up to the judges to do their jobs correctly!

 

If triumphant, where might it take you?

My goal is to win a world title again. That’s what I’m still in boxing for. I’ve never been one to seek praise, to get caught up in all the craziness. That’s just not in my personality. But for a few years I beat the best around at light-heavyweight – Clinton, Roy Jones, (Antonio) Tarver – yet I’ve always believed that super-middleweight is better suited to me physically.

If things don’t go your way on Saturday evening, might it be the last time we see you inside a ring?

I’m not even thinking about that!

 

Okay, but when you do eventually hang the gloves up, how do you intend to pass your time?

I’d love to expand my work as a colour commentator on TV but those posts are very limited. It’s normally the ‘noisy’ guys like your Tarvers and Jones Jnrs that have it locked down. They don’t always make a lot of sense regarding what the boxing is about but they’re controversial. To be fair, they’re improving.

If not that, I’ll buy houses, refurbish them, then stick them back on the market.

Boxing is my job, then I go back to my family, spend time with my wife and three children doing simple things, having dinner out, catching a movie, walking on the beach…

Finally, when the dust settles on your career, how would you like the fans and boxing community to remember you?

Just from whatever there true experiences of me were.  I always stick with reality, no hype or crap. In the ring on fight night, I always give 100% of what I have, for my own pride and for the fans who pay their hard earned money to be entertained. I’d hate for anyone to think I never gave them 100%.