Dropping pounds to gain world titles

Gordon Williams, Sunday Gleaner Writer

MIAMI, Florida:

Less means more. That's what Jamaican boxer, Glen Johnson, is counting on.

The former world light heavyweight champion has shed some pounds in a bid to become the undisputed super middleweight king.

Clarendon-born Johnson has reached the semi-final of Showtime's Super Six World Boxing Classic, a tournament featuring some of the world's best at 168 pounds. The winner hopes to eventually emerge as the top fighter in the division.

"To me now, to be a super middleweight is prime," Johnson explained, after a recent workout at the Thump gym here.

But his greatest ring triumphs have come as a light heavyweight. He became Fighter of the Year in 2004 after claiming the world title by beating the sport's best at 175 pounds, including Americans Roy Jones Jr and Antonio Tarver. Still, more lucrative prospects have lured him back to super middleweight he left more than a decade ago.

Career building

"At the end of the day, we're fighting for money. I spend my whole career building a name and I find that I have a name now that I can cash in on and I'm making the best of it."

The man, nicknamed 'Road Warrior' for his willingness to fight anyone, anywhere, entered the Super Six in November after another fighter pulled out injured. Johnson, who turned 42 this month, knocked out American Allan Green to advance to the semis where he will face Britain's Carl Froch, the World Boxing Council (WBC) champion.

If Johnson wins that fight, tentatively scheduled for May, he will claim the WBC crown and advance to the final against the winner of the bout between André Ward, the World Boxing Association (WBA) super champion, and Arthur Abraham.

The Super Six victor will likely face Lucian Bute, reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) champion, to decide who wears the undisputed world super middleweight crown.

Yet, while the money and titles may have been the big drawback to the lower weight division, Johnson admits he was never cozy in the heavier class. He moved up to secure bigger fights with better purses. One unconfirmed source indicates Johnson's purse was US$700,000 to fight Jones Jr and over US$1 million for the first Tarver fight in December 2004.

"I've always felt like I was a middleweight (160 pounds) or super middleweight fighting in the light heavyweight division," said Johnson.

"The guys were much bigger than me and it takes a lot out of me to maintain the strength to try to punch as hard as they do; try to be as physical with them as they try to be with me ... so it takes a toll after a while.

"Super middleweight division, it's not as physical and it feels a little more at a comfort zone for me, the fact that I have just as much strength as those guys and I'm not in a weight class where I'm forcing it, you know, where strength-wise and physical-wise, the guys may be a little bit stronger than me."

EDGE

Battling the bigger boys may have given Johnson an edge in Super Six. While he has lost weight through a new diet, the United States-based Jamaican may have gained quickness without losing the punching power that secured him 35 knockouts in 67 fights. He also has 51 wins, 14 losses and two draws.

"He goes down and for that weight class he has a little bit, what I think, is pound for pound more power," explained Johnson's long-time trainer Orlando Cuellar.

"He's a little bit faster and he's the most experienced in that division. So I think it's to his benefit."

Many boxing observers were surprised at Johnson's dismantling of 31-year-old Green. The Jamaican had lost his previous fight last September, a light heavyweight title clash against Tavoris Cloud. But he countered Green with two powerful right hands combined with a left uppercut that ended the fight in round eight. Fellow Super Six contenders took note.

"I was impressed by Glen Johnson," Abraham told reporters. "You could see what experience and class can do inside the ring ... . That was a strong performance.''

"The old fella looked game and determined," added Froch.

AGE FACTOR

Johnson, meanwhile, brushes off criticism of his advancing age.

"We're not getting any younger, but at the same time we still feel good," he said. "We still feel that we can compete at the highest level."

Johnson's camp is confident he can win Super Six and take on other super middleweight contenders. That means his pro ring career - already at 18 years - could stretch further. Johnson, who suffered the only knockout loss of his career as a middleweight against Bernard Hopkins in 1997, has not lost his appetite for the ring.

"It's not just something I do because I have to do," he said of boxing. "The gym for me is just like how everybody wakes up and eat breakfast and lunch and dinner."

Cuellar believes Glen Johnson may have his biggest date with ring glory - and paydays - ahead.

"He doesn't miss a beat," said the trainer. "He's true to the game, lives a clean life and he's determined.

"Just like maybe Bernard's good fortune came at the latter part of his career, I believe that for Glen, the best is yet to come."