Johnson 'ready to rumble'

ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey (CMC):

Glen Johnson is ready to fight for a place in the final of the Showtime Super Six Series.

The 42-year-old Jamaican pugilist will face Britain's Carl Froch in the tournament's semi-final tonight at the Boardwalk Hall here. The winner of the scheduled 12-round bout will advance to the final against Andre Ward.

Johnson, whose near two-decade long career in the ring includes 51 wins (35 knockouts), 14 losses and two draws, said he was "ready to rumble".

"I have definitely given some thought about what it would mean to win the fight, and I am looking forward to it," said the Clarendon native in an interview with the Fight Hype website. "I'm excited about the opportunity and it will be awesome man.

"It will be a wonderful thing for my legacy, and it will be a treat for people over 30 to know that they can come in and compete and do things we are capable of doing at this age.

"So I'm looking forward to it all the way around. It's excitement, not just for me, but for a lot of other people."

TAKING THE OPPORTUNITIES

Johnson had no plans to contest the super middleweight division, after moving up to light heavyweight almost a decade ago, but he admits he was looking to make the most of the opportunities available to him to remain in the fight game.

"Everybody can see what's on the outside of you and that''s what I try my very best to pour out with effort, will and skill and everything, so people can get a brief peak of what's going on inside of me," he said.

"I am a very determined person and I don't believe in can't. I believe anything and everything is possible that's thrown before me.

"I just look forward to these challenges, man. I'm excited about the challenge and I'm not letting it slip through my hands."

Johnson joined the six-fighter tournament in the final group stage of bouts, replacing the injured Mikel Kessler, who was scheduled to fight Allan Green.

Despite not having fought in the super-middleweight class in 10 years, Johnson made the successful transition from the light-heavyweight division and stopped Green in eight rounds in November.

His handlers suggested that he is in better shape now and Johnson believes that his rival should not take him lightly.

"I feel great man," he said. "I'm looking sharp. I feel fast. I feel strong. Everything is on the up and up, and I'm ready to go and rumble right now.

"I believe Froch's gonna try and move to create space and try to stay away. I don't think he's gonna come in there rumbling and wanting to trade blows."

Johnson, who has fought in seven world light-heavyweight title bouts, also wants to continue setting examples recently established in Bernard Hopkins' title-winning performance on May 21.

Hopkins, 46, became the oldest fighter to win a world title with his defeat of Jean Pascal for the light-heavyweight belt.