POTENTIAL FOR GREATNESS SATURDAY ON SHOWTIME
New York, NY– Glen Johnson (51-14-2 35 KOs) is set to face Carl Froch (27-1 20 KOs) in the semifinals of the Super Six Super Middleweight (168 lb.) tournament in Atlantic City, NJ this weekend. Andre Ward has already secured his spot as a finalist by defeating Arthur Abraham a couple of weeks ago in LA. Now it is up to Froch and Johnson to battle it out and determine who will move forward and meet Ward in the finals.
WINNING THIS FIGHT IS EVERYTHING FOR BOTH MEN
If the 42-year-old Johnson can get by Froch it’s possible he can secure a spot in boxing’s international hall of fame, a certainty if he is also able to defeat Ward. Froch currently has only one loss (Mikkel Kessler) and wins over Jean Pascal, Andre Dirrell and Abraham. So at 33, his career should be a few years from its critical mass. Bouts against Lucian Bute, and potential light heavyweight (175) match ups may lie in his future with a victory over Johnson.
CAN NEVER COUNT OUT GLEN JOHNSON
Glen is the proverbial ‘dark horse’ in the tournament and is looking to prove that his TKO over Allan Green wasn’t simply a testament of Green’s lack of mettle. It had been over ten years since Johnson had made the super middleweight limit before facing Green. And he not only looked good but also made a statement in stopping him. If he can give a similar offering against Froch, it’s very likely he can give Ward one of the stiffest tests of his career. There is a lot on the line for Johnson and he’s not the type of guy who has a history of taking opportunities lightly. He’s lost some important bouts but many weren’t without controversy. Johnson has had his share of shafts and he’s a better fighter than what appears to be the case on paper.
FIGHT SHOULD GO DOWN TO THE WIRE!
If there were a bout that I might pick to be a draw, this would be it. On paper, this fight is stylistically about as close as one can get to flip flopping on an outcome. If we consider the best Glen Johnson versus the best Carl Froch, the match should go 12 frames and also be littered with many close and entertaining rounds. Johnson’s high guard pressure offense is a great juxtapose to Froch’s Sergio Martinez like power-slick boxing style. Both fighters will have to aggressively pick their spots and who ever has the most success has the best chance to win.
WINNER AT 168 WILL HAVE MORE THAN TOURNEY TROPHY
Neither man will likely become a superstar at the conclusion of this bout or the tournament. But this match will certainly be fun to watch and should bring some excitement to the sport. Neither man will back down and it will likely be stylistic intangibles that will determine the outcome. Out of all of the possible match ups, this one should be close to the biggest challenge for both men, especially considering what’s at stake. It has taken a while, but we’re finally getting close to the top dog when it comes to super middleweight division.
Jarrad Woods