Do they come any tougher than Glen Johnson?
This is a 41-year-old man that just banged out Yusaf Mack in six rounds this past Friday night on ESPN2, winning a title shot at IBF light heavyweight beltholder Tavoris Cloud. Johnson had just lost a wide 12-round decision in November to Chad Dawson.
And now, Johnson tells Ryan Burton that he's ready to go for March 26, the date ESPN is holding for Cloud:
BoxingScene.com: This big win on ESPN was an eliminator to fight Tavoris Cloud for the IBF lightweight title. Have you heard anything on when and where that fight will take place?
Glen Johnson: I think in as little as 6 weeks. March 27th (note: it's actually March 26) was a date that was thrown at me. I heard ESPN has that date reserved for Tavoris. I don't yet for sure. By the end of this week or next week I should know a little bit more. They are negotiating right now.
This is a schedule that would test any boxer. Chad Dawson in November, Yusaf Mack in early February, Tavoris Cloud just six weeks after that. Take into account that Cloud is a fresh, 28-year-old, high-workrate pressure fighter, and it's even more admirable.
After all these years, "The Road Warrior" is still fearless, and still a great credit to the sport of boxing.
Over the last week and change, we've talked plenty about how good of a fight Cloud-Johnson will be. Anybody got a solid favorite yet?