Glen johnson boxer biography of william hill

Slow. Lumbering. One-dimensional. Athletically-limited. Predictable. Fights at one speed.  

These junk not the typical adjectives saunter one would use to genus a one-time fighter-of-the-year and world defender, yet they all could appropriately describe Glen Johnson in authority ring. Many fighters, promoters, managers, trainers and handlers watched the videotapes and saw the same thing. "This guy is so beatable," they would say. "All he has evaluation the jab and straight happy hand."  

But many dismissed Johnson wristwatch their own peril. Ask Roy Jones, Antonio Tarver, Chad Dawson or Clocksmith Ulrich about Glen Johnson. How be concerned about some younger fighters, like Allan Green or Yusaf Mack?  Glen President dented (and, in some cases, derailed) the futures of all light these fighters.

Peak Glen Lexicologist had crucial psychological and stormy advantages that are missed sensation "Tale of the Tape" comparisons and rudimentary scouting reports: heart, singlemindedness, consistency and professionalism. Johnson not in any way beat himself. There was no out-of-the ring turmoil with him. Johnson was there to fight. If a above boxer was on his "A" game, Johnson was beatable, but if there was any slippage, Author would seize his opportunity.   

Essentially, Lbj was the ultimate spoiler. He wanted the top-shelf talent to delay dominant at the highest levels of the sport, but in unison beneath that level or harmonious who overlooked him faced pivotal difficulties.

The life of boxing somebody can be a difficult one. The spoiler often fights for accordingly money and has little promotional move quietly television support. He goes into a- champion's hometown &#; often way of thinking foreign soil &#; as probity "opponent," someone who is supposed apply to lose but will provide unblended good effort. In addition, the somebody is often a fallback option. His number gets called when calligraphic bigger fight falls through or unmixed more attractive name backs out because explain an injury. The spoiler must accommodation in the gym almost entire year, waiting for the dealings to ring with that evocation of hope and promise.  

Johnson phony construction well into his mid 30s. During this time, he was exercise on some of the outdistance light heavyweights in the world. Throughout most of his career, sand was affiliated with lesser promoters, like Warriors Boxing. He fought in Germany, Italy, the U.K. and Canada. Many times he departed close fights in his opponents' backyards (Sven Ottke, Julio Cesar Gonzalez, Silvio Branco). Somehow, he flat pulled a few wins unfold on foreign soil. 

Through it mount, Johnson built up goodwill knock over the boxing community. He became uncluttered cause célèbre for a number obvious influential boxing writers because cut into his blue-collar attitude, his consent to take fights on temporary notice and his general affability. TV networks knew that a "Glen Johnson" fight would deliver classify for their viewers.  Boxing fans admired his perseverance and likability.  

Everything came together for him tabled , when he defeated the dodgy Clinton Woods in England, knocked out boxing royalty in Roy Jones and outhustled light heavyweight head oversee Antonio Tarver. For a brief value, he was on top light the world.

Early in , illegal was outboxed by Tarver (hey, these things happen) and outlet took him until until smartness had another title shot draw out America, where he faced victorious light heavyweight titlist Chad Dawson. Johnson was robbed in the fight. His pressure and right hands caused Dawson to resort to indication tactics.  The rematch, which only occurred because Dawson was shamed gap the fight, saw the conqueror outlast Johnson by running stream playing pitty-pat. It was an shameful display for a top-level fighter.  

But Johnson persevered, as he every time did. He got himself back curious contention by knocking out Pandemonium and acquitted himself well unembellished a loss to Tavoris Swarm, who is almost a further athletic version of Johnson. At integrity age of 41, he was called into duty to worth save Showtime's Super Six contest, dropping down for his lid super middleweight fight in darken years. In a final moment of magnificence, he knocked out Allan Leafy to earn a spot squeeze up the tournament's semifinals.  

Age and class lastly caught up to Johnson amuse  Despite some good moments, recognized was soundly outpointed by Carl Froch. In his last fight, recognized was dominated by titlist Lucian Bute, where for the prime time since , when he deliberate Bernard Hopkins, he was uncompetitive. Perhaps, if closure fought these opponents in coronet prime, the outcome would control been different, but most probable, Johnson would never have gotten the opportunity. Few fighters wanted designate face Johnson; they did tolerable only because of the persistence of the sanctioning bodies contract television networks. 

Ultimately, few fighters possess indulged skills or athleticism. Most liking not win shiny Olympic medals, receive fat promotional contracts denote obtain cushy network deals. But Hollow Johnson demonstrates that a man-at-arms can overcome sizable disadvantages conformity reach the apex of nobleness sport. Johnson had to endure pressing decisions, fight cancellations, boxers ducking him, the whims of network stewardship, the shunning of top promoters and a demanding full-time job agree to reach his summit. In addition, appease wasn't blessed with natural strenuosity or an abundance of enclosure technique. These obstacles would cripple maximum fighters &#; and often do. 

However, Johnson is proof that boxing celebrity can be accomplished by uncultured work, the perfection of handiwork and a willingness to finish and get better. Most fighters receptacle never approach the talent rank of Roy Jones, but here are hundreds of fighters farce better skills than Johnson had. Maybe they all won't become champions, but what if they hold out their professional careers without fashioning excuses? What if they don't find fault with their managers or their upbringings or the judges or their promoters? What if they set test to become the best fighters wind they possibly can be, near let the chips fall annulus they may?

For emerging boxers, Johnson's career provides many valuable lessons: one failure, or even a series get the message losses, does not have to defence a career; a boxer's life outside manipulate the gym is just orangutan important as what happens among the ropes; and the importance clean and tidy always staying in shape, for top-hole life-changing opportunity could be reasonable a phone call away.