“I take care of myself. I treat my body well. I don?t drink, I don?t smoke, I don?t put anything toxic in my body and I?m careful about the things I eat. When I step into the ring I?m not careless, getting knocked down and all that other stuff. So I think all of that, with me keeping my brain intact is where the longevity comes from.?-Glen Johnson
Glengoffe Donovan Johnson is a professional boxer. Nicknamed Gentleman and the Road Warrior, Johnson is the former IBF and the Ring light heavyweight champion. His seminal win was when he knocked Roy Jones Junior unconscious in September 2004. Since then, Roy has gone 12-4 and has won his last 7 straight. In fact, he is eyeing a shot at a world title bid down the line, but first he must win two scheduled fights in August 2015.
Johnson has gone 13-9 (and 4-7 in his last 11) since the Jones KO, having lost his last two soundly. Arguably, his last solid outing was his 8th round waxing of Allen Green in 2010. However, the writing on the wall likely came when Andrzej Fonfara won a dominant unanimous decision over Glen (54-20-2) in July 2012 by scores of 99-91, 97-93, and 97-93. Fonfara, a Chicagoan by way of Warsaw, Poland, gave his hometown fans a lot to cheer about as he used his three-inch height advantage, great separation, explosive energy, and a superb jab to control the action.
Said Glen after the fight, ?I needed to be more steady and apply more pressure, and I couldn?t. He?s a strong kid and I just couldn?t do it. If I can?t do it the right way and the way I should be able to I?m not going to do it anymore.?
But then, much later, ?Well after the Fonfara fight, I was going through drama in my life. It was an emotional decision at that point but once I cleared my head and I was able to take care of some of the drama I was going through I felt a lot better. I was much more focused and I said ?I have a lot left? and decided to give it another shot.?
Things are not going to get any better as fast- rising young Turkish light heavyweight prospect Avni Yildirim (5-0) travels to Miami to take on the ?Road Warrior? for the WBC Silver International Light Heavyweight Championship.
Glen Johnson is popular and articulate. He also may be in denial. Win or lose in Miami, the 46-year-old Johnson needs to decide whether it?s time to get out of the game.
