Matthew Hurley: On the undercard of the Malignaggi – Ngoudjo bout Saturday night former light heavyweight champion Glen ‘The Road Warrior’ Johnson improved his record to 47-11-2 with 32 KOs with an eighth round stoppage of Hugo Pineda. The victory secured an April 12th showdown with WBC light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson. The fight is scheduled to take place at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. Dawson has not yet signed the contract..
Johnson, on a three fight winning streak since losing a split decision in his rubber match with IBF light heavyweight champion Clinton Woods, has earned his ‘Road Warrior’ nickname by traveling anywhere and everywhere throughout a steady, workmanlike career. The thirty-nine year old fighter saw his hard earned popularity among boxing fans hit the stratosphere when he knocked out Roy Jones Jr. in the ninth round back in 2004, securing fighter of the year honors. Since then Johnson has fought eight times with victories over Antonio Tarver, Montell Griffin and now Hugo Pineda to set up what could be his final shot at a world title.
“I feel good,” Johnson said in the ring, as quoted by writer Jason Gonzalez. “I feel fast, strong and youthful.”
Regarding his future opponent Chad Dawson, Johnson is respectful but exudes confidence. “There has been a lot made of how young and fast he is and that he’s the future of the division. I am looking forward to showing everybody that I am a world champion. It’s very important for me to show the people that I can beat the young star.”
In other boxing news, WBO cruiserweight champion Enzo Maccarinelli, 28-1 with 21 KOs came face to face with WBA/WBC champion David Haye at London’s O2 Arena where their March 8th unification bout will take place. The two fighters talked up their much ballyhooed, all British showdown for the assembled press.
“Everyone says it will be an early finish,” Enzo said. “But if it isn’t then it will be the twelve most brutal rounds seen in British boxing, that’s a fact. If I were a fan, this would be the fight I’d want to see. You’ve got two fighters with the same style who want to rip the other’s head off.”
Haye, 20-1 with 19 KOs, who put off his foray into the heavyweight division to take the fight, appreciates the task in front of him. He anticipates an even tougher bout than his title winning effort against Jean Marc Mormeck in which he climbed off the canvas to stop the champion in the seventh round.
“We are two aggressive guys,” he says. “Look at our knockout percentages, they’re ridiculous. As soon as the bell went against Mormeck, it was a brawl and that’s what I expect against Enzo. But Enzo will be fitter, faster, stronger and punch harder than Mormeck.”
Haye also insists his difficulties making the cruiserweight limit will not be a factor.
“I was looking at the heavyweights and I had Hasim Rahman lined up but I said to my manager Adam Booth do what you can to make the Enzo fight. The fans want this fight.”
The fight will be broadcast on Setanta and Showtime Championship Boxing.