by James Slater – In earning a shot at current IBF light-heavyweight champion Tavoris Cloud, ageless wonder Glen Johnson looked nothing short of brilliant this past Friday night when he hammered Yusaf Mack to a 6th-round defeat. Winning his 50th pro fight, the incredible 41-year-old “Road Warrior” now finds himself back in a position to be able to earn some big money in the somewhat quiet 175-pound division.
Chad Dawson, twice a points winner over the Jamaican who lives in Florida, is the best fighter in the division, but he is no star and he also has a less than trilling style of fighting; while ageing warriors Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Junior are big names but neither guy figures to stick around in the weight class for too much longer (Hopkins, should he beat Jones in April, may even go up to heavyweight). So, in terms of a great action fight, the possible Johnson-Cloud clash is probably the best bet.
Cloud, 20-0(18) an all-out action fighter who never stops throwing punches, will likely prove a tougher foe for Johnson than Mack did.. Unbeaten, of course, and so much younger than the former champion at age 28, Cloud has also shown good power and a sturdy chin thus far in his career. Johnson is the more accomplished boxer, with many tricks up his sleeve, but there is a chance he could simply be outworked and out-punched by the man who can throw close to a hundred punches a round when he fights. As great and as fresh as Johnson amazingly looked against Mack, it’s inevitable that his well will one day run dry – no-one can go on forever. But will Johnson at last begin showing his age in this fight (if it happens)?
In all likelihood, the fight, when it takes place, will be an all-out slugfest. Cloud seemingly knows no other way to fight (nor does he want to find one, the aggressive slugger he is), while going toe-to-toe in a bout is something that Johnson has shown a number of times he is more than willing as well as capable of doing. Sure, Johnson may opt to use his smarts and box more against the onrushing Cloud, but at some time in the fight the fireworks will begin.
If Johnson, 50-13-2(34) can keep going for a little while longer and if he can keep fighting at a pace we saw him box at against Mack, the 41-year-old will, in my opinion, pick up another title. A Johnson points win, in a thriller, is my prediction for the fight we all want to see. It’s not likely these two will meet up in March – the 26th of March being the date Cloud is next set to fight, in Las Vegas – as it would be too soon for Johnson after his last fight; but if Cloud wins his next fight, the match-up should happen in the summer.
When Cloud and Johnson do meet, expect a barnburner of a fight; something the 175-pound weight class could do with.