Biography

In a world full of pretenders, Jamaican-born Glen Johnson is the real deal, a true fighter who is willing to fight anyone, anywhere, at any time. That’s why fight fans affectionately call him ‘The Unfortunately, that attitude led him into situations where he had to take fights on short notice and was forced to travel into his opponents’ hometowns, garnering more than his share of highly controversial and disputed decision losses and draws for reasons extending beyond his prowess in the ring.

Yet he fought on, knowing that every time the fans sat down to see him, they were going to see a fight. And he knew that eventually, he would even the playing field for himself with his fists.

That day came on September 25, 2004.

Just seven months after he achieved his dream of winning a world championship by defeating Clinton Woods in Woods’ hometown of Sheffield, England, Johnson put his IBF light heavyweight belt on the line against modern-day legend Roy Jones Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee.

It was no contest. From bell to bell, Johnson put the pressure on Jones until he knocked him out in the ninth round. It was at that moment that the entire sports world knew who Glen Johnson was.

Less than three months later, Johnson decisioned Antonio Tarver to cap off one of the most amazing years in recent history. It earned Johnson not only recognition as the best 175-pounder in the world, but earned him the 2004 Fighter of The Year award from all major media outlets.

‘The Road Warrior’ had arrived.

Discarding any ideas of sitting on his title, Johnson jumped right back into the ring with Tarver in June of 2005, and though ‘The Magic Man’ would win a hard fought 12 round decision in the rematch, Johnson won even more fans with his classy, ‘no excuses’ attitude after the bout.

That didn’t mean the 37-year-old was done fighting though, and in September of 2005, Johnson earned another shot at the IBF light heavyweight crown regained by Woods by stopping hard-hitting contender George Khalid Jones in ten impressive rounds.

After turning back another stern test in former world title challenger Richard Hall via a 12 round unanimous decision on February 24, 2006, Johnson’s name was thrown around as a possible opponent for 168-pound champion Joe Calzaghe, but as was the case the first time the two were expected to fight, the Welshman decided to avoid the wrath of ‘The Road Warrior’.

Luckily, it is expected that another United Kingdom product, old rival Clinton Woods – who now holds the IBF light heavyweight crown – will defend his crown against the number one contender, Johnson.

For ‘The Road Warrior’, it’s another step on the journey back to the pound for pound list, but at least this time, he knows the right roads to take.