A Great Fight Between Glen Johnson and Carl Froch - Sharkie's Machine
By Frank Gonzalez Jr., Exclusive report for Doghouse Boxing (June 9, 2011) Photo © Tom Casino / SHOWTIME
As the Super Six Tournament has taken
nearly two years to reach the final match up, one of the original
contestants faced the most recent entrant in a fight that was
reminiscent of the old days, when boxing was competitive and full of
drama and excitement. Johnson, at 42 years old, has earned his
nickname, “The Road Warrior” because Glen is never the guy who
gets the nod from the Judges in close fights. Glen Johnson is no
pretty boy, with a big ego and a posse following him around. Glen is
old school. He's too down to earth to need an entourage kissing his
ass like so many fighters these days have. Johnson famously knocked
out Roy Jones Jr. after Jones opted to fight him after being knocked
out by Antonio Tarver previously. Jones obviously didn't realize how
good Johnson was, or chances are he'd have fought someone else. Roy
was all about business; low risk, high reward. Sort of the opposite
of Johnson, who has been around long enough to have a Hopkins-like
boxing intelligence and at 42, can still go the distance at full
speed. He can take a punch and he can land the big one. If he had a
face like Oscar, he would've been one of the most famous fighters in
boxing.
Carl Froch, “The Cobra” is old
school too. He's articulate, well rounded and is a dangerous opponent
that can take all you can throw without wilting. The Cobra has a lot
of personality and a chin that deserves to be referred to as Iron,
Granite and Stone. This man can punch and he can take a punch. He
seems more a fluid, American style than a British, upright style.
He's a good boxer but a hell of a slugger. He's confident but not
arrogant, which is refreshing in this era that celebrates big egos
for just being big. His lone loss as a pro came in a close decision
loss to fellow Super Sixer, Mikkel Kessler, in a fight that was so
close it could've gone either way. I thought Froch did enough to win
but the Judges in Denmark didn't share my view. Froch always shows
up in great shape and paces himself in a way that makes him the most
dangerous...at the end of a fight...and that is a great attribute.
Both Froch and Johnson seemed to have a
lot of respect for each other throughout the lead up to this fight.
And why not? These are two classy fighters.
Saturday night in Atlantic City
featured “The Road Warrior” Glen Johnson (51-14-2, 35KO's)
taking on Carl Froch (27-1, 20 KO's). This fight proved to be a test
between an old savvy fighter of high esteem against a younger
champion in his prime. There was never a dull moment.
Round 1
They boxed in feel out mode. Froch
keeps his jabbing arm down and shoots it out in spots. Johnson
pressed the action and landed a shot to the body. Johnson left to
face. It was a tactical pace. Johnson landing more with his quicker
than normal start. 10-9 Johnson, who was busier.
Round 2
Johnson lands to the face and keeps
pressing Froch, who seems a bit confused as to how to fight Johnson.
Johnson showing lots of unpredictable movement, keeping Froch a bit
off tempo. Froch lands left hook. Johnson lands right. J to body and
face. Froch gets out and jabs. Froch still figuring J out. Very
close. 10-9 Froch.
Round 3
They mix it up. Froch lands a few good
shots early as he stepped up his mobility. J jabs up and down. F
right. J stays close to Froch. J right! Froch hurt. J keeps coming.
Froch is so open with his guard down low. J in charge...J left. F
ties up. 10-9 Johnson
Round 4
Froch still moving backwards as J
presses and throws punches high and low. Froch jabs. F jabs, J to
body. F to body then jab. Froch looking better in this round. Froch
counters with a jab that landed. Johnson left hook misses. Froch
flurry, lands. 10-9 Froch.
Round 5
Johnson aggressive, lands to body.
Froch looking to counter and landed a left to body. J looking slower
but still pressing. J right to body. Froch backs away. Froch landed
uppercut. Froch big right. Froch throwing combos now and landing.
Froch left, big right! Another right! Froch in charge now! 10-9
Froch.
Round 6
Froch confidence soaring...Johnson
getting sloppier. J body is very open. Lot of sloppy punches from
both. Froch jabs, draws J in..J right. J left hook. Froch left hook!
Froch combos. Froch right cross. Johnson has slowed. J right! Froch
smiles it off. Froch going to body.
10-9 Froch.
Johnson's corner says, “You gotta
stop him!”
Round 7
Lot of single shots from both guys. Big
right by Johnson stuns Froch, who comes back throwing hooks that are
blocked. Johnson to body. Froch to body! J coming on... Froch
uppercut. J body shot. J double right near ropes stuns Froch again!
Lot of back and forth action. J to body! Johnson looking good this
round!
10-9 Johnson.
Round 8
Lot of action. Froch lands, Johnson
lands. Froch gets the better of the exchanges. Froch more mobile too.
Johnson lands a left, right. Froch lands a right. J hook, followed by
a big right! Froch moves, J keeps going to the body. J another right
upstairs. Froch comes on left hook, right combo. LH by Johnson! J
giving all he got and effective doing so. Froch shows no sign of
slowing after what he took. Froch left hook! J misses twice.
10-9
Johnson.
Round 9
Froch combo. J jabs to body. Froch
retakes control of tempo. J right to body. J another right! Froch
has a hellacious beard! Froch combos! J ties up. Froch punches out of
it. Froch tagging J frequently. Froch combos up and down and lands in
spots. Hell of a fight! Froch very busy but J blocks most of it.
Great round!!
10-10 even.
J corner says “You blew that round.
You didn't do anything.” (I disagree)
F corner urges him to do even more!
Round 10
Froch jabs. F body language is good. J
misses an uppercut. F to body. J right! Froch pours it on and lands a
few! What a fight! Froch 1,2. J pressing F into corner. F goes back
to centering. J right..on the chin. Damn that Froch has a great chin!
Froch is very strong with his combos. Froch snaps jab to face that
backs up Johnson. Close round... Froch 10-9
Round 11
Froch jabs and had used his jab well
all through the fight. Johnson keeps on pressing. Froch on his
feet...lands left hook. J lands a right. Froch walks through it and
lands a combo upstairs. J left hook. J right. Froch rallies and
scores. What a WAR this is... hard to score...10-9 Johnson.
Round 12
They tap gloves. Froch jabs. Froch
keeps jabbing. Froch lands combo up top J left. Froch uppercut. Froch
combos. J jab. 10-9 Froch.
The Official scores were: Japanese
Judge: 114-114 even Jon Steward 117-11 Froch, Mark Green 116-112-
Froch.
Post Fight Interviews:
Froch:
He's very tough and durable. 114-114
was a questionable score. 117-112 was more like it. All credit to
Johnson but I won.
Johnson:
I felt I was in it. It was close. My
corner told me to pick it up. I allowed him to counter more.
(Did the loss of weight affect you?) I
don't think so. Who knows. I believe I fell into his fight plan
instead of sticking with mine. You said I'm good so hopefully the
network wants to see me again.
Then Andre Ward got to say a few
words...
Andre Ward:
We're two guys who started this
tournament and its good that we're the ones to finish it.
Carl Froch gave up some sucker shots
but he did what he had to do, how can you be mad at him?
Froch:
Me and my trainer have the formula. Two
of the original six are in the final. I been saving it. I feel I can
beat him (Ward). He feels he can beat me. This is what its all about.
Olympic gold medals don't win championships. I believe I can win. I
know I can beat this guy.
Ward: Its the grand finale. Its time to
get it on. Two titles on the line. They shake hands and Ward looks
away.
A big congratulations to Carl Froch! He
did what he had to do to win against a most determined opponent who
brought everything he had to win. It was a great fight, a competitive
affair. What more can any fight fan ask for?
After Ward and Froch fight, I hope the
winner gets to fight Lucian Bute. Anything less would be a disgrace.
After all, the Super Six is the only actual tournament going on in
the entire sport. A tournament that saw all contestants have to fight
each other until all were weeded out and only one man would be left.
That one man left must fight Lucian Bute! Let there at least be ONE
true “Champion” in boxing. If the promoters let Bute fight the
winner of Ward vs. Froch, it will be the first time in in decades
that we'll have a truly legitimate “Champion” in boxing.
Boxing Gods, let it be so!
* * * Comments can be emailed to
dshark87@hotmail.com
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