If Perception Counts, the Gentleman is Among the Greats

Say what you’ll say about Glen Johnson. He’s not overly flashy, he doesn’t knock everyone out, and he certainly isn’t the slick defensive wizard reminiscent of a Pernell Whitaker.

Be that as it may, he hits hard enough to get your attention and has one of the best chins ever. He exemplifies the meaning of work ethic and tenacity, supplemented by his exciting style. To a certain degree, his crab-like stance and willingness to travel to his opponents’ home turf is akin to the great Azumah Nelson.

Flashback to the mid 90s, where he boasted an unbeaten stretch of 32 wins with 22 knockouts. This guy had to have been a promoter’s dream. With an unblemished record, he unsuccessfully challenged then middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins, who to his credit, dissected the young challenger over eleven rounds. There’s no shame about it however. The loss came to a guy who currently remains as one of the top five middleweights of all-time.

But the travesty came long-term in the events that soon followed. Talk about being on the receiving end of a close decision after another. Talk about politics and corruption in this sport of boxing. Johnson’s seen it, he’s been long part of it, and he’s a victim without a cause.

In a span of his fifteen year career, the Road Warrior has had a quite of journey. But the role he was set to play was unsettled. A fighter on a journey he was, but a journeyman fighter he wasn’t.

To elaborate, he traveled from across the pond to the sea, and then climbed the mountains. In the process, he’s been through all sorts of styles, molding and honing his craft. It’s a given expectation in this sport for one to be victimized by hometown decisions in foreign soils. But to be jobbed on more than a several occasions against the house fighter in his own country, you’d be inhumane not to sympathize and admire one’s patience.

Brought in as a mere step-up or name opponent, Johnson faced the likes of Sven Ottke, Syd Vanderpool, Silvio Branco, Omar Sheika, Thomas Ulrich, Toks Owoh, Julio Gonzalez, Daniel Judah, Eric Harding, Clinton Woods, those whose combined record consisted of 239 wins and only 12 defeats. Six of those took place in Europe against Europeans. The rest took place where the bout was promoted in favor of those with vested interest, not on Johnson himself.

To his credit, Johnson officially beat Ulrich (KO6), Owoh (TKO6), Harding (W12), and Woods (W12, the second time around). Sven Ottke and his awkward style proved to be the most difficult of them all, and the decision wasn’t all that controversial yet still arguable. His loss to fringe contender Derrick Harmon was not excusable, but the rest can be accounted for your typical home cooking.

From my personal experience of watching Glen Johnson over the years, I can’t help but to pen this guy as one of the best light heavyweights in the last ten, fifteen years. And through what he’s accomplished well into his late thirty’s, I would have no choice but to consider him as one of the top tier fighters of the past decade. Imagine if it was Johnson instead of Richard Hall or Julio Gonzalez in there against Dariusz Michalczewski. That would’ve been a beat-down to remember.

For the record, I thought he went 3-0 against Clinton Woods in England. He outworked Julio Gonzalez in California. He took Daniel Judah to school on a short notice. He knocked out a come-backing Roy Jones, which earned the merit as Upset of the Year. He consolidated light heavyweight supremacy by outworking Antonio Tarver in another upset. He beat up long time contender and former champ Montel Griffin like no one else ever has.

And this past Saturday proved to be less different. At age 39, Johnson walked through the lightening fast combinations of a twenty five year old, seemingly doing enough to take another championship belt.

Johnson never tasted the luxury of calling shots or asking for ludicrous demands as would his peers such as Antonio Tarver, Roy Jones, and Bernard Hopkins. But in reality, he’s 2-2 against each of his peers, having won the prestigious Fighter of the Year merit in 2004. Had about eight of the dubious decisions gone in his favor, it could possibly be Johnson, standing at the top of the corporate ladder claiming the lion’s share.

In the end, it’s politics as usual. The Dawson bout, which I predicted a Dawson victory, resulted in a 7-5 on my scorecard for Johnson. Despite the loss, his performance only ups his legacy as a possible future hall of famer.

The Gentleman finally broke silence in the aftermath of another dubious verdict. He claimed he loves people and he continues to trust people, but expressed his disgust for those who continue to rip him off.

The post fight interview saw Johnson his worst moment, which can be reasoned by another disheartening loss.

If opinions count for anything, it should reflect positively for a guy like Johnson, who in my book is a three-time light heavyweight champ. It’s only a part of my perception, but something many might tend to agree with.