Johnson: First Fight Stolen Because Of Boxing Politics, Crooked Judges

SIX QUESTIONS STARRING GLEN JOHNSON

Live on HBO World Championship Boxing

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HARTFORD, Conn. (Oct. 9, 2009) – Glen Johnson answered six questions posed to him regarding his Nov. 7 rematch with Chad Dawson.

Dawson (28-0, 17 KOs) of New Haven, Conn., meets Johnson (49-12-2, 33 KOs), from Miami, FL by way of Clarendon, Jamaica, Nov. 7 at the XL Center in Harford, Conn., in a WBC light heavyweight world title rematch. Back in April, 2008, the two met with Dawson’s WBC light heavyweight title on the line with Dawson coming away with the unanimous decision.

Promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, in association with DiBella Entertainment and Seminole Warriors Boxing, Dawson-Johnson II and a tremendous Alfredo Angulo vs. Harry Joe Yorgey 10-round Super Welterweight co-feature will be broadcast live on HBO World Championship Boxing Nov. 7, beginning at 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT, from the XL Center.

Tickets, priced at $200, $100, $70, $50, and $35, (plus any applicable fees and surcharges), can be purchased at the XL Center box office, at all Ticketmaster outlets, through Ticketmaster Charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000 and online at  www.xlcenter.com.

QUESTION: What do you expect to see from Chad Dawson the second time around?

JOHNSON: “Pretty much of the same thing I saw the first fight, him running like a chicken.”

QUESTION: How do you feel fighting in his backyard?

JOHNSON: “I told my people I will fight him anywhere. I just wanted the rematch to prove once and for all who really won that fight. This fight is very, very important to me. It is an opportunity to go further than all the critics thought I could have gone. It’s just for me to protect myself and my reputation and to prove to myself that I can do it and shut up all the critics that said I couldn’t.”

QUESTION: How have you improved since the last time you fought Dawson?

JOHNSON:  “I have improved tremendously. I was off of my game for a little bit of a year or so. I am sharp now. They tried so hard and long to avoid me that it gave me enough time to get sharp and put myself together. I am getting the rematch at the right time.”

QUESTION: The super middleweights are getting a lot of publicity with the Super Six World Boxing Classic tournament. What do you think about the light heavyweight division right now?

JOHNSON: “The problem is the light heavyweight division doesn’t want to mix up the fights. Everybody is trying to go for the major money. Everybody is trying to fight people who they think they can win against. There are very few guys in the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions and that’s what’s killing the sport and the divisions now. These guys want to win based on the politics of boxing. They don’t want to commit themselves to give fans the best fight they can put together.”

QUESTION: What are you doing when you are not in the ring or training?

JOHNSON: “I am spending a lot of time with my kids and wife and relaxing. I have a few business ventures that I like to see what I can get my hands in.”

QUESTION: What would winning this fight mean to you?

JOHNSON: “Winning means everything to me. That’s the only reason I wanted a rematch. The first fight was stolen because of politics of boxing and crooked judges. This is my opportunity. I know they believe Dawson fights in his hometown and they will bring in the crooked judges again who will help him get any rounds that are close. I have been in situations like this before. I am confident I will go in there and do what it takes to win.”