Too sharp Johnson talks Paul Butler

[Arniesgym]

By @John_Evans79

To most professional boxers, regardless of the number of belts and titles they may earn in their career the respect of their peers is the prize they treasure most. When that respect comes from somebody who accomplished as much in the sport as Hall of Famer Mark ‘Too Sharp’ Johnson then the feeling of pride must be immense.



Johnson recently took the time to sit down and study British and Commonwealth super flyweight champion Paul Butler, 11-0 (6) and it’s fair to say that ‘Too Sharp’ was impressed by what the Ellesmere Port based 24 year-old and his trainer Anthony Farnell have accomplished so far.

“He has a lot of potential,” Johnson told Livefight. “He’s making it look easy and I’d like to work with him one day. I like what I see. I saw him fight southpaw [when finishing Anwar Alfadli] and then in other fights he fought right handed but for the most part I thought he did a wonderful job.”

Johnson, who claimed the IBF flyweight belt and was a two time world champion at super flyweight during his career, was ranked towards the top of any sane ‘pound for pound’ list in the late 1990’s. Despite being disgracefully avoided for the vast majority of his prime, Johnson’s ability was such that he achieved enough throughout his 44-5-0-1 (28) career to earn a first ballot election to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2012 and a place in the history books as the first African-American fighter to win a world flyweight title. If Mark Johnson praises your abilities, then it’s safe to say you’re doing something right.

“I was particularly impressed by how quickly he got his left hand off [against Alfadli],” he continued. “Before the guy could get his hands up he was on the ground. That was very good. Another thing that stood out was that he goes to the body very well. I thought that was wonderful and in the lower weight classes I think that’s what you have to do; go to the body.”



European fighters don’t fair particularly well in the lower weight classes and Britain has endured a famine at world title level in recent years. The likes of Paul Weir, Duke McKenzie, Pat Clinton, Charlie Magri and Walter McGowan will never be forgotten but a new wave of talent could be about to reignite domestic interest and take the world by storm.
Butler is leading an exciting charge which also includes British and Commonwealth flyweight champion Kevin Satchell and Bantamweight Kal Yafai. If and when the talented trio do reach world title level, they are likely to be pitched against teak tough South Americans and Asians.

Johnson feels that the most talented small men do reside across the Atlantic but also reckons that with the correct support from the TV networks and a willingness on the European side to tweak their style, the division could open up.

“My whole thing is that things are controlled by promoters and networks,” he says “We probably do have more and we probably do have better but you know Golden Boy and Top Rank run the lower weight classes over here in the States.

“What I noticed from your fighter [Butler] and what I notice from Mayweather is that the goal of the sport is to hit and not get hit and Mexican fighters will stand there and try and hit you all day and those are the fighters they wanna see.

“A lot of times, a lot of European fighters don’t jab or they paw with the jab,” Johnson added. “We really jab [in America] and when a European fighter comes over here there are a lot of things they need to change about their style. You saw it with Prince Nassem Hamed. He was a star but when he came over here and fought somebody of calibre [Marco Antonio Barrrera], he lost the fight. The same with Ricky Hatton. When he came over and fought people of calibre, he lost those fights. When I looked at the tapes of your guy [Butler] I think he can adapt to the American style because he’s one of the guy’s that really throws a jab.

“The question is this; when he comes over here will he be a allegedly guy who’s thrown to the dogs or will he be one of those guys who thinks ‘Ok, I wanna make it’ and go to the next level? It remains to be seen.



“I’m looking forward to coming over to the UK and working with some fighters and guys. I know I can give them that United States style and they’ll be on a whole different level to the other guys. I like Paul and I’d love to work with him and his trainer because I was in that weight class and I know what they’re looking for.”

Things are taking off for Butler. He is being lined up a spot on November’s Manny Pacquiao – Brandon Rios undercard and Marco Antonio Barrera has also invited Butler across the Atlantic to train in his Mexico City gym. “I can understand why!” laughs Johnson. “Tell him not to go to Mexico and train, tell him I’ll come over there and help them!” he laughed.


Johnson has been busy since retiring in 2006. Now 41 years old, he works with vulnerable youths in his home city of Washington D.C and you may recently have heard him using his expertise to provide colour commentary and analysis on Showtime. If you’re new to the sport and have never seen Mark box or you have simply forgotten how good he was, go to youtube and give yourself a quick reminder. You won’t regret it.

Follow him on twitter - @MarkTooSharp

[Counter-puncher]

nice interview