Callum Johnson in Boxing Purgatory Due To Hearn-Gallagher Row

[Ruthless-RKO]

Callum Johnson in Boxing Purgatory Due To Hearn-Gallagher Row

Former IBF light heavyweight challenger Callum Johnson finds himself in boxing purgatory.

He’s fallen between the cracks of a dispute between his trainer and manager Joe Gallagher and Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn.

Johnson says he’s a promotional free agent although sees himself as a Matchroom fighter.

But there’s been a well-publicised row between Gallagher and Hearn over the trainer’s outspoken remarks over the treatment of Natasha Jonas, another of his fighters, and it now seems that the man who went to war with Artur Beterbiev in a thriller in late 2018 will struggle to get dates.

“I’m in La-La land, really,” said Johnson. “I heard yesterday he [Hearn] said he’s not working with Joe and he’s not going to get me a fight because he’s not obliged to get me one. But, for me, that kind of proves what I’ve always thought, that he’s never been really interested in me, if I’m honest. At the end of the day, what Joe said in regard to Tasha, which he’s obviously apologised for, it’s nothing to do with me. That’s not my fault. As far as the money situation goes, with him saying Joe’s hard work to deal with when Eddie sends offers to Joe, Joe sends them to me and the last one I just didn’t think it was a fair offer. It was stupid.”

Before coronavirus wreaked havoc with the boxing schedule, Johnson had been due to meet Igor Mikhalkin for the European title.

“First off it I was down to fight for the European title and we’d agreed a purse for that,” he explained. “It was okay, it wasn’t great [money] but obviously if I win it leads to other things. Then it never happened because of lockdown. I was supposed to have fought in March and then it was all change and then it was May and lockdown came in at the end of March. Then he offered me a 40 per cent reduction to fight behind closed doors and the first offer wasn’t great so I thought, ‘No, I’ll wait until the crowds are back’ thinking they’d be back soon. Then, the last offer was a four-fight offer and the third fight was to fight [Joshua] Buatsi but the offer, I just don’t think it’s fair and people I’ve spoken to don’t think it’s fair. I don’t think it’s just me being greedy.”

It’s been a frustrating period for so many in the sport but Johnson has had a stop-start career since turning over.

“At the end of the day, when I look back through all my career, I’ve had 19 fights in 10 years and that’s not all my fault and one of the years I had five or six fights when I was fighting on Carl Greaves shows and I question why. All the big fights I’ve had have only really been because I’ve been mandatory. I think the only fight I really got looked after with Matchroom was the last fight, with [Sean] Monaghan and I think they look after Buatsi more than they look after me.”

Johnson was hoping to get out in December but now he’s not sure he will get the chance.

“I don’t know what to think,” he continued. “It’s hard. Since March I’ve really tried to stay positive and I’ve kept training and I’ve really tried to make sure I’m ready for when it comes. “It’s really frustrating. I’m 35 and I haven’t got forever. It scares me as well because I’ve dedicated my life to this sport since I was young and I’ve given it everything and I feel I’ve not had the rewards I deserve for the effort I’ve put it. Not only that with the talent I’ve got, everyone who watches me fight I seem to impress or entertain, even if I’ve lost. So I think what is it? Why has it gone this way for me? Maybe it’s because I’m from a small town [Boston] and I don’t get looked after like the city boys do or maybe I’m not as good as I think I am. Maybe people don’t like me, I don’t know.”

Johnson would love to be in the world title mix, back in with Beterbiev, Bivol, Joe Smith or the other top 175-pounders. He was even mentioned as a possible Canelo opponent earlier in the year, but he’s also willing to fight domestic rivals Anthony Yarde and Buatsi.

“I’m not bothered,” he said. “I’d fight Buatsi next week if I was treated fairly with the purse. You hear Eddie saying he doesn’t like putting his fighters together but we all know Buatsi’s his fighter. I’m not. It’s been plain to see for a long time. I’m happy to fight Buatsi whenever they want it but just treat me fairly.

“I’d fight anybody, give me three or four weeks to get sparring but I’d fight anybody. When I fought Beterbiev I’d only had 90 seconds in 18 months and I jumped straight in. It didn’t pay off but I didn’t do that for the money because that money was long gone in six months, I did it because I’ll fight anybody and at the time I thought, ‘I’m a nobody, I’m getting a shot and I’ll take it because I’m not in a position to say I deserve more’. That’s why I went there. With the Buatsi fight I feel like I’m an opponent they’re bringing over just to give a few quid to. “Some people say it’s Joe but it’s not really, Joe just supports his fighters.

“Me and Buatsi have been up there as the talk of British boxing but it’s all talk and I don’t believe they want it, maybe they want it when I’m 37 and I have fought once in three years, that’s what it seems to me from the outside where I am and where I’m looking.”

The situation is testing Johnson’s resolve but that’s something he’s prepared for, even though he admits he’s starting to question both himself and his future, even though he’s still the mandatory challenger for the European title.

“I haven’t come this far to only come this far,” he went on. “I’ve heard people say I’m not strong enough mentally and I think to myself I don’t know where people get that. I’ve been in the sport 10 years, I’ve had 19 fights which is diabolical. Some of it’s been my fault, 70 per cent of it hasn’t. I went through a rough patch when I lost my dad but if I wasn’t mentally strong I wouldn’t still be here, trying to get a fight, keeping myself ready, isolating myself in my garage for six months training like a demon so when I do get back I am ready. Mentally weak people can’t do things like that. I think I can still do it. I am getting to the point where I’m thinking it’s not going to happen even though I thought it would. Even the times when I lost my dad and everything else and I was going through a real bad time in my life and I couldn’t even leave my bedroom, deep down I always thought in the back of my head I’d still do it one day. I’m starting to doubt I will now, not because of my talent but because of the bad side of boxing and the politics.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

Gotta feel for Cal..

[maverick23]

Gotta feel for Cal..

Yeah - I feel bad for him but he should look close to home. When your manager calls your promoter racist and says they’re guilty of inequality, as well as other things, then I’m not surprised Eddie is refusing to work with him.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Gotta feel for Cal..

Yeah - I feel bad for him but he should look close to home. When your manager calls your promoter racist and says they’re guilty of inequality, as well as other things, then I’m not surprised Eddie is refusing to work with him.

Yeh, sure.. What they gonna do now.

[veriton]

so he wants lot of fights and lots of money. was offered fights but turned them down, so not great sense. at 35 he'll soon be looking back at his career thinking what might have been.

[jameswilson]

There are other promoters out there. As mentioned if someone called me a racist when the overwhelming evidence suggests otherwise I wouldn’t be working with them.

Sounds like Eddie won’t be taking legal action if Yarde vs Johnson is announced for March. Or Johnson vs Shakan Pitters. Somehow I doubt that fight gets made tho. Just a feeling.

[Fortynineandout]

Not often I would side with Eddie but on this occasion I fully understand the position he appears to have taken with Gallagher .

Gallaghers IFL apologies appeared half hearted and not genuine . He couldn’t resist a dig “ don’t come calling with silly money “ and even slipped in he wouldn’t be paying for the £20 PPV for Usyk / Chisora !

As My old man used to say “ Don’t bite the hand that feeds “

[TheLeprechaun]

Callum Johnson burst onto the scene with a very impressive win over Buglioni. Yarde, who had been calling Buglioni out very frequently for a long time, never mentioned Callum Johnsons name. Johnson was unfortunate to come up against Beterbiev, who he hurt and dropped before being stopped himself. I believe he'd have beaten Kovalev if he'd got him.

[Glass Joe]

Gallagher had a history of this, John Murray would have retired a millionaire if he left Gallagher years ago. No doubt history repeating itself with his current fighters.

[magnus]

I think Callum is an excellent fighter, really good to watch.

However, this isn't the first time his career has been marred by inactivity. It's been a feature since he was a novice pro.

[Noxy]

Johnson! I’d forgotten about him. Top fighter. I hope he gets sorted out with some action.

[Twinkle Toes]

No sympathy for Gallagher, but his fighters must be getting worried with this fall out with Hearn.

Johnson could have been out this year, he's had offers but turned them down and no doubt Gallagher had a big part to play in those decisions.

Always feel for the boxer at these times, but they really need to get more level headed people around them and not loose canons like Gallagher.

[maverick23]

Not often I would side with Eddie but on this occasion I fully understand the position he appears to have taken with Gallagher .

Gallaghers IFL apologies appeared half hearted and not genuine . He couldn’t resist a dig “ don’t come calling with silly money “ and even slipped in he wouldn’t be paying for the £20 PPV for Usyk / Chisora !

As My old man used to say “ Don’t bite the hand that feeds “

Yeah - his apology was poor. Saying he didn’t mean racist, he meant inequality. That’s still something that Eddie would likely take big issue with.

Eddie is the only U.K. promoter who regularly promotes women’s fights. Potentially more than any other big time promoter. If Eddie refuses to work with Tasha again (I’d be very surprised if that happened) then where does Tasha go? Before the Harper fight she’d be easily beaten by Obenauf.

Callum should get a different manager and advise Joe to stick to training.

[mickey1975]

Smith must be chewed.

[liamlion]

This could all cost Gallagher badly, assuming this is more than a brief storm in a tea cup and Hearn is serious.

Gallagher’s apology included him detailing going above Eddie’s head to Adam Smith, almost as if to undermine Eddie. Maybe I’m wrong.

Biting the hand that feeds you comes to mind with this. I really hope Callum Johnson, Callum Smith and Liam Smith don’t lose out. Maybe they have some decisions to make.

[BigDoofus]

"He's in boxing purgatory"? He's not boxed for 20 months and Gallagher's ridiculous whinge only came 2 or 3 weeks ago.
"I'll fight anybody" but keep turning offers down.
"He's a promotional free agent". If he keeps turning down offers from Matchroom why is he whinging at Hearn?

[ash_]

"He's in boxing purgatory"? He's not boxed for 20 months and Gallagher's ridiculous whinge only came 2 or 3 weeks ago.
"I'll fight anybody" but keep turning offers down.
"He's a promotional free agent". If he keeps turning down offers from Matchroom why is he whinging at Hearn?

Exactly. Can easily go and fight Yarde on a Warren show.

[maley1984]

"He's in boxing purgatory"? He's not boxed for 20 months and Gallagher's ridiculous whinge only came 2 or 3 weeks ago.
"I'll fight anybody" but keep turning offers down.
"He's a promotional free agent". If he keeps turning down offers from Matchroom why is he whinging at Hearn?

Exactly. Can easily go and fight Yarde on a Warren show.

Warren won't deal with Gallagher either.

[maverick23]

"He's in boxing purgatory"? He's not boxed for 20 months and Gallagher's ridiculous whinge only came 2 or 3 weeks ago.
"I'll fight anybody" but keep turning offers down.
"He's a promotional free agent". If he keeps turning down offers from Matchroom why is he whinging at Hearn?

Exactly. Can easily go and fight Yarde on a Warren show.

Warren won't deal with Gallagher either.

FW said he would on his most recent IFL interview.

[Black Sam Bellamy]

It's about being realistic about your worth. And your trainer doing the same.

[dr_devious]

Would love to see Johnson, Buatsi and Yarde all fight each other like Benn, Watson and Eubank did 30 years ago. Times change I guess.

[THEBUTCH]

There are plenty of other trainers out there who don't alienate themselves and their boxers with the top two promoters in the Britain. If Johnson wants fights, get serious about things and work with someone who doesn't prevent that from happening.

For someone who's supposedly uninterested in Johnson, Hearn landing him the chance of his lifetime against Beterbiev suggests otherwise.

[unknownman79]

He's been offered loads of chances. That many fights in his career suggests he's not motivated.
Wasted career and at the end of the day he only has himself to blame.

[mickey1975]

There are plenty of other trainers out there who don't alienate themselves and their boxers with the top two promoters in the Britain. If Johnson wants fights, get serious about things and work with someone who doesn't prevent that from happening.

For someone who's supposedly uninterested in Johnson, Hearn landing him the chance of his lifetime against Beterbiev suggests otherwise.

They suggest Hearn needed an opponent.

[Black Sam Bellamy]

There are plenty of other trainers out there who don't alienate themselves and their boxers with the top two promoters in the Britain. If Johnson wants fights, get serious about things and work with someone who doesn't prevent that from happening.

For someone who's supposedly uninterested in Johnson, Hearn landing him the chance of his lifetime against Beterbiev suggests otherwise.

Indeed. Martin Bowers has managed to get Chris Bourke an English title shot this weekend when one of Fr@nks other fighters, Shabaz Massoud is mandatory.