Callum Johnson Inks Long-Term Deal With Frank W.

[Glass Joe]

40K is poor, after fees and tax he's only taking home an slightly average year wage in London and would have no where to go after that.

[maverick23]

40K is poor, after fees and tax he's only taking home an slightly average year wage in London and would have no where to go after that.

Yep - that’s why it’s likely bullshit.

[Pugilist-specialist]

There’s a huge changing of the guard at Matchroom. Joe G and Dom have more or less been phased out.

So they haven't offered Barry a new deal?
Eddie's cosying up to Dom in the bubble as we speak

[mickey1975]

There’s a huge changing of the guard at Matchroom. Joe G and Dom have more or less been phased out.

So they haven't offered Barry a new deal?
Eddie's cosying up to Dom in the bubble as we speak

Probably wants Willy Hutch! I doubt he’ll offer Barry more than PBC.

[margaret thatcher]

that's cute, ed cozies up to dom, dom writes and sings songs about ed, such sweethearts

[world ranked]

I don’t think the offer for Buatsi would have involved a split as it wouldn’t have been PPV. He obviously wanted more than he was offered though and he wasn’t happy with his offer for a European title fight from Hearn (which then went to purse bids and he didn’t accept the fight based on the results of the bid).

Also didn’t help his cause when Joe called Eddie a racist!

Glad that he’ll be active now and him against Yarde or Arthur would be good fights but I don’t really see how he gets himself a world title fight in the next 12 months.

The WBO 175 weak enough and now signing with Warren he can get a shot at the WBO belt.

I’d forgotten that belt was vacant! For some reason I thought Beterbiev had it.

Even so, there will be a fight in the next few months for the vacant title and Johnson currently isn’t even in the WBO top 15 so it could take a while before any title challenge.

Saying that I’m pretty sure signing with FW gets him straight into the WBO top 15!

FW would be better off putting him in with either Yarde or Arthur.

One tune up fight he'll be in WBO rankings. Most of Warren's A side's are ranked with WBO after one fight quite confident Callum will be in WBO rankings.

[Coco]

40 big ones is a lot of dough to turn down.

[margaret thatcher]

is it a lot of money for johnson to get beaten by buatsi? cuz that's a big possibility if they fought, and what then coming off a loss at 36

i recall there was talk recently of him making just as much or more to fight a lesser opponent for the european......

[keirw]

is it a lot of money for johnson to get beaten by buatsi? cuz that's a big possibility if they fought, and what then coming off a loss at 36

i recall there was talk recently of him making just as much or more to fight a lesser opponent for the european......

Yeah, Buatsi vs Johnson doesn't generate enough dough to make the fight a worthwhile endeavour at the moment (maybe it never will).

[mickey1975]

Eddie would have put Buatsi-Yarde on at The O2, PPV a couple of fights. He should have put Johnson on up in Lincolnshire for an intercontinental to build his profile up and keep him busy. Nice midweek treat for Sky subscribers instead of pissing about in Italy, etc.

[rhino222]

The initial post says that Callum Johnson was offered the fights with Buatsi.......and said yes. Then heard nothing.

[maverick23]

Eddie would have put Buatsi-Yarde on at The O2, PPV a couple of fights. He should have put Johnson on up in Lincolnshire for an intercontinental to build his profile up and keep him busy. Nice midweek treat for Sky subscribers instead of pissing about in Italy, etc.

I agree that Eddie would have done what you say for Buatsi vs Yarde but the difficulty with Johnson is that he’s already on good purses. He’s openly said that he was very well paid for the Beterbiev and Monaghan fights with the DAZN money so it’s then difficult to pay him what he’s likely want to fight on a Wednesday night in Boston.

[maverick23]

The initial post says that Callum Johnson was offered the fights with Buatsi.......and said yes. Then heard nothing.

I take what Joe Gallagher says with a pinch of salt. What may well have happened is they said ‘Yes...we’ll take the fight...,for £xk more than your offer’.

[liamlion]

40 big ones is a lot of dough to turn down.

If it’s gross, then it really isn’t a lot.

Take off the manager’s and trainer’s percentage (20% combined?) along with expenses and then tax. He wouldn’t even clear £20k. Really isn’t huge for a fight that he could easily lose and arguably end his career and close down any opportunities for decent future paydays. The risk doesn’t appear to justify the financial reward.

In addition, does Buatsi have such a bigger profile to justify having a purse 4 x as much? Not for me. It’s a derisory offer if true and it seems Johnson was justified in turning it down as Fwank seems to be willing to offer Johnson a financial deal that Johnson is happy with.

[BigDoofus]

40 big ones is a lot of dough to turn down.

The rumour was he was offered double that first but then it was cut due to the pandemic. Talk of Buatsi's £150k purse may have led to Joe's rant.

[maverick23]

40 big ones is a lot of dough to turn down.

The rumour was he was offered double that first but then it was cut due to the pandemic. Talk of Buatsi's £150k purse may have led to Joe's rant.

I thought his purse cut was for the European title fight. I think it was originally meant to happen in March last year on the Usyk/Chisora show but when Hearn offered a lower purse for the fight in late 2020 that’s when Joe kicked off and asked if Sky had cut their money etc.

The European title fight then went to purse bids and was won for €89k which is potentially where the rumoured £40k came from.

[3132DW]

Think the Smith boys might be finished in the eyes of Matchroom. Callum might be okay at 175 but I think an issue is one of his key strengths at 168 was his size, this won't be as big a factor at Light Heavy. What is clear for Matchroom now if he sticks to 168 - he will always play 2nd fiddle to Alvarez now - yes Eddie has only a short term deal with Canelo, but you can just see he wants it to be longer. He is hardly singing the "I hope Billy does him" line like he was singing about Callum.

Think Liam and Stephen are now probably on the wrong side of their career age wise and are already passed their prime.

There’s a huge changing of the guard at Matchroom. Joe G and Dom have more or less been phased out. AJ, Buatsi, Okolie, Benn, D.Smith, Price etc are the main men on that side.

I don’t know whether Stephen has any intention to fight again - all certainly quiet with him. Liam still has quite a bit left but it’s either a step back into British/European level with the various brits at light-middle (Cheeseman, Fitz, Fowler) or try and find a meaningful world level fight. The titles are tied up now on PBC so I’m expecting Liam to be fighting a top 10 fighter on one of the overseas DAZN shows.

Weirdly, apart from Paul, the Smith’s haven’t been very big ticket sellers.

Certainly a changing of the guard re: the main trainers involved with Matchroom. Eddie seems to be involved with the various boxers who are managing fighters (AJ, Whyte, Billy Joe).

Hearn mentioned fights overseas for Liam Smith before US fight later in year couple of weeks back (Russia I think was 1st one)

[Ruthless-RKO]

Euro News

British light heavyweight Callum Johnson, who just signed a promotional deal with Queensberry Promotion, has pulled out of the fight for the vacant EBU title against Russian Igor Mikhalkin. EC Boxing won purse bids last year but had not yet come out with a date and site.

[Ruthless-RKO]

The previous purse bid was from November 2020.

EC Boxing won it as sole bidders for 89,000 Euros..

At the time, it said he may decline and instead fight Buatsi..

[Terminator666]

Needs to get a shift on at his age

[jameswilson]

40 big ones is a lot of dough to turn down.

The rumour was he was offered double that first but then it was cut due to the pandemic. Talk of Buatsi's £150k purse may have led to Joe's rant.

Joe said that Buatsi earning 150k and Johnson less was racist against people from Boston, Lincolnshire.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Release | Callum Johnson vs Emil Markic on April 24

CALLUM JOHNSON will be back in action on April 24th after more than TWO YEARS of inactivity. The Queensberry newbie will return on the card headlined by Denzel Bentley’s defence of his British title against Felix Cash.

Johnson insists he is on course for a second world title challenge and huge domestic clashes against fellow Queensberry boxers Lyndon Arthur and Anthony Yarde, but first must shake off the ring rust as he battles experienced Bosnian, Emil Markic (32-2, 24 KO’s).

‘The One’ faces Markic for the vacant WBO Global Light-Heavyweight title over ten rounds in London on Saturday April 24, (live on BT Sport).

Boston’s Johnson who recently returned to allegedly’s stable hasn’t boxed since an impressive stoppage win against American Sean Monaghan in March 2019.

The former British and Commonwealth champion said: “I have been out for two years, but I am not bothered what level I come back at. I am a fighter at the end of the day.

“There is pressure after two years out. I just hope I remember to do it right when I get back in there. I’m sure I will.”

Johnson (18-1, 13KOs) was fearless when he challenged IBF World title holder Artur Beterbiev in October 2018. He floored the division’s main man before losing in the fourth round of a brutal war.

Callum who started his career with Warren believes the Hall of Fame promoter will get him back in the big time at home and on the global stage.

He also hopes a potential tournament featuring Commonwealth champion Arthur, Yarde and himself will be a big attraction for fans.

“I just want activity, to be in exciting fights and have a great couple of years,” Johnson added.

“I think Lyndon and Anthony are good fighters, but I believe I am the best in the country and would beat anybody.

“Do I believe I will beat them two? One million per-cent.

“Are they good fighters? Of course they are. It’s good that there are a few good fighters in our division that makes it so exciting.

“We can all fight each other. It can be like the UFC where a few fighters can fight each other and a loss doesn’t matter.

“You can get back a few months later and fight another guy so it’s exciting and something fans will like.”

Markic turned professional in June 2012 and twice won the WBO European Light-Heavyweight title, but never defended that crown after victories on the road against Denis Liebau and Kavin Gebhard.

He has won seven fights on the spin since losing to world ranked Umar Salamov in May 2017, but Johnson is unconcerned by his rival’s form.

Callum said: “People will see I have been out for a while, but I haven’t been off the scene. I have been in the gym, sparring, stayed fit and healthy.

“Until the night we won’t know, but I am not expecting to show much ring rust and to do a job on Markic.”

Headlining the behind closed doors show is Battersea’s Denzel Bentley (14-0-1, 12KOs) who makes the first defence of his British Middleweight title against mandatory challenger Felix Cash (13-0, 9 KOs), who will be risking his Commonwealth championship.

The show will also see the return to action of Queensberry starlet’s David Adeleye, George Davey, Henry Turner, James Heneghan and Karol Itauma.

[THEBUTCH]

"Global" title ??? WTF !

Have they run out of International, European and Intercontinental titles

[JamesPhilips]

"Global" title ??? WTF !

Have they run out of International, European and Intercontinental titles

Yes, I myself will be looking forward to the WBO Flat Earth title; Carl Froch is the Emeritus Flat Earth title holder as I understand.....

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Release

CALLUM JOHNSON is hoping for the first crack at new WBO World Light-Heavyweight champion Joe Smith.

Fan-friendly Johnson excited American fans on two previous appearances in the United States and hopes Smith’s promoter Bob Arum contacts allegedly about the fight.

The former British and Commonwealth champion said: “I have seen loads of comments on social media saying, ‘Joe Smith v Callum Johnson, what a fight,’ and it is one that excites me.”

New York’s Smith won the vacant title earlier this month when he snatched a majority decision against Russian Maxim Vlasov.

Johnson (18-1, 13 KOs) impressed in Verona, New York when he last boxed in March 2019 demolishing Sean Monaghan inside three rounds.

Five months earlier in Chicago, he lost a world title war in four rounds against the division’s top man Artur Beterbiev, but floored the IBF Champion before losing for the only time as a professional.

Johnson’s reputation soared and he returns against Emil Markic (32-2, 24 KOs) in a vacant WBO Global title clash in London on Saturday April 24, (live on BT Sport).

Boston’s Johnson said: “It’s an interesting division and there are a few of us who want to get that shot at Smith.

“If Bob Arum called Frank and offered me the fight — one million per-cent I would take it in a heartbeat.

“I wouldn’t need to think twice. That is where I want to go and I would jump straight in with Smith next if I could.

“If Frank wants to push me for WBO title I am all up for winning it against Smith and coming back to face Lyndon Arthur and Anthony Yarde.

“Stylistically, Joe and myself is a good fight. It has been talked about before, is easy to make and one that fans like.

“I do feel I would beat Joe and bring that title back, but I have to think about Markic.

“I am expected to win and confident I will win, but Markic is no slouch. I can’t look past him. At the same time fighters do think what might come.”

Markic is ranked 15th by the WBO and a lofty world ranking is at stake when Johnson takes on the Bosnian puncher.

“Markic is a decent opponent after a long lay-off. He has a good record and can obviously punch a bit looking at his knockout ratio,” added 35-year-old Johnson.

“He is an opponent that I am not looking past or taking lightly, that is for sure.

“When I re-signed with Frank I didn’t care who I fought. I just wanted to get out there.

“I am as fresh as a daisy, but not a young lad. I don’t want to come back with six and eight rounders because I am past all that. There is no point and I haven’t got time.

“It is straight back in and getting back to where I want to be.”

Heading the show is Battersea’s Denzel Bentley (14-0-1, 12 KOs) who makes the first defence of his British Middleweight title against mandatory contender Felix Cash (13-0, 9 KOs) whose Commonwealth crown is also on the line.

Some of the best prospects in the Queensberry stable are also on show including London Heavyweight banger David Adeleye (5-0, 5 KOs) who boxes a six rounder.

Also in six round action is York Super-Welterweight George Davey (3-0) meets Jamie Stewart (2-1-1) and Super-Lightweight Henry Turner (4-0) who faces Clayton Bricknell (3-3-1).

In four rounders are Liverpool Middleweight James Heneghan (4-0) and Chatham Light-Heavyweight Karol Itauma (1-0) a Youth Olympic Gold Medallist.