jamesmcdonnell wrote:Just read the times, and they are claiming the fight will be at 168! Can Johnson make 168 in 5 weeks, I know he isn't a huge Light Heavy, but this is a strange fight. Surely the whole point of fighting Johnson was to make a name at Light Heavyweight?
Of course, Calazaghe wouldn't get a belt if he beat Johnson at 175 except maybe the IBO one, does he still have that?
Johnson can make 168 no problem, Ive met him and was struck by how small he actually was.
Remember he ws at 160 not long ago.
He also wasn't 175 yet, and wasn't 41 years old...you body starts to slow along with your metalbolism and ability to lose weight with no effect. Will it be an issue...if it's catchweight, no, it shouldn't be. However, making him drop 7 pounds may. I just think Calzaghe comes off as an ass for calling out all of LHW pretty much, yet asking all of them to hit 168.
That whole Briggs thing was a smeg farce.
Dude, Johnson isn't 41! He's 36 I think, and he rarely weighs 175 on fight night. He's a guy who stacked weight on to fight at 175, I am not sure if he was struggling at making 168 or not.
I guess though that Calzaghe has to defend his belts or take on another belt holder at 175 for TV to be interested.
If Johnson is healthy and strong a 168, I think this could be a cracking fight.
I cant understand why Warren and Calzaghe want this fight at 168. I thought his big career plan was to step up and fight Tarver anyway. Maybe he wants to keep his options open just incase Tarver loses to Hopkins then he will probably face Beyer for a unification showdown.
If I was Johnson, I'd tell Warren and Calzaghe where to stick there demands and fight Woods for the IBF 175 title. He owes Calzaghe and Warren no favours and by taking this fight at such short notice that is exactly what he is doing.
I think IF this fight goes ahead it will be at the 172 catch weight for no titles. I still think it wont happen though, if not Calzaghe will not be fighting anyone in July IMO..
They want it at 168 because it suits them better. You dont debut at a new weight versus the 2nd top guy when you could weaken him and fight on your own terms do you?
He can step up to 175 and fight an easier fight than Johnson, with a Johnson fight in the bag.
In a way it suits Johnson too, he has excuses ready made should he lose and doesn't really harm his status at 175.
If Johnson fails, they find someone else. They always do, you may not like who it is but there is always someone out there.
This is, Johnson is earning shit all right now, as sadly he isn't a draw and he's not getting the fights he wants. Tarver and Woods don't seem interested right now, and the light heavyweight division, as usual is pretty boring with too many of the main protagonists not fighting one another.
Whilst I assumed that this fight would be at 175 when it was first announced, the more I think about it, the more sense it makes, certainly for Calzaghe, and Johnson has little to lose, after all, it's not like he has an unbeaten record to protect.
DavidPayne wrote:They want it at 168 because it suits them better. You dont debut at a new weight versus the 2nd top guy when you could weaken him and fight on your own terms do you?
He can step up to 175 and fight an easier fight than Johnson, with a Johnson fight in the bag.
In a way it suits Johnson too, he has excuses ready made should he lose and doesn't really harm his status at 175.
If Johnson fails, they find someone else. They always do, you may not like who it is but there is always someone out there.
Catchweight suits nobody IMO.
i suppose. & on paper catchweight looks neither here nor there.
but if calzaghe wins a close one, everyone will say Johnson would win catchweight or at light heavy
tarver had a dig at hopkins, saying 'you don't just move up & fight the best guy in your first fight at the new weight, you fight one of those guys that i beat'. so by that reasoning it does make some sense. and if johnson makes 172 easily, he can make 168
KO Artist wrote:
It has to be at 168 for the title to be at stake. Lets face it Calzaghe is the true champ at 168, and ITV will want the title on the line.
HBO won't care if it's for the title or not, though, and they are televising the fight live here in the U.S. They are also a big reason for the Johnson talk.
dbf wrote:I am pretty sure that johnson doesnt drain himself to make 172, he pretty much steps on the scales at 172 ish and fights the next day at only a few pounds more. He, as it has already been said isnt a big light heavy, and im sure he can drain down to 168 healthly and remain strong.
5 weeks however isnt long but, glenn is used to this kind of thing.
good fight, werent people getting excited about the prospect of adamek johnson at light heavy? So its not like its a stiff joe will be facing.
i think one of thre things they're trying to do is make him feel like the 'journeyman' he was. treat him like shit, make him fight on their terms. which i guess is fine for SN IF they can actually make the fight.
very disrespectful though, and they were the same with Briggs, no way he melts down to 168 that's ridiculous
That's what Frank and Joe do. Give fights on cheap money or on short notice to guys they think they can get, and make them do the work to get there. He did it to Beyer with a pathetically low offer for a guy immensely popular in Germany. He tried to get Briggs at a weight he hasn't been at or below in 12 years eventhough Joe made a stink about wanting to go up to LHW, yet seems to be asking LHW's to come to 168.
Notice the one guy everyone wants to see him fight, and he hasn't made a peep about him....Kess.
