BoxRec

this time?

What strikes me is how both have improved. Woods these days looks so strong and sharp it's hard to believe he was the same person.

Johnson has really looked the veteran, when he bounced back fom the Tarver loss, with two dominant wins over the respectable GK Jones and R Hall.

So, the promotion is stacked against him. If it's close it may not go his way. Warren has already struck a deal with Johnson, for Calzaghe.

But something tells me Woods can do it, and that the Calzaghe search for a top opponent will drift on forever. Woods seems to be taking this fight very seriously, training behind closed doors etc.

Woods wins on points in a close fight.

I chuffing hope so, being a Yorkshireman. What that will do for Calzaghe's Holy grail like 'search' for the right foe, God knows, however.

I'd say he has a good chance but it's still a 50-50 fight.

I think Clinton may have enough to come out the better man, but will that be enough to sway the judges, on an allegedly card?

I think Woods will do enough, it depends how much Johnson has left.

Woods improvement has been exaggerated. He has just fought poor opposition his last few fights.

Johnson will beat him again.

In the Light HW era of the 1970s, with Conteh, Johnson, Franklin, Gregory, Glaindez, Lopez etc, Clinton Woods would have been a good 10 round fighter.

Someone like Chris Finnegan would have beaten him comfortably.

Yeah I can't help but see Clinton being much more than a good, crowd pulling journeyman/contender, who made the most of a severly watered down divison and eventualy won an alphabet "crown" at home, after endless title shots.
(not that there's anything wrong with that! 8) )

Never would have won a world title before the shocking state of the division post 2000.

At least former journeyman Johnson beat the best in the division and proved himself a real title holder. Something Clint has never done.

This will be pretty much the same as the last two, with Johnson pulling out another win.
No hometown decision I hope, cause Woods wont win a round against Calzaghe.

If Woods was a relatively young contender, and boxing the way he has been of recent, then ppl would be hyping him. To me, he has shown world class skills and strength vs top 10 fighters Gonzalez & Hoye. I know they are not great, btw. He has also shown plenty to trouble Calzaghe.

A good measure of Woods' improvement is the Delisle fights. First tiome he laboured. 2nd time he dominated an ddemolished him... Now, Glen Johnson was only a journeyman due to the way he was managed post Hopkins. If he was brought along the right pace he would have a cleaner record (& some of the losses are dodgy, while some are just)...anyway, the WORTH of Woods' improvement will be measured truly in the 3rd Johnson fight.

If Clinton can win 7 rounds and not get dropped, then he is top class fighter. Today's light heavies are a strong bunch - Erdei, Adamek, Briggs, Johnson and Chad Dawson on the way up...

It's a different era of 175ers now. There was the Jones dominating era. Now the division is one in which the top guys look very equal.

I would be confident of a Woods win if it was on "home" territory for Woods. I have the feeling that Woods is going to have to be dominant to get the decision. Woods in his two previous fights with Glen has shown he has the tools to beat him, just didn't execute them enough. I'm not going to really claim though that he has learned from his mistakes - cause he didn't for fight 2.

I think Woods will win, but will it be an official win I'm not so sure.

I think this could turn out into one hell of a fight with both men punishing each other in the middle of the ring. I'm saying Clinton all the way winning by maybe 2 or 3 rounds, i really doubt Woods stops Johnson.

I think Clinton will deserve to win the fight, but lose it on the scorecards (as Stu said)

woods by ko in 10/11

tough one to call because the form of each has changed since they last fought.

I think Johnson will look like he's slipped and is on the way out, while Woods will want this fight more than ever.

I'm saying Woods by razor thin decision in a blood and guts war.

Woods will win the third fight.
Johnson is slipping at 37 while Woods has improved. His strength and conditioning is much improved sine he took professional advice on his nutrition. He is a more complete fighter and his confidence has soared.
The time is right for Woods to win and he will do on points after a close fight. The only worry is Warren if its true he has already agreed that Johnso will meet Calzaghe should Johnson win. Warren will be doing his level best to see a Johnson win and thats a concern.

Hopkins was slipping at 39

I dont think Johnson's slipping at all. His last two fights were a 1/2 level below Clinton's last foes. But Johnson looked just as good vs those guys (GK Jones, R Hall) as Woods looked against Hoye and Gonzalez. Johnson still seems fit & more importantly, his technique is actually improving.

Scrap wrote:Hopkins was slipping at 39

Johnson ain't Hopkins for starters and Hopkins wasn't a better fighter at 39 than he was when he was younger but he won in spite of his age.

viciousmaussa wrote:I dont think Johnson's slipping at all. His last two fights were a 1/2 level below Clinton's last foes. But Johnson looked just as good vs those guys (GK Jones, R Hall) as Woods looked against Hoye and Gonzalez. Johnson still seems fit & more importantly, his technique is actually improving.

Johnson is slipping. He sure as hell isn't getting better at 37.

He has looked ok in his last couple of fights but against whom? Thats the key thing. For a real indication look at how he looked in the Tarver rematch. He looked gassed and was outworked by Tarver who is no great shakes and has a stamina problem.
Johnson is still a formidable fighter but is not as good at 37 as he was as a younger man and that will be seen to be true when Woods meets and beats him in their third installement.
I don't really see how you can say that Glenns technique is improving based on his last couple fights? Im not being critical but can you explain what you mean? I mean he looked sharp but he was against inferior opposition so its no suprise he looked sharp. He had the luxury of being able to fight within himself in his last couple fights but he won't have that luxury against Woods.

Good point but hes not been, as I call ageing fights recently.I fancy clint in this one slightly although he is a different type to Gonzales and certainly not as shot.

lurkyshaka wrote:

viciousmaussa wrote:I dont think Johnson's slipping at all. His last two fights were a 1/2 level below Clinton's last foes. But Johnson looked just as good vs those guys (GK Jones, R Hall) as Woods looked against Hoye and Gonzalez. Johnson still seems fit & more importantly, his technique is actually improving.

Johnson is slipping. He sure as hell isn't getting better at 37.

He has looked ok in his last couple of fights but against whom? Thats the key thing. For a real indication look at how he looked in the Tarver rematch. He looked gassed and was outworked by Tarver who is no great shakes and has a stamina problem.
Johnson is still a formidable fighter but is not as good at 37 as he was as a younger man and that will be seen to be true when Woods meets and beats him in their third installement.
I don't really see how you can say that Glenns technique is improving based on his last couple fights? Im not being critical but can you explain what you mean? I mean he looked sharp but he was against inferior opposition so its no suprise he looked sharp. He had the luxury of being able to fight within himself in his last couple fights but he won't have that luxury against Woods.

well if Johnson's last foes are nothing then Woods' aren't much better. I give 'em both credit for dominating top 15ers & looking good.

Johnson has been a slow learner in his career. I see refinements in his technique. Obviously you can't gauge the improvements 100% until you see him in with a top fighter. But vs GK Jones and R Hall, he cut off the ring very efficiently. And his timing seemed spot on and his punch delivery extremely clean. He was punch perfect & that's not easy against decent southpaws. Sure he's getting older, but also more economical. I've seen him waste a lot of shots in the past (particularly the 1st Woods fight) & he can't afford to do that anymore so he adjusts.

Johnson wasn't great in the 2nd Tarver fight. He says his preparation wasn't sufficient after a long layoff and being overweight, But Tarver is a tall, difficult fighter who can be effective at not letting the other guy do what he wants to do. A shorter pressure fighter will have problems with the Tarvers of the world. Though AT was whipped by Hopkins he does have a lot of good wins and hasn't had an easy fight in over 10 years.

Woods can always win, due to the 'interesting scoring' the judges go for. I personally don't think the first fight was a draw. Johnson won. I reckon Johnson will win, but if it goes to points it is anybodies guess. Woods only chance is if it goes to points, and the judges get it wrong. (Which isn't really outside the bounds of possibility.)

However, I will back him every step of the way. Come on Clinton.

Just seen ITV's promo advert, not bad. Looking forward to it, Woods on points.

I think Woods has improved since the two Johnson fight's, this has been shown when comparing the two De Lisle fights. I'm not sure if Johnson can sustain his usual contant pressure anymore. I'll go for Woods on points.

COME ON CLINTON!!!!!!!!!