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GLEN JOHNSON VS. ALLAN GREEN
The Super Six tournament welcomes a new entry in Glen Johnson who replaces
Mikkel Kessler. Allan Green was a late entry himself in replacing Jermain Taylor after
Taylor was pole axed by Arthur Abraham. The two now are matched together in what
is far and away one the least intriguing match-up of the series.
Record
ALLAN GREEN: Is 29-2 with 20 knockouts. Both losses were one-sided decisions
to Edison Miranda and Andre Ward…Turned pro in November of 2002. Has fought
primarily on the Oklahoma circuit.
GLEN JOHNSON: Is 50-14-2 with 34 knockouts….Record is misleading…The
“Road Warrior” is exactly that, a guy that had to go to the hometowns of his opponent
and often found himself on the short end of a close decision. Turned pro in February of
1993. Lost in bids for the middleweight (KOby12 Bernard Hopkins) and super
middleweight titles (L12 Sven Ottke)…Won the IBF Light Heavyweight title in
February of 2004...Seems to always be on the cusp of a title shot in the weak light
heavyweight division.
Age and physical equipment
ALLAN GREEN: Green is a relatively fresh 31 year old. Is 6’2” with a 73” inch
reach…Athletic build with good foot movement….Chin was breached against Edison
Miranda though Green claimed to have had a stomach virus.
GLEN JOHNSON: A dinosaur in the sport at 41 years of age…Stands 5’11” with a
75” inch reach. Always in tremendous physical condition. Possesses one of the
sturdiest chins in boxing…Has the work rate of a much younger fighter.
Previous fight
ALLAN GREEN: Was shut out over 12 rounds against Andre Ward in a challenge
for the WBA Super Middleweight title. Green was thoroughly outclassed
throughout…He was never in danger of being stopped but seemed content to go the
distance.
GLEN JOHNSON: Lost a unanimous 12 round decision to Tavoris Cloud in a
challenge for the IBF Light Heavyweight title. Johnson was competitive but lost out to
the harder punching and younger Cloud…Cloud was basically a younger version of
himself. Scores were 8 rounds to 4 on all cards.
Best weapons
ALLAN GREEN: Uses a "check hook" to keep foes honest. Green does own decent
power. He has a serviceable jab and right cross but his left hook can do some damage,
particularly against lesser opposition. Annhiliated prospect Jaidon Codrington with the
left hook and sent him through the ropes.
GLEN JOHNSON: Johnson does not have one single "best" weapon. His greatest
asset is his work rate. He possesses the ability even at 41 years of age to simply
outwork his opponents. Johnson is always moving forward, throwing punches and the
opponents he has defeated simply could not keep up. He does have a decent overhand
right such as the one that felled Roy Jones Jr. but he is by no means a power puncher.
He is a basic one-two puncher and does not veer from this style of attack.
Quality of opposition:
ALLAN GREEN: With the exception of Andre Ward and Edison Miranda, Green’s
opposition has been mediocre, at best. His biggest victory was against fellow prospect
Jerson Ravelo. His most impressive outing was against the aforementioned
Codrington. But again, his bouts have taken place primarily on the Oklahoma circuit
where the athletic commissions are lax and mismatches are prevalent.
GLEN JOHNSON: Johnson has fought a who’s who of the light heavyweight division
in Roy Jones, Chad Dawson, Clinton Woods and Antonio Tarver. He has also fought
the best the middleweight and super middleweight division had to offer in the 1990s as
he faced off against Hopkins and Ottke respectively…His finest year was in 2004 as
he defeated Tarver and Jones back to back.
Defense
ALLAN GREEN: Elects to use his legs and height to offset his opponents punches.
Has a tendency to clinch a lot. Is not comfortable being swarmed. Seems to fade late in
bouts and utilizes the clinch far too often when the heat is on. Green’s high profile fights
against Ward and Miranda have a boring quality to them after a couple of rounds.
GLEN JOHNSON: Johnson’s defense is his offense.…Throwing punches in
bunches, Johnson advances behind a sharp jab.…Keeps a very high guard and his chin
tucked. Very hard to hit with a direct shot. Opponents must work hard to split his
gloves but the top tier fighters have found success in hitting him. Can move his head
well but prefers the high guard.
Style
ALLAN GREEN: The stunning knockout over Codrington gave Green the unfitting
label of being a “boxer/puncher”. He is a pure boxer…He throws a flicking jab and
favors a power left hook. Will immediately grab if an opponent gets too close. Does
not throw many punches…Likes to pose and present different defensive looks often
with his left hand low. Often avoids punches by leaning back. Throws one punch at
time.
GLEN JOHNSON: Johnson is a grunt and grinder. Nothing fancy about his attack,
he moves forward and seeks to bury his head in his foe’s shoulders. Advances behind
a solid, if not, pushing jab in an attempt to wade in close. A lot of his shots are arm
punches. Seems impervious to pain.
The Questions
ALLAN GREEN: Is he one of those fighters who simply cannot get over the hump?
Will the lopsided loss to Andre Ward effect his psyche? Will his punches have any
effect on the bigger and stronger Johnson?
GLEN JOHNSON: The question you have to ask any fighter his age is when will it be
one fight too many? Will the weight loss affect his performance in the ring? Is he on a
big fight losing streak?
Outcome
The biggest question here is whether the weight loss will affect Johnson. My guess is
that his entrance into the tournament will rejuvenate his competitive juices. His
aggressiveness will force Green to tie up. While in the clinches, Johnson will enforce his
will over the more passive Green. Body shots coupled with rabbit punches will prompt
a late round fade by Green. I do not expect a stoppage but a clear cut and unanimous
decision for the “Road Warrior.”
The Super Six tournament welcomes a new entry in Glen Johnson who replaces
Mikkel Kessler. Allan Green was a late entry himself in replacing Jermain Taylor after
Taylor was pole axed by Arthur Abraham. The two now are matched together in what
is far and away one the least intriguing match-up of the series.
Record
ALLAN GREEN: Is 29-2 with 20 knockouts. Both losses were one-sided decisions
to Edison Miranda and Andre Ward…Turned pro in November of 2002. Has fought
primarily on the Oklahoma circuit.
GLEN JOHNSON: Is 50-14-2 with 34 knockouts….Record is misleading…The
“Road Warrior” is exactly that, a guy that had to go to the hometowns of his opponent
and often found himself on the short end of a close decision. Turned pro in February of
1993. Lost in bids for the middleweight (KOby12 Bernard Hopkins) and super
middleweight titles (L12 Sven Ottke)…Won the IBF Light Heavyweight title in
February of 2004...Seems to always be on the cusp of a title shot in the weak light
heavyweight division.
Age and physical equipment
ALLAN GREEN: Green is a relatively fresh 31 year old. Is 6’2” with a 73” inch
reach…Athletic build with good foot movement….Chin was breached against Edison
Miranda though Green claimed to have had a stomach virus.
GLEN JOHNSON: A dinosaur in the sport at 41 years of age…Stands 5’11” with a
75” inch reach. Always in tremendous physical condition. Possesses one of the
sturdiest chins in boxing…Has the work rate of a much younger fighter.
Previous fight
ALLAN GREEN: Was shut out over 12 rounds against Andre Ward in a challenge
for the WBA Super Middleweight title. Green was thoroughly outclassed
throughout…He was never in danger of being stopped but seemed content to go the
distance.
GLEN JOHNSON: Lost a unanimous 12 round decision to Tavoris Cloud in a
challenge for the IBF Light Heavyweight title. Johnson was competitive but lost out to
the harder punching and younger Cloud…Cloud was basically a younger version of
himself. Scores were 8 rounds to 4 on all cards.
Best weapons
ALLAN GREEN: Uses a "check hook" to keep foes honest. Green does own decent
power. He has a serviceable jab and right cross but his left hook can do some damage,
particularly against lesser opposition. Annhiliated prospect Jaidon Codrington with the
left hook and sent him through the ropes.
GLEN JOHNSON: Johnson does not have one single "best" weapon. His greatest
asset is his work rate. He possesses the ability even at 41 years of age to simply
outwork his opponents. Johnson is always moving forward, throwing punches and the
opponents he has defeated simply could not keep up. He does have a decent overhand
right such as the one that felled Roy Jones Jr. but he is by no means a power puncher.
He is a basic one-two puncher and does not veer from this style of attack.
Quality of opposition:
ALLAN GREEN: With the exception of Andre Ward and Edison Miranda, Green’s
opposition has been mediocre, at best. His biggest victory was against fellow prospect
Jerson Ravelo. His most impressive outing was against the aforementioned
Codrington. But again, his bouts have taken place primarily on the Oklahoma circuit
where the athletic commissions are lax and mismatches are prevalent.
GLEN JOHNSON: Johnson has fought a who’s who of the light heavyweight division
in Roy Jones, Chad Dawson, Clinton Woods and Antonio Tarver. He has also fought
the best the middleweight and super middleweight division had to offer in the 1990s as
he faced off against Hopkins and Ottke respectively…His finest year was in 2004 as
he defeated Tarver and Jones back to back.
Defense
ALLAN GREEN: Elects to use his legs and height to offset his opponents punches.
Has a tendency to clinch a lot. Is not comfortable being swarmed. Seems to fade late in
bouts and utilizes the clinch far too often when the heat is on. Green’s high profile fights
against Ward and Miranda have a boring quality to them after a couple of rounds.
GLEN JOHNSON: Johnson’s defense is his offense.…Throwing punches in
bunches, Johnson advances behind a sharp jab.…Keeps a very high guard and his chin
tucked. Very hard to hit with a direct shot. Opponents must work hard to split his
gloves but the top tier fighters have found success in hitting him. Can move his head
well but prefers the high guard.
Style
ALLAN GREEN: The stunning knockout over Codrington gave Green the unfitting
label of being a “boxer/puncher”. He is a pure boxer…He throws a flicking jab and
favors a power left hook. Will immediately grab if an opponent gets too close. Does
not throw many punches…Likes to pose and present different defensive looks often
with his left hand low. Often avoids punches by leaning back. Throws one punch at
time.
GLEN JOHNSON: Johnson is a grunt and grinder. Nothing fancy about his attack,
he moves forward and seeks to bury his head in his foe’s shoulders. Advances behind
a solid, if not, pushing jab in an attempt to wade in close. A lot of his shots are arm
punches. Seems impervious to pain.
The Questions
ALLAN GREEN: Is he one of those fighters who simply cannot get over the hump?
Will the lopsided loss to Andre Ward effect his psyche? Will his punches have any
effect on the bigger and stronger Johnson?
GLEN JOHNSON: The question you have to ask any fighter his age is when will it be
one fight too many? Will the weight loss affect his performance in the ring? Is he on a
big fight losing streak?
Outcome
The biggest question here is whether the weight loss will affect Johnson. My guess is
that his entrance into the tournament will rejuvenate his competitive juices. His
aggressiveness will force Green to tie up. While in the clinches, Johnson will enforce his
will over the more passive Green. Body shots coupled with rabbit punches will prompt
a late round fade by Green. I do not expect a stoppage but a clear cut and unanimous
decision for the “Road Warrior.”
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