Glen "The Road Warrior | Gentleman" Johnson "I am not the best but I will fight the best!"

The Boxing Breakdown host Mark Roxey sits down with veteran fighter, promoter and trainer, former IBF, IBO, Ring Magazine light heavyweight champion Glen "The Road Warrior/ Gentleman" Johnson. The question that we explored was do promoters, networks and fans put way too much stock in undefeated fighters or is it more important to fight the best? Download the episode and follow us on instagram, facebook and twitter @theboxingbreakdown.

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Glengoffe Donovan Johnson (born 2 January 1969) is a Jamaican former professional boxer who competed from 1993 to 2015. He held the IBF, IBO and Ring magazine light heavyweight titles between 2004 and 2005, and challenged once each for world titles at middleweight and super middleweight.

He was named Fighter of the Year in 2004 by The Ring and the Boxing Writers Association of America for his upset knockout victory over Roy Jones Jr. Throughout his career, Johnson was well known for his exceptionally durable chin and relentless pressure fighting style.

Johnson arrived in South Florida from Jamaica at the age of 15. He would not begin boxing as an amateur until a few years later. Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson was a late bloomer of the sport, starting at 20 years old in Miami, Florida, at an emerging police boxing gym. Johnson compiled an amateur record of 35-5 and was a two-time Florida State Golden Gloves Champion, once at 165 and at the other at 178-pounds.

Johnson won his first 32 professional fights before challenging Bernard Hopkins for the IBF middleweight title in 1997. Johnson was stopped on his feet in the 11th round. He added eight more to his tally of losses, many of them debatable decisions where Johnson was adjudged to have lost to the hometown fighter. He journeyed to England and suffered a controversial draw against Clinton Woods, but defeated him in a rematch by unanimous decision to win the IBF light heavyweight title.

His next fight came against former undisputed light heavyweight champion Roy Jones Jr., who entered following an

Transcript

Walter Waite : 0:09

This is

Mark Roxey : 0:51

What's up? What's up what's up, and welcome to another edition of the boxing breakdown. And I'm your host, Mark, Roxy. And I'm delighted that you're here again tuning in. And I thank you for that. If you liked the program, please do not forget to share it with a boxing community. Find us on Facebook, like us, join the page, the boxing breakdown. And also join us on Instagram and Twitter, and all of the social platforms you can find us at The Boxing Breakdown. He is an absolutely amazing person. And his boxing career was outstanding. This is a guy where Okay, so there's a lot of different types of boxes, as you all know. But what I want to do is distinguish between two types of of those boxes, there are many. But the two types of boxes that I want to distinguish against is is you've got fighters who cherry pick pretty much all of their opponents until they get to the very, very top. And then you have guys like Glen Johnson, who basically fight anybody you put them in front of. So Glen Johnson had a relatively short amateur career. And he started boxing when he was roughly I think he was 20 years old when he began his boxing career as an amateur. He had about 40 fights or 35 fights something like that. So I think his record has amateur if I can recall, his amateur record was 35 and five, something like that.

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 11:06

a few months back, and then the pandemic. And then we target October to do it. And the pandemic is still hanging around. So it didn't make sense to do. So now we have a January 23. date that that we targeted. So Wow. And others, January 23, should be our first promotion, right and those. So once you get back into gear, I'm sure you will be doing that soon. But is that are those fights going to be happening in Miami, Florida or all over the state of Florida.

Walter Waite : 0:12

fight bands worldwide. you tuned into the number one boxing podcast today. This is boxing. Now you're heavy, hard hitting host, Mark, Roxy

Mark Roxey : 3:08

And he was a two time Florida State Golden Gloves champion. So he didn't spend too much time as an amateur and went right into the professional ranks. And when he did that, he was able to amass a record of 32 bouts without ever losing. He fought quality opposition all the way up. If you if you study his career, you'll see and most of those came by way of knockout TKO medical decisions. I mean, he really he spanked his opponents for sure all the way up to his 32nd fight. And after that he met up with Bernard, the executioner Hopkins and that is where he suffered his first loss against Bernard Hopkins in a TKO and they fought for the International Boxing Federation, world title middleweight title, excuse me. And, you know, he he's fought everybody. And I think that some of the most celebrated wins that he had was against, you know, Roy Jones Jr, which was, he got a TKO, and that was for the International Boxing Federation world Light Heavyweight title. He also went on to defeat Antonio Tarver in a split decision, and later he would suffer a unanimous decision loss against Antonio Tarver And then he goes on and he fights. People like Montel Griffiths, Clinton woods, Chad Dawson I mean, Tavares cloud, who was an absolute beast in the ring, Alan green, Carl frosh loosen loosing on boot bootay. He just this is a gentleman who fought anybody they put in front of him. And he ended up with a record. I think he had 7076 fights. And his his final record was 54 wins with 20 losses, and two draws his a kayo percentage was roughly 50%. And just shy of 50%. And I wonder, I want to I want to know, hit me up, and let me know what, how much stock do you put in winning and losing? And he really got me thinking and actually, there were several other things. I was working with a couple of fighters and there's certain things that I've been contemplating about the sport of boxing. And how, what a disservice it is to take a fighter who spent 15 years of his life and because he loses somehow give him this notion that he's no longer were worthy of fighting. And the reason I say that is because I mean, if you look at any other sport, if you look at football, baseball, I mean, these baseball teams, they lose half their game, sometimes they lose three quarters of their games, and sometimes they win. And same with football. And same with pretty much every other sport. And that those losses actually have a way of making you better. And as a trainer, that's something that I know and and I've watched it for many, many years. So I wonder what you think about that. And when you hear this interview I wonder if your mind is altered by listening to this incredible human being. So without further ado, I would like to invite into the studio. Glenn though Road Warrior Johnson what's up what's up? What's up?

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 7:35

What an introduction. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Not much out man. Still here still enjoying life? That's it? Yeah, yeah.

Mark Roxey : 7:44

That's what's up your your um, you're down in sunny Miami, Florida, right?

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 7:51

Yeah, man. Man, I think the best place in the country so yeah, I'm enjoying it.

Mark Roxey : 7:58

Yes. Yes, it is. I would have to agree with you, man, though. The weather is warm. The women are beautiful. And you're outside being it's a great active lifestyle that you guys live down there.

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 8:13

Oh, yeah. It's nice, man. I enjoyed it a lot. You know, yeah, the women are beautiful and nice new weather. They talking about 85 or 90 degree? weather. You know, you got the beach. I mean, yeah. I mean, you can't actually nothing as good health and money and you're good to go.

Mark Roxey : 8:36

Oh, that's what's up. And you got both of them. I know you got both. Thank God, man. I'm so

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 8:44

I know. It's a blessing hard work will pay off in the long run.

Mark Roxey : 8:48

It does. It does. And so how are you making out down there? How is the boxing scene down in Miami, Florida? I know. I know. There's some fights going on down there. And there has been several of them recently. But how's it going for you down there?

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 9:04

Well, um, Roxanne been picking up here in Miami. You know, boxing was a hot topic in Miami for a long time from demand early days and then kind of cooled off for a little bit, but it's picking up again. You know, I'm also thinking about doing some promotion here in Miami myself, coming up next year. So I was so I was about to do some stuff myself this year, but the pandemic kind of throw me back and push it away into next year. So we got January 23, as a date that we're targeting to do my first promotion going on good man right now. I'm also doing training. I'm training a couple of fighters that have a few fighters that I'm training so I'm still in the business. I mean, I'm not enduring anymore. But I must say during making

Mark Roxey : 10:02

Yo, how lucky are they? How lucky are those fighters to get the road warrior in their corner and to be training them? And they are lucky, bro. For real?

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 10:14

Well, thank you, thank you appreciate it. I mean, you know, I have a couple of plans and a couple of stuff I want to do in boxing. So I'm working on it, I'm slowly getting those wheels turn in, and I'm looking to do some big things in the future.

Mark Roxey : 10:36

Right. And so you so let's talk about, let's talk about your promotion, you started a promotional company, is that is that correct?

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 10:45

Yeah, we start, we start in boxing promotion companies called a road map, Road Warrior promotion. That's what's so so we've got all the groundwork covered. And, you know, we were just about to promote the first fight I'm basically in Miami, Florida. Oh, I would have to pick up I would have to pick up some nice steam to start moving around the country. But for now, I'm just going to stick with locally and if it take off like I'm hoping then we can start looking around for other places. But for now we're here in Miami and we're trying to hit it as hard as we can. Right right.

Mark Roxey : 12:06

Yeah, that's beautiful man that that is exciting news because I would anticipate that not only you know by you having a promotional company out there and Florida, that the kinds of fights that you would put on I can only imagine the kinds of fights that you would want to have on that promotion just just just by knowing the kind of fighter that you were and are you know what kind of fights you would be put matchmaking I could just imagine and that that is very exciting to me. And those folks in Miami are super lucky to have you down there.

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 12:43

Oh, thanks man. I certainly appreciate that not definitely intend to put on good fights and in entertain the people. I believe people work hard for their money and they should be entertainment they spend it so I'm definitely looking to do that. And that that is the same way how I train my fighter that train my fight is hard. Because I want it to perform a certain way so both things from I have my hand in both areas.

Mark Roxey : 13:13

Right Right. Exactly. And yeah, that that's um that's pretty incredible. A really yes I hope I can get down there to get catch one of your cards for sure for sure.

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 13:25

Yeah, no, definitely. I would love you to come back down I know you're you're training some fighters as well. Oh yeah, maybe we can do so much making you never know

Mark Roxey : 13:36

you already know Glenn you already know that's that's a given and we can definitely you know chop that up. Because because that's something I'd definitely be interested in. And I know there's a lot of East Coast fighters down here in the Philly New York area that would love to get up to you and be part of your promotion because I know you'll do an outstanding job with that. I did I did want to add a lot of things I want to talk to you about man I am and this is specifically for the fans out there the boxing breakdown fans that listen to the show we've got a lot of followers coming into the show man and and the show is growing and I just want to thank all the listeners out there for for supporting the program and for being on the program and for sharing it hit that share button and send it out to your friends. So that everybody knows I mean this program is is a very different program because my my goal with the program is to kind of give fans and people that are in the sport a little deeper insight into the the people that are in boxing including Glenn, the road warrior Johnson, you know what, what is it like to have had a full career in the sport, achieved some of the most profound things And sport and also reach some of the lows, you know, you. Your your record was 54 wins with 20 losses and two draws. Am I correct with that? Was that? A correct?

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 15:15

Yeah, I believe those numbers are correct. I don't really have the numbers in front of people is sound familiar? Yeah. So I would say Yes, that's correct. But um, yeah, I mean, listen, you know, I stopped boxing, when I was 20 years old. It was, it was, it was very tough, you're 20 years old, and you're looking for something to do with your life. You know, you in your younger years, you spend a lot of time to go into school and, and listening to your parents and stuff and, you know, trying to get to places you want to be through the books and stuff. But, you know, not catching on to the books the way how I would like to, and 20 years old, he started to look around saying, Man, and you know, I don't want to, I don't want to just stay in this life that I am in right now. I want to excel, I wanna I want to make myself put myself in a better position. And, you know, you walk around and one day I was passing this building there was doing construction in there and I walk in and ask them what they what they doing. And they basically said they will build in the gym is going to be a PA L and if you live in the neighborhood, it would be free for you to come in and train and so what is a PA L and they said boxing it's going to be a local boxing gym. And, and I was excited cuz I've never been around boxing, to be honest with you. I didn't even watch boxing, but at least just hearing the word boxing I know of it. And I was like, wow, this is something I have to try cuz I, I'm looking very hard at something to do with my life outside of just working in a construction job. So I asked him how long it's going to take for them to open up. And they tell me about a month or so I say I will be here. In a month time they open up and I walk in and talk to the train that that was in the gym and we start training. He took a liking to me. And you know, in a couple of months time he really asked me like, yo, do you really want a boxer you just want to lose weight in, you know, in the gym, or you just working out to lose weight. So yeah, my idea is to work on work hard and loose on weight. But if I could be a boxer, I would love to give it a shot. You said Well, there's some amateur show coming up. Do you want to prepare for it? And I say yes, of course. If you think I can do it. I definitely will. And you start training me for that. And I got ready. And it was hard work, man. But I got ready. I fought and I win my first fight and I was so excited. I was livid. Wow. Listen, I that was the bug bro. And there was nothing else I want it to do with myself from that day forward. And so I stuck with it. And I did three years of amateur and turn pro when I was 23. And yeah, I have some ups and downs but I never let it down stop me and I never let it the UPS get to my head I just keep a level profile and level headed and, and just keep working and you know, start getting some major fights and I win some of those and lose some of those. But so No, I didn't I did start boxing when I was eight years old or 10 years old to have all the experience I needed to have in my 20s So I learned on the job and I was able to be successful. So that is whenever I despise, like, have like a late start and they don't know if they can do it. I always encourage them give it your best shot because you never know what can happen.

Mark Roxey : 19:10

Wow, man, listen, that story is so inspiring your your your journey in boxing, for those that are out there. I'm sure you guys are inspired out there because I'm sitting here just on the edge of my seat listening to what you're saying. And, you know, you ended your you ended your amateur career with a record of 35 and five. So it's not like you had a nothing amateur career at the age of 20 you really dug in and you did 35 or actually 40 amateur fights and you you have a record of 35 and five that's increased like to me that's incredible.

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 19:49

Yeah, man. Yeah, I mean, thank you, you know, it's it's like I said, Man, you know if you really really want something, you know people can say home Watch day one, something verbally, all they want. But you tell me what you want something by almost work you're willing to put in how much sacrifice that you're willing to put into it. And and then that gives you the best chance of accomplishing it. And like I said, I was looking for something to do with my life before I run into boxing. And once I found it, I was 100% committed, there was nothing that would stop me from doing it doesn't matter how our construction work, and it doesn't matter how tired I was. Get off work at 330. And you can believe by 430 I was in the gym. I went home, took a shower and head straight to the gym. I didn't get nothing to eat nothing for nothing, just water and soap back into some clothes by my gym bag on my shoulder and heading to the gym. And that did that three years never miss a day. Wow, that was that was my way out. And I never let it go and grab on.

Mark Roxey : 21:05

Yes,

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 21:06

it was all the way and bro.

Mark Roxey : 21:07

No, it's no, it's so inspiring. It's so inspiring. And I know that jujitsu inspired an entire generation, anybody who listens to this program that's aspiring to fight. regardless of your age, you know, you want to get in the ring and you want to really make a go at this. You know, all you got to do is listen to Glenn Johnson story, because it is it is really, really incredible. And and this is what I'm going to say about it. This is this is something that, Glen I'm not even sure that you know, you probably know this, but I know the fans don't know this, and I'm delighted to tell you this. Glen Johnson had a knockout ratio as a professional fighter of 48.7% and his estimated power of all his fights all 54 fights right? His power. His power estimate was 64% his chin get this people his chin. The road warriors chin was 86% Yo, his his his unanimous decision, right? unanimous decisions were 34% of his entire career. His TK O's were 32.9% of his entire career. Right? And he is estimated knockouts were 18.4% he went seven 7.9% split decision, and 6.6% percent as medical decisions, right? Just listen to me people. This guy Glenn, let your your stats are incredible. The your kayo so you've been kayode 6.6 point nine 7% of your entire career. You've had 531 professional rounds of boxing. And you've only been stopped two times. You've been kayode right? 2.63% of your entire career. Your average, yo yo, your you've stopped 37 of your opponent's 37 of them at a 54 fights. Right? And you've only been kayode 03 8% and your average losing rounds like average 11 rounds. Yeah, you're you're I can go on I can go on I know my stuff, bro. I know my stuff. Right? Your your I when I looked at your stats, and I paid attention to what it is that you've actually done. It's incredible. So I wonder if maybe Glenn you would just share with with? Well, well I'll start it off by saying that your best wins Of course were some of the most iconic wins were against Roy Jones and Anthony Tarver. Those were two of the really most incredible ones. But I really want to explore, um, your, your career who were the hardest hitting opponents that you had

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 24:27

the hardest hitting opponent or that fourth? I think it's terrorist towbarless Cloud. Wow. Yeah, he was Yeah, he is. He was a strong fighter. He. He was manhandled. We went toe to toe back and forth. Yeah, I think he was the hardest puncher that I fought. The fastest guy that I fought I would say, right, Jones right Jones right Jones Georgia was was it was extremely fast. And I think the probably the most complete boxer that I said can lose a good boxer know how to move no movies hands and stuff like that. I would say Chad Dawson. Okay. Chad Dawson and I think the most crafty. I'm talking about being smart in the ring was Bernard Hopkins. Wow. Just very, very, very smart. Fridays, not the fastest guys don't punch the hardest hit. He doesn't move the best, or anything like that. But he do it all in a smart way. Wow, that really confused you. So what were some of the, you know,

Mark Roxey : 25:46

what were the some of the things that that Bernard Hopkins did to the road warrior that made you say that what what did he do? Well,

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 25:55

also, you know, that could also have happened to happen to be too because at the time when I fought him, I was fairly green. You know, it wasn't later on when I was season. So but he, he was just like it, I felt like he knew what I was about to do. Before I did it every time I had thought like if I wanted to throw a red hand, it's like he was on the same wavelength with me, he knew I was going to do a right hand gesture or whatever I thought of doing it. I felt in the moment like he knew it. So I was I was doing something that was I had a telegraph in it or was showing some kind of sign of something. But I was Yeah, I could not get over and hear me know, everything that he was doing this kind of neutralize what I was trying to do. So Wow. But that was my first experience of just getting in the ring with somebody would have so much more experience than I so for the boss, he was very confusing for me

Mark Roxey : 27:04

for the breakdown fans out there. Listen, he, Glen Johnson was undefeated with 32 bouts under his belt before he ever had his first professional loss against Bernard Hopkins. So as as you're talking about that, I just wanted to put that in perspective for everybody that, that you went 32 fights completely undefeated before you ever met up with the likes of Bernard Hopkins. And so what you're saying I can I can really understand. And I think you know that that's incredible, that just lets you know what level Bernard Hopkins is on because he was an amazing fighter as well. You know, he is an amazing fighter. I don't think he's fighting anymore. But certainly you never know with what's going on these days. You know, he comes back out, which I want to ask you about a little bit later. But can you just tell me a little bit about what what did you do to prepare to defeat Roy Jones? What did you do when you actually defeated him? Well, preparation Well, what

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 28:15

I mean, I mean, read John's was is a unique story. You know, gradually I'm a big fan of Ray Jones Jr. So you know, I always watch his fights and stuff. And with my friends and and I always tell my friends that if I ever get a chance to fight Ray Jones, I would beat him and they would laugh at me and make fun of men telling me how much right Jones would kill me if we ever fought. So when I actually got the opportunity to fight right Jones I you know that all of those things that all my friends were saying to me, like two years before that was ringing in my head, I was determined, I was determined not to make none of those things happen. So I trained extremely hard, I would train I was brought in like three sparring partners and I was sparring each guy for like one around and then bring in a fresh guy the next run and then the first guy the other run and then keep rotating them. So basically every run I would have a fresh guy that I was dealing with because I wanted to be in such a shape and such such tremendous conditioning because I know fighting right Jones, you needed to stay on top of him because if you don't right and give him the opportunity to splash his speed and step back and sit back and relax and come back and flash that speed again if you if you do that he will kill you. So right though. I wanted to get on him and stay on top of him and stand up with him. Until the end, so I train like a maniac. And so when I came out in that first round, if you ever see that, right, I came out and it's like a whirlwind. And I maintain and I lost a little bit of momentum. But I said Lin, at the high work rate, and is exactly what I wanted to do that so I trained so at the tier, that was my game plan. And because I figured I was the best way to beat him, because I always felt like people gave him too much respect by staying back. He was slashed. He was flush that speed and that speed would scare people, but I had no fear. So that thing does scare me. So I was in his pocket the whole night. Wow.

Mark Roxey : 30:40

Yeah, and that's exactly where you are. Because I did watch the fight. I have seen the fight several times and what one of the things I noticed is that you never allowed him to have that room so he could hit you with those potshots and and you really kept the distance shut down on him for the majority of the fight and threw punches in but I mean, so many punches that you were number one, I probably ahead on the scorecards and number two, you know, eventually you're going to land you know, and I think that was brilliant of you to to be able to have that kind of a game plan against such a such an amazing fighter.

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 31:22

Yeah, now you was, you know, because I always when i like i said i watch all of rage on site and I'm a big fan of it still is I mean, you know, he I don't think he liked very much, but that's that's a him problem.

Mark Roxey : 31:37

I'm sure he loves you, man. I'm sure Listen, he's such a great guy, I'm sure. Roy Jones if you're listening to the program, which I know you do, you know, uh, you know, please, you know, let's get you two together so he knows so so Glen Johnson knows how much you love them because I know you do. Right? I know you do. I know which I know what's up. So what happened with what happened with Anthony tarbert take us through how is it going in against a southpaw? First of all tell us what happened in that fight?

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 32:10

Where's tabrez a big guy is the biggest light heavyweight that I ever face. He is a big guy for 175 pounds I always wondered every time I see him I wonder how the hell he with a happy life is what have some kind of manipulated the scale because it's certainly never look like a light heavyweight at any point in time right so but I saw you so whenever time what you know when we will fight in here would always use this height you know he's a tall guys physical is is a bigger his to do the thing that works in my benefit that he was just slow. Because he was just so big. For that weight class. He was one of the slowest fighters and I ever fought. Right But he's very is very smart. I mean, he you know, he'd be fighting that fight forever. So he knows he knows how to use it. And honey can take punishment. So right you know, the first fight the first fight when weed for the first time. You know, I went in there and I actually had plans to stop him, I guess I really thought that would able to stop him. But he was able to take the punishment that I was able to dish out he take it all the party shot, the head shots or whatever I hit him with he was able to take it. But the appearance for him wasn't as hard as the top as the right John's preparation, because I just thought regiment was faster and I needed to be you know, have a stronger pace with Tarver. I just felt like I need to be stronger. So it was a different preparation that I had for a photographer. And, and, and it worked. I mean, I beat him the first time and the second time, he was able to beat me and pull it out. I gave him a lot of props for that. He's a very, he's a very smart fighter. He knows what he's doing. He know how to use his talent. To to, to, to to his benefit. You know, but Isn't he so? I give him a lot of props.

Mark Roxey : 34:24

Right. That's amazing. And then and then so tell me you talked a little bit about Chad Dawson. Tell us about Chad Dawson. How that was boxing him

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 34:34

was awesome. I thought was like the most talented guy that I fought. I just thought he had a lot of but I just think his heart is in question is just not. You know, I think he does have these weaknesses was mostly his heart. You know, he was not very brave fighter. And I think some of that come from the fact that he seemed like you have a weak chin You know, he got knocked out by the Canadian guy after that his name now Leah can can come up with his name. But yeah, he is his chin I when when we fought, I heard him a couple of times myself. So I think that's probably why he he moves as much as they move cuz I think he moves unnecessarily you know, you could just use these skills, cut down that movement a little bit and use more of his boxing skills more use more hands and stuff like that and use more pivot in instead of his movement, it was almost a running, you know, is almost running from the action. And I just started with just to scale for the head too much talent, right? So they're running from from anybody like that. But, you know, again, if you I always tell people, everybody know themselves better than anybody else know that right? So you see somebody run in like that and scary like that they have the reason why they are like that. So well, you know, you might see you might see the talent from the outside. And you figure man guy, so tonight we'll be running from a guy that have happy standing around like that. But he knows why he's running around like that.

Mark Roxey : 36:24

Right? Exactly. That's a really good point. You know, it's a really good point like you if you if you're running, there's definitely reason he's either he's trying to pull you or he's running because he's scared, right? There's something there's, yeah,

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 36:39

he knows, he knows he knows themselves in those a weakness that you have that you might not know, right? Or you know, somebody that don't have a chain, they get hit, and they get hurt easily. You know, whatever the case is, he knows this. So that's why he's trying his hardest to avoid it. So, right. So you know, those are the rinzai always. So for me, when I see somebody running when I was fighting, I was trying to go find out why

Mark Roxey : 37:07

that you did that? 54 times. So you did that 54 times and and and half of those times, meaning 50 almost 50% of those times you found out exactly why they were running. So you knew the answer 50 50% of the time with your K O's. So you, you I just want to talk a little bit about the super six World Boxing classic that you were involved in. And basically you join the super six and you replaced Mikael Kessler because Mikhail Kessler had I guess he had like a detached retina.

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 37:44

Was that what it was? Yeah, yeah, he had a detached retina had to pull out. And they call me on wanting to know if I wanted to join me. And I thought I believe at that time, I was like, 42 or something like that, maybe four to four. I'm not sure. But I was. And I had made 168 in probably 10 years over that time. I was fighting 175. But it was a great opportunity for me. So my god i nutrition is I never had a nutritionist before. So I got one that we start hitting the ground running. put in the work, I end up losing the weight and I made it and now we refer to a friend of mine who was one of the people that I was sparring with when I was getting ready for red, John's and green. Wow. And green and yeah, so my first fight and it's all perfect.

Mark Roxey : 38:48

Yeah, and you knocked him out. You knocked him out in the eighth round. That was on November 6 2010. In Las Vegas, Nevada. You actually stopped him. Yeah. And that you that was actually was that in the semi final or the

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 39:06

Yeah, that was a semi finals. And then they know that was before this. Oh, yeah. Right. Just before the semifinals and then life I tried karate crotch. Yeah, right. For the for the to go to the finals. So called Crusher. the semi finals. Yeah. And then and then I lost a split decision to him. And then he went and fought against Ward Andre. Andre ward. Yes. But yeah, for the for the championship on Ward one. Wow.

Mark Roxey : 39:40

Yeah, that was I mean, what was it like to be in the super six? I mean, that was that was like a really?

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 39:45

No man. Yeah, that was awesome experience, one that the first challenge was losing the weight. My is and to winning and competing against the best the best fighters in this world. middleweight division. I mean, those are the best guys of that weight class. So they went in and compete against those guys. That was awesome. I really wanted to to to fight against award because I always felt like he was the best of the bunch. And so I wanted to to compete against him. But I didn't get that opportunity because I didn't pass the the test before award so Wow. Wow. So but it is what it is. But it was great experience for me and, and I loved it I enjoy I enjoy my career a lot, man. Why the one not to love you know, the main starting at 20 years old and achieve what I achieved. It is so in my face Hi.

Mark Roxey : 40:51

It is so inspirational man. And yes, you can and and your final you, I don't even want to use the word retired. Let's just say that right now, as the record stands, you had 77 fights, 54 of those fights came by they were wins and 21 losses, which is why you had been a road warrior, because a lot of those fights didn't even happen in your hometown, they happened on the road. I mean, you went everywhere to fight, it just is such an impressive record. I can't I didn't. I mean, I always knew that you were you know, you are a beast in the ring. True big boy but, but I never really understood what you're what you achieved until I started breaking down your record and really getting into it. And it's really it's really inspirational for any fighter out there that's looking to really make a go at a career in boxing, you look at the you look at Glenn Johnson's record, and you can see it's kind of a roadmap to how to how to be in boxing, you know, what do you think about all these, these promoters and such that puts so much on an undefeated fighter, you talk a little bit about that?

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 42:12

Well, I mean, I actually think that is the downfall. For boxing. The reason why boxing lost a lot of his Mojo is because of you know, promoters, so desperately want their fighters to be undefeated, they started to ripoff. This when they fighters get beat, they start into how you know, the hobbies, friend, the judges or relationship judges that they have. Judge in the fight, and these judges are making very bad decisions. When When, when, when when they're watching the fights. And people watch it, and see that it is starting to feel like it's rigged. And it's this and it's that then, yeah, turn turn people off and people start to look at anything now MMA and all of these other come combat sports are more popular than boxing itself, especially with the young with the young people are just because out of all the bad decisions that they see over the years, time and time again, people start to just look to something else. And and that's what it is. I mean, listen, it doesn't kill you to lose a fight here. And there is how you is is how you come back from it can tell the story, it doesn't you don't have to be undefeated. But when you're undefeated, it is actually what the people gravitate to is what the promoters gravitate to, and is what the TV network gravitate to. So that's the reason why the promoters are so corrupt about trying to keep their fighters on the CD. A lot of times they do bad matches one sided fight just to make sure that their fighter want to win the fight, you know, before they take any chance or in a risk with with these fighters.

Mark Roxey : 44:17

Yeah, and I think you're right. I I tend to agree with you. I think from an entertainment standpoint, a lot of the promoters that you know have a side beside fights are really missing missing the mark on it, because what they actually are doing is really turning off the fans because fans are very smart. And they you know, there's only so many times they're going to pay to come see your fight or watch a pay per view that is so one sided. And then the outcome is so wrong. That you know, it's almost as if they're questioning their validity of buying that show or even being a part Is it? And I think that's why we lose so many people to the sport. I can't agree with you more, and I just wanted to put a little color around that, you know?

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 45:10

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, you know it when when once in a while when when there was a good matchup and the fight the A side fighter actually lose the decision and go to the A side fighter anyway. So that's where that's where that's where you lose the entertainment factor. Because Listen, we all want the fighter we like to win I mean more for the most part the side fighters are with more liked by the bigger population, right? And besides fighter does just the effects of it is a set for a reason. But when the beside fighter actually put the work in and be that a side guy, come on he have a family have a life, you have expectation of himself, everybody, you know, I'm saying, why would you want to cheat him out of all of that hard work that he did? Why would you want to cheat and when that a sad guy might have another opportunities way much easier than the beside guy to be sad that guy get lost. He basically has to go back and start all over almost to be a sad guy can you can put him right back in there and get his career moving again, crazy. He was a sad guy for a reason because he's somewhat of a star and known and popular and have some kind of big edge. So right. It's just painful. I've been I've been there I've been on both sides of that spectrum, right, I was the ACE Ed guy. And I've been admitted spectrum and I was the B side guy as well. And I've win many fights that was taken from me, you know, those 20 losses, all of them that losses, more than half of them was just taken from me, right? I know, I'm speaking from an experience factor. So it's tough. And then every time they take that fight from you, it's like starting a career all over again. Because I go to the very bottom I take all the time to start all over again. That's why a lot of fighters when they lose like that you never hear from them again, break your heart and you never have the inspiration to to come back from it. But you know, I was just too determined to get from where I was to another place. So I would not live should not my goals away from me.

Mark Roxey : 47:30

And so what what? Well, first of all, your mental fortitude, your mental and your spiritual fortitude for endures and your physical fortitude is just remarkable. And what advice would you give to a younger fighter that's looking to make their way up the ranks that maybe has a loss on their record? Or doesn't present as an A side fighter? What what what advice would you give to them?

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 47:59

Well, one, the one thing you want to make sure that you're doing is learning, right? So you want to make sure that you're learning your craft every day, because there's a difference is just going to the gym and train and going to the gym and learn. That's a big difference. And if you just go into train, train does mean that you stay the same, but you're getting in shape, you're in bed, a cardio and all of that stuff, right? But you're basically staying the same so that one aborts your career. And we're but if you're going into gym and you're learning and you're getting better every day, then you know that eventually, you're going to break through. And that's the most important thing I would tell a fighter is make sure that you are learning and the next thing that you want to have man gotta have determination. For sure. You've got to have that determination. That's very important.

Mark Roxey : 48:54

Wow. Yeah, man. I mean, I just keep coming back to you know, maybe we should add on your name, your new name the educator, because you definitely had a lot of wisdom with all the roads that you've traveled you have you have a tremendous wealth of information. Y'all y'all out there in Miami, Florida man Listen, you need to link up with with Glenn the road warrior Johnson because you'd be in good hands if you did bro for real for real. And

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 49:26

they could they could they could. They could always hit me up on Instagram. Glen Johnson boxer is where they can find the easiest go to Instagram Dan Johnson boxer you leave off the he leave off the end boxer but that would pull up before we even get to that anyway. And

Mark Roxey : 49:44

I'll make sure I put a link in the episode I'll make sure that I put a link in there of how they can reach you. Do you have a website or any other way that they can get ahold of you?

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 49:54

Um, no, that's the best the best way cuz that's the one that I'm on every day. Say um If you eat anything else, that's really going to get to it as fast as ever get to the Instagram so the Instagram is basically the best way to get there you

Mark Roxey : 50:09

go. y'all heard it right here from the road warrior you know how to get ahold of them right if you're looking for you know to get on a card. Are you looking to do some something with boxing man? Definitely if you're out in the Miami area, hit him up. And I have one more question to you. For you before we end here. I gotta ask you this. I've been thinking about this all day, right? So you know how dangerous the sport of boxing is. No one knows better than than you. Right? So, what do you think about mike tyson? Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones, Oscar De La Hoya and then our good friend canine bondage right What do you think about all these guys that are a little older looking to make ring returns? Oh, I just heard Floyd Mayweather it's thinking about coming back out of retirement to fight What do you think about that?

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 51:03

Well, I mean listen, you know I always yo depends on who each one of these guys want to get back in the ring with staff the key because you know if they get in back in the ring that's because as far as what I was told, Tyson going to get in there with Roy Jones if that's you know, Ray Jones after worry about that I think Tyson is in a safe place with that so you know and if all you feel want to get in the ring with Mike Tyson I think that's fair. I don't think that's that's that that's a big big problem there because you're talking about based in similar age group but if you if you were saying that there was getting in there with Tyson fury or why are these type of guys then I would be totally against it more I wouldn't have any you know, I would I wouldn't go for that. But But if they getting in there with each other I mean, I don't know. I don't know about Floyd Mayweather talking about fighting I mean, I think he should definitely defend Pacquiao again that's another that's that's a guy that that's a fight I would watch because I always thought they should have at least buy twice right but if he's if if he's actually thinking about getting into with Crawford our Spence are one of those guys then I would think that's not a good move.

Mark Roxey : 52:31

No Wow.

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 52:33

Yeah so So it all depends on who you who you get in the ring with I heard Brad Jones was willing not the Tyson fight that didn't just throw my name in there. I get in there at F Yeah, you know, if they want to make if they want to make it worth my while. You know, so I I throw my name in there. I send it on Instagram, to to Mike Tyson and let him know say, read John's pull out. You know, don't me I get in there. I'll get in there and give you the business.

Mark Roxey : 53:04

Yeah, that's for real that would be that would be a serious matchup like that. I never even thought of that matchup, but that actually could be even a harder fight than the one that

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 53:13

I actually I actually think I'm a better fight than that that I right. But But I understand the reason why they have read John's taste instead or taste and Glen Johnson aka Ray Jones is just a bigger name is more of a star everybody know who he is? Not everybody know who I am. So I get it. I understand the star the star factor. But actually, despite it itself, the entertainment factor itself? Way better entertainer, Donna, Rachel Oh, no. No. Yeah. is now one where I am now.

Mark Roxey : 53:48

And neither one of you would be very hard to find in the ring. That's what would make the job y'all will be. Y'all will be right there in the tire. Yeah, we'll be going go toe to toe. I could see. That would be great. For sure.

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 54:07

Yes. And is that a tasting bonus? That we both want.

Mark Roxey : 54:18

Listen, I just want to shout out mike tyson like I do on all my episodes. Just you know Glenn Johnson I I love Mike Tyson. I'm sure you know,

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 54:27

Mike Tyson. My favorite heavyweight? I'm sure Muhammad Ali. Mommy's my favorite that Tyson second

Mark Roxey : 54:36

Yeah, he's a beloved a beloved fighter man. He's done so much for the for the sport and just to add Grace's presence in the ring one more time is incredible. And I would say the same for you, Mr. Glenn.

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 54:50

If I get if I if I get if I get a chance to get in there with Tyson then I could actually said I've gotten in the ring. We'd like to have my face Spider. My in my era, though, we'll be right john and Mike Tyson. Those are my two favorite guys. So while I was watching boxing I like I said Ali is my favorite fighter as a heavyweight. But he was before my time when I was watching boxing. Now I only know of him and his history, and fell in love with who he is and what his what he was about. Right. That's the reason why he's the most vivid fighter but far as guys that I watch fight in the ring. In my lifetime, Tyson unright Jones, I'd like to say, Wow, yeah,

Mark Roxey : 55:35

that's amazing. And you know, what, since you're a promoter now, and you're and you're, and you're going to launch your promotion, and it's going to be huge when you get into the, you know, post COVID-19 era, I just want to put this out for you. Okay, I'm going to I'm going to create something right now for you. Maybe you could do like an All Stars tour, like an all stars. You know, like a super six all star of all the older

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 56:05

demo time your goodies. Actually, I actually thought about that already. I thought about to May and maybe this is a little selfish of me to think about it. I also thought about all the trainers as training fader have a tournament of all the trainers know all the traders because I'm a trader to know that. I'm a trader, between me and buddy McGirt, I think at the end of the day. So I think

Mark Roxey : 56:39

that that's a great Listen, that's a great, great, great promotion. I'm telling you right now that we are huge. So you heard it, you heard it first here, Glenn Johnson, the road warrior gentlemen, promotions, it's going to be called a road warrior promotions. And he's going to do this, you're going to do that that's going to be incredible. And when you do it, I want to be at ringside. I'll be your commentator, or I'll just you know, if you want me to get in the ring, you know, we can find a match up. And I'll get in there too. As a trainer, man, for real for real.

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 57:16

I mean, I thought this is I love it. I've been thinking about for a while. So yeah. Both ideas. We could even put both ideas together. Yes, separate promotion. It could just be one promotion, old time old time boxes, and all the trainers, yeah, trainees and old trainers, everybody can come in and we match them all up and have fun.

Mark Roxey : 57:39

You get HBO back in the business and I'll tell you what, you'll get you'll get them all clamoring to do it because this is why because you see people like Mike Tyson and Roy Jones and Glen Johnson and Evander Holyfield and Oscar De La Jolla, and all the pundits, all you guys. Like this was an era you guys were part of an era and Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield. They set off an era where there were tons of fans supporting boxing that a lot of those fans, the older fans, you might even call them like blue hairs or white hairs right? That have kind of gone away from the sport. you'd pull them all right back into the sport, man. I'm telling you

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 58:22

I know Yeah, for real I know that will be awesome yeah a lot of a lot of defense I mean back then and Tyson and Ollie feeling really bow now all of these guys was putting boxing on the map we I mean boxing was so big so huge everybody I mean I couldn't wait for from when I hear one fight happen until for the next fight to happen I couldn't wait for the next match and so but yeah that enthusiasm is gone now most of you know you'll hear about a fight now is not a really so much of a big deal and employees lost and I'm and I'm in the business so I can tell you I don't feel the same way. When I hear about a match happening.

Mark Roxey : 59:05

Well you're gonna turn that around and I hope I hope the sport does turn around I certainly am going to do my part to shed light and and share stories like this your story and and really have fans really get get linked up again with the beauty and the magic majesty of the sport of boxing and Glen Johnson man, I just can't I just want to tell you how grateful I am for you to have spent this hour with me and really with the fans of The Boxing Breakdown Boxing Breakdown with you in the near future. And I just want to thank you for being on the program.

Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson : 59:53

Thank you so much for having me on and your platform is a tremendous one. Thank you for keeping Boxing in the public mind, giving all the boxers an outlet to come and be themself and let the public get to know them a bit, get to see their personality, different, different personalities and this platform is a good one and I appreciate your giving me a chance to come and spend an hour in it. So thank you and thank all your fans for their time for listening in and we'll talk soon.

Mark Roxey : 1:00:29

Oh man, thank you. God bless you. And with that, ladies and gentlemen, until the next time, peace and love and see you on the next episode of the boxing breakdown.

Walter Waite : 1:00:46

Fight bands join host Mark Roxy's special guests as they break down all aspects of the boxing world, including news business, management, training, promotions, fan reactions, upcoming events, matchups, future boxing stars, title fights, the state of the boxing world, and all this stuff you don't see when you watch boxing. This podcast is released each week on Thursday at 8pm Eastern Standard Time. Live stream on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook Live. It's the boxing breakdown. Hosted by Mark Roxy