By Scott Gifloid: Glen Johnson (51-14-2, 14 KO’s) did a great job of handling Allan Green (29-3, 20 KO’s) and stopping him in the 8th round last Saturday night to make it into the semifinals of the Super Six tournament with three points. What’s unclear right now is who Johnson will be facing in the semifinals. It’s either going to be Andre Ward, Carl Froch or Arthur Abraham. With three points, Johnson is currently 2nd behind Ward, who leads the pack with six points and is waiting for his next fight in the semifinals.
The best hope for the 41-year-old Johnson is to get matched up against the slow moving Froch or Abraham, because both of those guys are slow movers, easy to hit and tailor made for Johnson. However, the worst nightmare imaginable for Johnson would be for him to get matched up with the talented Ward, because he’s someone that Johnson simply doesn’t have the tools to compete against. Ward would literally box circles around Johnson all night and not allow him to win a round.
As it was last Saturday night, Johnson and Green were fighting pretty even at the time that Johnson landed a crushing right hand to the back of Green’s head when he was bent over trying to keep from getting hit. Johnson then followed up with another right hand that sent Green down on the canvas and had him badly hurt. Green then wasted valuable time by complaining to the referee while he was down instead of using that time to collect himself and get back to his feet.
Ward won’t get Johnson the same opportunities because he won’t be standing in front of him bent over and he won’t be grabbing Johnson’s arms trying to tie him up the way that Green was attempting to do all night. Ward is a much better fighter on the inside compared to Johnson, and if Ward does decide to fight him in close, it will be Johnson who will be at the mercy of Ward.
On the outside, Ward will toy with Johnson and score right hands all night long without ever getting hit. Johnson telegraphs his right hands and throws them from a long ways away. If Green had kept his guard up, he would have been able to block a lot of Johnson’s big shots. Ward will be ready for Johnson’s only real weapon and will avoid his punches easily.
I sure hope Johnson doesn’t face Ward next, because he seems like a nice guy, and I wouldn’t want to see Ward whip him. At least if Johnson fights Froch or Abraham, he’ll get a nice win before he has to face Ward and take his beating in the finals. It’s better for Johnson that he fight Ward later, because he has no chance against him.
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