By John F. McKenna (McJack): Glen “The Road Warrior” Johnson (51-14-2, 35 KO’s) will be facing Super Middleweight Champion Carl “The Cobra” Froch (27-1, 20 KO’s) in the Super Six World Boxing Classic Semifinal at the Adrian Phillips Ballroom at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City on Saturday, June 4. The fight will be televised live on Showtime at 9 pm ET (delayed on the West Coast).

Johnson’s strength and conditioning coach Steve Arintok has said that he expects the ageless fighter to be stronger than ever despite dropping down a weight class for the fight. In recent interviews Froch has stated that he expects Johnson to be somewhat energy drained because of going down from 175 lbs to 168 lbs.

Arintok strongly disagrees with Froch’s assessment and says that Johnson’s weight loss has been gradual and has been done in the right way by using modern equipment and training techniques. Arintok further stated that the idea that losing weight for a fighter means an automatic loss of strength and endurance is outdated because of modern advancements.

Arintok said that when it comes to training and conditioning boxing lags far behind other sports. “In the old days anyone could walk into a gym and say they were a trainer and that was it. They were in charge of the fighters training, exercise, diet, everything. Now you have guys who are real sports physiologists and certified coaches who do an overall assessment for the client and tailor a program to their specific needs. That’s what we’ve done with Glen to ensure that he’s lost his weight without losing any power or endurance.”

Arintok has been working with Johnson for 2 ½ years and says that he has Johnson in the kind of shape he needs to be in to apply pressure for all twelve rounds. He also feels that 168 lbs is the proper weight for Johnson and is where he should have been all along.

Froch is cut from the cloth of an old time fighter. His run of participating in five straight blockbuster fights is the stuff of legends. In 2008 he won the WBC Middleweight Title in a barnburner against Jean Pascal, who would subsequently be a World Champion. He then scored a late round stoppage of Jermaine Taylor, who defeated Bernard Hopkins twice. After Taylor he defeated the fast and talented Andre Dirrell after which he lost a disputed squeaker to Mikkel Kessler. Froch also defeated Arthur Abraham putting on a virtuoso performance. Froch is fully aware that Johnson will apply constant pressure throughout the fight and has prepared himself accordingly.

Carl Foch vs Glen Johnson is being presented by Dibella Entertainment and Warriors Boxing in association with Matchroom Sports and Caesars Atlantic City.

Boxing fans should be in for a real treat from these two gallant warriors when they square off on Saturday night.