Carl Froch & Glen Johnson War of Words: Boxing Feud Erupts
By Marc Anthony
“I am going box around him. If he wants to have a tear up, I will happily oblige. It’s going to be brutal walking in for him.” — Carl Froch
“More than likely, he’s going to get hit; he’s going to exchange those blows. That’s what it’s about. I like what he brings to the table. But he’s just not going to be successful against me. He’s in a world of trouble”– Glen Johnson
DiBella:
The winner of this fight will fight Andre Ward, really to claim dominance in the 168 pound division. I think we’ve got a terrific fight ahead of us. Carl Froch is a terrifically exciting champion; he’s only been in good fights. The same can be said of Glen Johnson. Carl Froch is one of the most underappreciated champions in the world. I’m a very big fan of Carl Froch.
Carl Froch:
Pleasure to be on line, I am in great shape. I am in New York for the past two weeks to get acclimated. By end of the week I should really start kicking in (getting used to the time difference). I am an unbeaten fighter as I am concerned.
I am coming in the fight in my prime…every single run, push up. I am a bit a perfectionist. I am feeling really strong like when I fought Arthur Abraham.
I’m hitting times on my runs. I was hitting at 26, 27 years old. … I’m feeling really fit and strong. Never mind 12 rounds, I could probably do 25 rounds. I am not going let this opportunity slip by to become a pay per view fighter.
Going through the original 3 fighters: having the harder fights?
“I’ve had three tough fights but I’ve made easy work of two of them. Andre Dirrell was quite an easy night’s work. The only fight out of the three that was any hard work was the Mikkel Kessler fight. I made a fight of it, which I shouldn’t have done. It was my own fault. I stood in front of him, which I should not have done. There are reasons for that.
It’s just as important for (Johnson) as it is for me. It’s me and Glen in there fighting. Forget about the past, this is the here in now.
Eddie Hearn and Barry Hearn have been brilliant for me. They’ve put my mind at ease in the way they work. There are no problems at all in the background. It’s just all about me concentrating on fighting; keeping fit and staying strong. I had a change in that but have not affected my physical or mental aspect on that.
I am looking to do what I have to do to win. I will put the pace to what I need to. I don’t think I have to be looking for him. He doesn’t have the speed or skill to match me. He is going straight at me.
On Andre Ward
Yeah Andre Ward has some skills. These top amateurs don’t make top pros. You look at his record. He hasn’t been overly impressive. I have to beat Ward and what he is lacking is punching power.
Back on Glen
I am going box around him. If he wasn’t to have a tear up I will happily oblige. It’s going to be brutal walking in for him. I am going be fresh fit strong powerful. I wish this sport was 15 rounds. It’s going be 12 rounds of hell
My priority for this fight is winning.
On Mikkel Kessler
I would rather have fought Mikkel Kessler because he has this win over me. I can assure you that fight won’t go the distance. I’m disappointed that I didn’t get a chance to avenge (the Kessler loss). Glen Johnson’s a great fighter. He’s only mixed it with the best of them. I’m giving him plenty of respect. He’s a warhorse and a great fighter, he’s got skill and he’s got bags and bags of experience. But I would have rather fought Mikkel Kessler, just purely for the revenge.
On Respecting Glen
I am giving him plenty of respect. Glen Johnson is not a guy you are going in to knock out. I think I can get the stoppage. At top level, there is not much to separate. To go in planning on winning by knockout is a bit naïve and stupid.
On coming to America to fight
It’s good to be coming here. I have always been well traveled. This is my third time boxing in America. I am looking forward to fighting Glen here. I can’t wait for the night in Atlantic City.
On the Super Six
It’s a shame that the original six lineups aren’t all in there. I think it would have been better for the tournament, but that just shows how hard this tournament is. Some people in the tournament haven’t had the heart and the mentality for it. I haven’t really got much to say about Andre Dirrell, because that’s a grey area. This tournament has given the boxing fans and all the press a lot to talk about. It’s given us fights that would not have happened without this tournament. It’s been a great thing. It’s a big accolade to Ken Hershman and all the promoters involved.
On Glen and his new weight
I think Glen looks okay at 168. He was throwing the right hand quite sharp. That was against a jaded Allan Green. Maybe he made him look good. I am taking him as he was at 175. I do think he is not the same at 168.
I am looking forward for the press conference WED in New York at the Edison Ball room. Glen Johnson, I will see you there as well and good luck with all the questions.
Lou:
If you don’t like Glen Johnson, you don’t like boxing. You never know what an old man can do as Bernard Hopkins has proven.
Glen Johnson
We have a wonderful training camp. We are looking forward to a great fight. Carl Froch says he is in shape and I am looking forward to seeing that shape.
Comparing Carl Froch to any other fighter
He is a tall guy who kind of fights shorts sometimes. I boxed tall guys before all the time never a guy who punches down like a short guy. My advantage is just being Glen Johnson. I feel like I know boxing inside and out. So it’s just going in there, and being confident, and using my skills to their potential, and you’ll see me come out victorious. Carl Froch is a great fighter. I have no disrespect for him. This is about business and I’m all about my business. All of the talk and all of the other stuff is out the window. This is for all the marbles. It’s going to be fabulous man.
On wearing the Miami Heat Shorts for the fight
They gave me a great opportunity to represent them in boxing.
Worried about Carl’s game plan
I am not concerning myself with what Carl is going to do. I am more concerned with what I am going to do. I believe I have a winning formula. I don’t think Carl Froch is going to change it.
On his age
I definitely have the urgency I should have. I’m not getting any younger, to be honest with you. So I definitely look at a fight with the most respect about stepping in the ring, what I’m supposed to do. I’m not going to take any fights for granted.
But I know that I have a lot of skills and a lot of talent left in me. And I’m looking forward to showing that to the people. A lot of people in boxing know what I can do. I do it time and time again. There’s a lot of respect out there for me. I don’t want to disappoint anyone. That puts me on a high level, and I’m coming out there to show the people what I still can do. I feel excited when people talk about my age, and focus on my age, because that tells me they’re not focused on my skills and what I bring to the table. They’re underestimating me. I’m actually excited to hear Carl Froch speak, because he just keeps getting me excited.
On Bernard Hopkins recent win
Congratulations to Bernard, he fought a wonderful fight. He got a wonderful win. I didn’t know if he was going to get the decision. Kudos to him, he’s definitely an inspiration to us old guys. And that’s always a good thing.
On a rematch with Bernard
I want a rematch. I don’t know if Bernard wants it, though. We’ll see what happens.
On the game plan
I made changes and adjustments I am not going to tell you on my game plan. We are going to keep it on the down low. We will be happy to tell you on next Saturday night.
Feeling that he can get a fair decision
I really don’t want to concentrate on old things. We always have nervousness about certain things (scorecards), but I’m not going to let that get into my head or get me out of my fight game, or change what I need to do.
Hopefully the judges will do what they’re supposed to do outside the ring. And that’s all I can do. There’s not much I can do about things that I can’t really control. But if a knockout comes my way, I’ll definitely go for it.
About his new weight
I feel good and loose. I’m feeling sharp and looking good. I’m excited about this weight class. And I really believe that I’m going to do some good things. I really believe that I’m going to bring some excitement to the fans and give people something to talk about after this fight.
I really feel sharp, man…really, really feel sharp. And I’m looking real good. And this fight’s going to be an exciting fight.
On being compared to Arthur Abraham
Well, you know, people seem to think Abraham and I have a similar style. We don’t. Abraham is a totally different type of fighter. That analogy is not even a valid one.
I’m not even concerned about that. That basically let me know that Carl Froch is not even doing his homework, and is not where he should be, if that’s how he sees me as a fighter. If he’s thinking that Abraham and I have a similar style, obviously his preparation is incorrect.
I see holes. I see plenty of things that I can do. One thing I’ve learned about being a boxer, when you’re looking from outside the ring, it looks a lot different inside the ring.
His thoughts on Carl Froch
I like Carl Froch. He’s a guy who brings a fight, and I don’t believe the guy can be in a boring fight. I definitely like that. How can you be a boxing fan and not like a fighter who brings excitement and makes a fight of it?
More than likely he’s going to get hit; he’s going to exchange those blows. That’s what it’s about. I like what he brings to the table. But he’s just not going to be successful against me. He’s in a world of trouble
On Showtime 9pm est. /Pacific June 4th 2011 with a double header Mikkel Kessler returning to the ring (Tape Delay).
Tickets, priced at $300, $150, $100, and $50, can be purchased through the Boardwalk Hall ticket office and Ticketmaster. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.ticketmaster.com/, by phone at 1-800-745-3000, at any Ticketmaster retail outlet or in person at Boardwalk Hall box office.