Ronald ‘American Dream’ Johnson Interview: Willie Herring Will Get His Ass Kicked
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Correspondent
In a Real Combat Media interview exclusive from his gym in Las Vegas, Nevada, boxer and promoter Ronald ‘The American Dream’ Johnson, in response to an interview by Florida cruiserweight Willie Herring calling his name out for a future cruiserweight confrontation, responded point blank not only would he fight Herring, but Herring would ultimately regret even mentioning his name. Johnson resides with his family in Las Vegas.
Johnson, age 30, a top light heavyweight prospect, compiled a record of 11-1 with three knockouts between 2004 and 2009, with one No Contest, was ranked as high as eighth in the world in the Light Heavyweight division, and won the World Boxing Council USNBC Light Heavyweight title in August 2009, his last win. Johnson’s last bout in November 2009 against Dumont Welliver, ended in a No Contest. He has concentrated on his successfully role as an American boxing promoter since then.
Robert Brizel: “What caused the No Contest?”
American Dream: “After the first round I had hurt him really bad. I was kind of anxious. At the beginning of the second round, I was very anxious to get the knockout. As soon as the bell rang, I ran right out there after him. I went straight after him. He was still hurt from the previous first round. I go in to throw a body shot, we both leaned and clashed head, and he got two bad cuts, one above his eye, and one below his eye, and he couldn’t continue. Literally this happened in the first five to six seconds of the second round. I went out and tried to throw a left hook to the body, when I leaned over to the left, he leaned in the same direction and we clashed heads.”
Robert Brizel: “After that bout, what happened to your career? You said you felt burnt out at that point.”
American Dream: “I felt out not only from the fact I was fighting, I was (also) promoting that fight. That fight took place on my birthday, and it was the biggest fight card I’d ever done. It was me, Zab Judah and Joel Casamayor. As a promoter, I promoted two of Zab’s fights, and four fights of Joel.”
Robert Brizel: “How many boxing cards overall have you promoted over the years in Nevada, Indiana, Utah and Florida?”
American Dream: “I’ve done 32 (boxing) promotions. I never promoted in Utah, but I’m doing something (working on a future boxing card) there just now.”
Robert Brizel: “I have been in the Mayweather Gym with Floyd Sr. What do Floyd and Mike say about where you are now?”
American Dream: “They like my progress. Mayweather Sr. still feels I have my speed. I’ve always been a good defensive fighter, I’ve just been adding more patience to my fight. Ever fight (in the past) I (would) get my opponents hurt or in trouble, I’ve had my opponents down but I seemed to not been relaxed, and I let them off the hook by not having a lot of patience. So I’ve worked on bringing the mental state of my boxing to a new level.”
Robert Brizel: “And how is your ring generalship more superior now than it was before?”
American Dream: “It’s like wine. You get better with time. Learning the game and understand ding it. It’s also mental, and how to set things up instead of forcing it.”
Robert Brizel: “Will your comeback be at 175 pounds light heavyweight, or 200 pounds cruiserweight?”
American Dream: “My comeback will be at 200 pound. Then I’m going to work my way back to 175 (pound division).”
Robert Brizel: “How much do you weigh now?”
American Dream: “Right now I weigh about 210 pounds. I will be at 200 pounds (or less) for the fight date which is July 28 in Orlando, Florida. I am promoting my own card at the Orlando Live Events Center (at the old Jai Alai Center). Hector Macho Camacho Jr. will be fighting in the main event, and I will be the co-main event (opponent undetermined).”
Robert Brizel: “Willie Herring put your name out there, and called you out, like it or not. Do you know Willie Herring?”
American Dream: “No. I’m not familiar with him but I checked him out. He seems like a decent fighter. I see he thinks he’s Mike Tyson.”
Robert Brizel: “Well, both of you are in the comeback mode.”
American dream: “Correct.”
Robert Brizel: “According to Willie Herring, you are dead meat, and are going to be his ring dinner. Your replied to his calling out of you name.”
American Dream: “Correct.”
Robert Brizel: “What will you do to Willie Herring?”
American Dream: “I will outbox Willie Herring for the first couple rounds, and I will make him see stars. The fight (thereafter) will definitely end in a knockout. Willie Herring cannot do anything better than me in the ring. He cannot box better than me. He’s not faster than me. He’s not stronger than me. I hit a lot harder than him.”
Robert Brizel: “Willie Herring has an impressive resume of opponents. I take it then you are not impressed.”
American Dream: “I’m not impressed. Willie Herring is always on the losing end. He’s beaten one guy I’ve heard from the contender show, Troy Ross. He’s fought some guys I’ve heard of, but he’s on the losing end, but that doesn’t really impress me too much because anybody could be an opponent for him. I have youth on my side. I’m eight years younger than Willie Herring.”
Robert Brizel: “Willie Herring is 37 years old. Do you think he’s biting off more than he can chew if he fights you?”
American Dream: “Definitely. Willie Herring needs to go to Mississippi or somewhere like that and fight a few stiffs, and see where he’s at. I’m not a good measuring stick, because I will end his career officially.”
Robert Brizel: “Willie Herring said he wants to fight you, and he wants to fight you first and next. I’m asking you if you accept the challenge of Willie Herring for your card on July 28. Will you fight him next month in Florida on your boxing card?”
American Dream: “Yes! I will fight him upon commission approval. I will definitely fight him. His name was mentioned for a reason. I’m looking to get a couple rounds in, and I figured he will be the first person to for me to get one or two rounds in.”
Robert Brizel: “Willie Herring has reputation as a survivor type fighter, but he did beat an aged washed up Ravea Springs.”
American Dream: “Boxer Ravea Springs is from my home state, Ohio. I’m from Cleveland. Ravea Springs is from Cincinnati.”
Robert Brizel: Do you think Herring will just try to grab and hold for most of the bout, as many survivor type fighters do when they really they are over their head and mismatched?”
American Dream: “You don’t want to embarrass yourself and go down in front of your family and friends, so your best bet is to try to stay in it as long as you can.”
Robert Brizel: “Ronald, recently in Orlando we all saw and heard on the news of the Orlando nightclub massacre, the murder of singer Christina Grimmie, and a two year child killed by an alligator. Is Orlando a safe place to stage your boxing event, given these happenings? How good will your security be?”
American Dream: “I was there in Orlando all of May 2016. We were actually scheduled to fight at The Arena in Orlando, Florida. I was going to fight Fabio Gallido of Brazil. Hector Camacho Jr. had another Brazilian opponent. Their visas did not allow them into the United States. It was a different promoter at the time, Ralph Faulkner, a friend from Ohio. The people in Orlando are great. I was just want to bring them something good and joyful and be able to have a good time. Security definitely will be beefed up, so everyone will be searched coming in, and safe, and we will do our best to make sure everyone’s safe. That’s first. We’re giving back to the victims of the Orlando shooting, some of their families are giving them tickets to my event to take their mind off the shooting (which occurred).”
Robert Brizel: “In your role as a fighter, you still watch current fights. You have seen Adonis Stevenson and Gennady Golovkin, and now the new brash rising star Irish Joe Smith Jr. Your thoughts on the state of the light heavyweight division as it stands right now, and how will you rise to the top ten again.”
American Dream: “I love the light heavyweight division because there’s a lot of live guys, a lot of big fights to be made. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot of great fight in the welterweight division. There’s a lot of big fights in the light heavyweight division, it’s as exciting as it’s ever been. That’s what the light heavyweight division, what Joe Smith did last week, that’s what makes boxing special, he shocked the world and beat all the odds, now he’s a player and contender, delivering for himself and his family, that’s why I have to love the amazing sport of boxing. He’s on his way. I feel like I can do the same thing.”
Robert Brizel: “What gym are you training out of Las Vegas?”
American Dream: “My own gym. My gym is a private gym. It was built for myself five years ago. It has 6200 square feet, and a beautiful ring, I definitely have one of the best gyms in Las Vegas. A couple of different fighters under my wing come here and use it.”
Robert Brizel: “What is your goal in your comeback? Why now?”
American Dream: “The main reason is I don’t want to have any regrets, so I‘m not too old to do this anymore. My goal is to come back and see how far I can really go!”
Robert Brizel: “Will you one day in the near future fight for the light heavyweight championship of the world?”
Ronald Johnson: “Yes I will! Multiple times.”
Robert Brizel: “Do you want Willie Herring?”
American Dream: “I want Willie! I want a guy that comes to fight. These are the guys that are easy to knockout, (and) not just (take a fight with) a guy who comes to survive.”
Robert Brizel: “What do you want to say to Willie?”
American Dream: “Tell Willie upon commission approval, he will get his ass kicked.”
Robert Brizel: “Will Mike Mccallum and Floyd Mayweather Sr. be joining you in the corner to watch your predicted slaughter of Willie Herring?”
American Dream: “Correct. They’ll be in my corner during every fight I have!”
Robert Brizel: “What is your relationship with Floyd Mayweather Jr.?”
American Dream: “I’ve known him for 13 years after I’ve moved to Las Vegas.”
Robert Brizel:“Does Floyd have an interest in my comeback?”
American Dream: “Floyd has personally told me he would be there and to get things going?”
Robert Brizel: “Do you think he’ll come to your comeback bout on July 28th in Orlando?”
American Dream: “I can’t say he’ll come to the fight he has a busy schedule. He will probably watch my bout on television. Floyd will definitely be at a fight of mine soon, hopefully (most probably) in Las Vegas since we both live here.”
Robert Brizel: “Do you think Floyd will fight again, and do you think the opponent will be Danny Garcia or Keith Thurman?”
American Dream: “I think it will either be Danny Garcia or Adrien Broner. I definitely think Floyd’s gonna fight again.
Robert Brizel: Adrien Broner has had his troubles with the law, but he can’t seem to keep his mouth shut. Do you think part of Floyd’s motivation is to shut him up?”
American Dream: “No. I don’t think Floyd cares about Adrien Broner’s mouth too much. I definitely think the option of fighting Broner is one of the biggest fights out there for Floyd.”
Robert Brizel: “The public wants it.”
American Dream: “There’s a story behind it. A fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Adrien Broner is the biggest fight out here because of the story you can make behind it.”
Robert Brizel: “Adrien’s been trash talk calling Floyd out. Broner rose up because he followed Floyd. Broner has been following the blueprint Floyd gave him. Besides not winning every fight, Broner is a clone of Floyd, little brother versus big brother. It’s a good story line, people will watch it. Their mouths and trash talk will sell the fight big time!”
Robert Brizel: “Best wishes in your comeback, Ronald! We look forward to covering more of your success story at Real Combat Media as it develops in the light heavyweight division.”
American Dream: “Thank you, Robert. I look forward to working with you and Real Combat Media now and in the future.”
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