Road Warrior Glen Johnson vs. 15-0 George Groves Fight Preview
By Robert Brizel, Real Combat Media Correspondent
London, UK (December 15th, 2012)– At age 43, former IBF-IBO-IBA World Light Heavyweight champion Glen ‘The Road Warrior’ Johnson announced his retirement on ESPN Friday night fights after losing a ten round unanimous decision to Andrzej Fofara on July 13, 2012, at UIC Pavilion in Chicago, his third loss in a row. Now 51-17-2, with 35 knockouts, Johnson suddenly came out or retirement to enter the ring once more against 15-0 Commonwealth British Empire Super Middleweight champion George Groves on Saturday, December 15, 2012, at ExCel Arena in London.
Groves has beaten super middleweight prospects such as James DeGale, Kenny Anderson, Paul Smith, Francisco Sierra (who beat Don George), Daniel Allotey, Charles Adamu, Paul Samuels and Alfredo Contreras. Despite these good wins, and 12 knockouts in his first 15 professional bouts, questions remain about how good of a boxer Groves really is, based on the lower quality of his opposition. For Groves to step up in class and fight Glen Johnson is a whole caliber of opposition higher than Groves has faced so far. Much like former WBO Light Welterweight champion DeMarcus Corley’s picking apart of unbeaten prospect Gabriel Tito Bracero in New York City in January 2012, Johnson will have use his experience and ring intelligence to outwork Groves, the former 2007 and 2008 ABA amateur champion, and expose him as a overprotected, limited fighter.
Groves is fairly unproven. Glen Johnson again lives up to his reputation as ‘The Road Warrior’ by fighting people like George Groves in their hometowns all over the world. Johnson often comes up as the ‘victim’ on the wrong end of close hometown decisions. But Johnson’s also a real ‘test’ because if you get past Glen Johnson, you’re on the world class level even at Johnson’s current age. Johnson, who did not start to box until he was 20 years old and learned ‘on the job’ has consistently fought the stiffest competition, the best super middleweight and light heavyweight fighters in the world.
Groves has to throw a lot of punches and keep him off, because Johnson will be coming in, trying throw jabs to the chest and punches to the head. Groves has to keep moving like he did against Francisco Sierra, keeping Johnson out of range and scoring with combinations while not giving Johnson the opportunity open up on the inside and knock him out, like Johnson did against Allan Green.
Johnson is old enough, 19 years older to be exact, to be George Grove’s father. If Johnson gets inside, it’ll be like daddy giving ‘sonny boy’ a good spanking. If Johnson wins, he maybe then gets another shot against somebody for a world title, or maybe even a shot at fighting a rematch with the ageless Bernard Hopkins on pay-per-view. If Groves wins, he go after IBF champion Tavoris Cloud.
Press Conference
“I live for it. I enjoy what I do, and it’s what keeps me going. I enjoy boxing. I will defeat him (George Groves). I’m not shattering his dreams, I’m just moving on with mine. I’m going to break him down and win,” quotes by Johnson from the two prefight press conferences held in London.
According to George Groves, “Mentally, I’m just concentrating on my fight on Saturday. Then I’ll see where it goes. People will look at me and know who I’m all about. I will beat Glen convincingly and impressively. it’s the fight I need to take. It’s the right move for me. I’m out to show myself and everyone I’m ready, and I’m moving on.” Groves says he’ll knock Johnson out. That’s highly unlikely.
Groves versus Johnson Weigh-In at ExCel Arena in London Courtesy iFilm London
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4i3q5Q2LnLw
Groves versus Johnson Press Conference on YouTube Courtesy iFilm London
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fx4DkE-MfDk
Promoter Frank Warren “It’ll be a long fight, a tough fight” speaking on Johnosn versus Groves on NuffinlongTV in a YouTube Interview Clip
Prediction
Groves by 12 round unanimous decision if he outworks Johnson with his jab, keeps moving and does not let Johnson get inside. Johnson win 12 if Johnson gets inside on Groves and breaks him down. Sorry Brits, but I do expect ‘The Road Warrior’ to win this one. Groves may be young and tough, but his training and experience and not enough to beat Glen Johnson at this point. And Johnson is the man with a big heart. Groves is trying to make the bout testing time. If Johnson takes Groves into deep uncharted water, Johnson will either decision Groves or stop him.
For more insight, see a second private interview with Glen Johnson in London conducted after the press conference. You can d it on YouTube here at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjncVicVLS8
Frank Warren Promotions Presents
Live on Pay-per-View Channels BoxNation Sky Channel 456, and Hungary Sport 2
http://www.frankwarren.com/schedule/ricky-burns-vs-liam-walsh.html
Saturday, 15 December, 2012, Excel Arena, London, United Kingdom
Main Event
Glen Johnson versus George Groves, Light Heavyweights, 12 Rounds
Commonwealth (British Empire) Super Middleweight Championship
Undercard Bouts
Billy Joe Saunders versus Nick Blackwell, 12 Rounds
Commonwealth (British Empire) Middleweight Championship
Troy Conquest versus Neil Dawson
Vacant Commonwealth (British Empire) Light Middleweight Championship
Steve O’Mara versus Liam Smith, 10 rounds
World Boxing Organization International Cruiserweight Championship
Chas Symonds versus Bradley Skeete, 10 Rounds
British Board of Control Southern Area Welterweight Championship
Mitchell Smith versus Igor Tsujev, 6 Rounds
Bout Between Unbeaten Super Featherweight Prospects
Frank Buglioni versus Ciaran Healy, 6 Rounds
Unbeaten Super Middleweight Prospect Buglioni in a Test With Trialhorse Healy
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