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Reggie
Johnson Out to Reclaim World Title
(JULY 29) Houston, Texas- On August 27th, World Middleweight and
Light-Heavyweight Champion, Reggie “Sweet” Johnson (42-7-1) is back with
a vengeance and this time he says he has a ‘William Gutherie’ frame of
mind. Gutherie (30-3) was the IBF Light-Heavyweight Champion of the
World who Johnson dethroned in 1998 with a vicious hook to the chin in
the 5th round of their world title fight. Gutherie left the ring that
night in a neck brace and on a stretcher.
“I’m training hard and have kept my weight at 185 during this rest
period,” says Johnson, “ and feel sharp. I’m ready for whoever my agent,
Kerry Daigle, puts in front of me.”
Is the layoff of over 2 years going to affect Johnson? “I don’t think
so,” says Beau Williford, the matchmaker for this event at the Paragon
Casino in Marksville, Louisiana on August 27th. “Reggie is so well
respected as a boxer/puncher,” adds Williford. “I arranged for Derrick
Harmon to agree to box Reggie and all of a sudden Harmon has gotten cold
feet. Harmon pulled out of the bout citing Reggie punches too hard,”
concludes Williford disgruntledly, “and Reggie’s been out of the ring
for two years!!”
In 21 title fights Johnson has 6 losses of which 4 were very
controversial. Johnson lost split-decisions to James Toney, Jorge Castro
twice, and Antonio Tarver all in 12 round fights. Toney was dropped in
2nd round, Tarver in the 9th, and both decisions to Castro were in his
home country of Argentina, losses described by Johnson as ‘political
losses’. “I never lost those fights,” says Johnson.
David Rivas of Rivas Warrior Boxing Promotions is ecstatic about having
Johnson on his show. He recently visited Johnson’s camp to look at his
training program and was blown away saying, “This guy, Johnson, has
never lost a step. He’s not making a comeback….He is returning to claim
what is already his.”
Johnson is trained for this fight by Termite Watkins, whose claim to
fame was as a very successful professional fighter and became the
Olympic Boxing Coach for the Iraqi Boxing Team. A movie is being made of
Termite’s life regarding his bringing an Iraqi team to the Olympics in
over three decades.
Johnson has surrounded himself with a tremendous team and is looking to
make a statement. The upcoming press conference on August 3rd at the SRO
Sports Bar and Café at 1pm will be full of boxing celebrities who are
part of TEAM JOHNSON as he calls it.
