(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.