Former light heavyweight title challenger Callum Johnson, now campaigning at cruiserweight, is still hopeful of a fight with Arsen Goulamirian.

Goulamirian, a former WBA beltholder, is rated No. 2 by the WBA and No. 10 with the WBO, who have Johnson at No. 2.

Lancashire’s Johnson and the ex-champion were due to fight on Saturday in Kazakhstan on the Janibek Alimkhanuly bill for the WBA International title, but Goulamirian withdrew. 

“The fight got put to me” Johnson told BoxingScene. “I accepted the fight, contracts were signed and everything else, the fight was done and then two or three weeks later found out that he had pulled [out], basically saying he wasn’t going to be ready in time, I think. But I can’t complain too much. I’ve pulled out myself when things haven’t been right. It is what it is. These things happen. But they did say we could potentially make it again in the future, so it still could happen. I was in very good shape, timing was coming back in sparring, probably the best I’ve been at this weight.”

Johnson, trained by Joe Gallagher, is 23-1 (15 KOs) and the 39-year old’s only defeat came when Artur Beterbiev climbed off the floor to stop him in 2018 in a world title fight at 175.

Johnson has ticked over at cruiserweight with two wins since he moved up.

Goulamirian, 27-1 (19 KOs), has not boxed since last March, when he lost his title to Gilberto Ramirez.