By Ryan Burton
BoxingScene.com reached out to Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson to get his thoughts on the cancellation of his fight for the IBF light heavyweight title with Tavoris Cloud. Johnson was obviously very disappointed and had this to say:
"I am very disappointed. Obviously this was a very big opportunity to be back on HBO. It was a great set up to an even bigger fight right around the corner. To run into this situation is disappointing to say the least," Johnson said to BoxingScene.com
Johnson said he took a week off after his February 5th sixth round TKO of Yusaf Mack (which was an eliminator to be in position to fight Cloud) and was right back in the gym preparing for this fight. He said he was in shape and ready to go. Johnson cannot take another fight since the fight with Cloud was ordered by the IBF. Getting a replacement fight would strip him of his mandatory status.
When I asked Johnson if he thought Cloud was really injured, he said that is what he heard and this is all he can go by.
"I just heard that the fight was postponed and they were going to try to schedule it as soon as possible. I just heard about it a few hours ago. I am at the age I need to fight and I can't lose any time waiting around. I may suspect something else being the reason but without any proof what can I do?"
Johnson hopes that if a long legal battle ensues that the IBF will order an interim-title fight so that his career and the other top rated fighters in the IBF light heavyweight division's careers aren't stuck on hold.
"That would be the right thing for the IBF to do so that we can continue with our careers. Just because his (Cloud's) career is at a standstill there is no reason why we should be punished. The IBF needs to do the right thing if this is going to be dragged out. If he is injured say that he is out six weeks and reschedule it in the future with enough time for him to go through his training camp."
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