By T.K. Stewart
Even though he has knocked out Roy Jones, Jr., beaten Antonio Tarver and given Chad Dawson the fight of his life - former light heavyweight titlist Glen 'The Road Warrior' Johnson still couldn't get the present he most desired this Christmas - a big stocking full of respect.
Johnson's loyal and hardworking manager, Henry Foster, says the avoidance of his man by names like Joe Calzaghe, Antonio Tarver and Chad Dawson is appalling.
"Glen inflicted the harder blows," (against Dawson) said Foster. "Glen pressed the fight and he made the fight and so I think he won the fight. And more importantly, the public thinks Glen won the fight, too."
Even though the three official judges handed in a unanimous tally in favor of Dawson, many saw the match earlier this year as a close one that could have gone either way.
"My feeling is that Glen Johnson beat Dawson and that Glen is the best light heavyweight fighter in the world," says Foster.
Dawson is now entering his sixteenth year in the paid ranks and will turn 40 on January 2nd. But even at an age when most fighters are getting ready to hang up the gloves or have already called it a day, the workmanlike Johnson is still carrying his lunch pail to the gym and still living by his blue collar work ethic.
"We fully expect Glen to be champ again in 2009," says his longtime trainer, Orlando Cuellar. "Glen has beaten the best in the world and he still can't get the respect he deserves. He's got the style to beat Joe Calzaghe and I've always said that. I said he had the style to beat Roy Jones - he did it. Glen can do it and he would knockout Calzaghe within eight rounds - I guarantee it."
Johnson, with a journeyman-like record of 48-12-2 (33)KO, should get a chance at one of boxing's many world titles very soon. He is rated #2 by the WBC, # 4 by the WBA and WBO, #6 by the IBF and #3 by The Ring Magazine.
Johnson told this writer back in September that he is willing to face anybody at 175 pounds including Bernard Hopkins, Joe Calzaghe, Chad Dawson, Antonio Tarver, Roy Jones, Jr. or anybody else that dares to step forward. So far, none of them have.
Johnson is coming off a fourth round TKO victory over Aaron Norwood back on November 11th and on February 27th he'll face unrated Daniel Judah (the younger brother of Zab Judah) at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
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