JOHNSON... former IBF light-heavyweight champ

MIAMI, USA (CMC) - Glen Johnson is hoping his November 11 clash against Tiwon Taylor will be the catalyst for more competitive fights in the light-heavyweight division.

Johnson, the Jamaica-born former International Boxing Federation champion, is set to face American Taylor at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino here, and intends to make the bout a tune-up for bigger contests.

"I'm looking forward to fighting the big boys in the light-heavyweight division, they don't want any part of me," the 39-year-old Johnson told the Boxing Talk website.

"With a fight like this, I have to do what I have to do to stay busy. I'm coming out bombs away, and I'm trying to take care of business real quick."

Johnson, also known as "The Road Warrior", indicated that he is looking to fight any of the pugilists in the top 10 of the world rankings.

"We're looking to do something in January, hopefully that will work out," he said. "I think they're talking about January 3 for another big fight.

"I want to be the champion of the light-heavyweight division. All of the guys who have the titles, I want to fight them and collect those."

With a couple marquee fights coming up, Johnson has picked his favourites to win, but he stopped short of identifying who he would like to face.

"I'll go with Chad Dawson (over Antonio Tarver) on Saturday night," he said. "I believe those guys are beatable, but I think Dawson will be able to deal with a little bit more than Tarver.
"Both guys are boxers and they try to work off space, but I think Dawson is a little bit more mobile with better speed."

"Roy Jones all the way," he said in response to a question about the bout between Jones and Joe Calzaghe.

Johnson would know first-hand about Dawson, since the southpaw American won a unanimous decision over him in his previous fight last April 12 in Tampa.

"I wouldn't say I've gotten over it, but I know that I just have to move on," he said.

"Now to see these two guys on TV making all of this money - it's money I should be making. I should be the one fighting Antonio Tarver instead of Dawson. I just have to keep moving forward and seeing what else I can put together in the near future."

Johnson holds a fight record 47 wins, 12 losses, and two draws in 61 fights.

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