NEW YORK, USA (AFP) — Jamaican-born Glen Johnson, a former light heavyweight champion, was named Wednesday to replace injured Mikkel Kessler in the Super Six World Boxing Classic super middleweight boxing tournament.

The 41-year-old Johnson, whose record in 50-14 with two drawn and 34 knockouts, will face Allan Green, an injury replacement for fellow American Jermain Taylor in the round-robin event, on November 6 at Las Vegas.

“It is gratifying to still be considered worthy of competing with some of the top fighters in the world,” said Johnson, who was the International Boxing Federation light heavyweight world champion in 2004.

Danish fighter Kessler dropped out of the event with an eye injury, opening the door for Johnson, who has not fought at super middleweight in 10 years.

“I typically weigh in at 172 pounds for my light heavyweight fights,” said Johnson. “I will have no trouble making the 168-pound limit.”

Green, 29-2 with 20 knockouts, lost a unanimous decision to unbeaten US fighter Andre Ward, 22-0 with 13 knockouts, in June in his Super Six debut.

The Green-Johnson fight will join a card matching undefeated Puerto Rican southpaw Juan Manuel Lopez against Mexico’s Rafael Marquez for Lopez’s World Boxing Organisation featherweight crown.

Group stage bouts conclude November 27 with two fights, each worth two points to the winner, one point each for a draw and a bonus point for a knockout victory.

Ward defends the World Boxing Association crown he took from Kessler last year against US southpaw Andre Dirrell, 19-1 with 13 knockouts, at a US site to be determined. The winner also claims the vacant World Boxing Council title.

On the same night, Germany’s Arthur Abraham faces Carl Froch, England’s former WBC super middleweight world champion, in Helsinki. The bout was first set for this Saturday but delayed when Froch suffered a back injury.

The four high-point fighters advance to next year’s semi-finals. Ward sets the pace with four points with Abraham on three and Froch and Dirrell with two points each.

While Green and Johnson are on zero, the winner between them could still advance.