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Former USBA Light Heavyweight Champion

Former IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion
(two successful defenses)

Former WBA Middleweight World Champion
(three successful defenses)

Former USBA Middleweight Champion
(three successful defenses)

Former NABF Light Heavyweight Champion
(one successful defense)
 
Reggie "Sweet" Johnson began his pro career in 1984 and won the USBA Middleweight Title in 1990. Johnson failed in his first attempt at a world title, dropping a close split decision to James Toney in June of 1991. On April 22, 1992, Johnson won the vacant WBA Middleweight Title in East Rutherford, New Jersey, by way of a majority decision over Irishman, Steve Collins. Johnson would successfully defend the title three times before finally losing it to John David Jackson in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Following two more unsuccessful attempts at the WBA Middleweight title, Johnson eventually moved up to the Light Heavyweight division. On February 6, 1998, at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut, Johnson knocked out reigning IBF Light Heavyweight champ William Guthrie to win his second world title. He would defend it twice before losing a unification match with Roy Jones Jr. in June of 1999.  Reggie last fought in August, 2005 when he knocked out Fred Moore in Marksville, LA.
 

The "Sweet" Resurrection of
Reggie Johnson

By Michael J. Campbell

“Sweet” Reggie Johnson of Houston, Texas, said he wasn’t on a “comeback,” but rather was in need of some “get back” and returned to the ring for some unfinished business.  Titles at middleweight and light heavyweight and 25 world title contests couldn’t satiate his desire to fight and after long contract disputes and wanting to “do things his way,” he finally got another big fight after a two and a half year layoff.

A scheduled contest with top ranked “Gentleman” Glen Johnson was cancelled last November due to and arm injury suffered by Reggie during preparations.  Three months later, Glen is scheduled to fight WBC champ Chad Dawson, and former WBO champion Mexican Julio Gonzalez, of Huntington Beach, California, stepped in to battle for the IBA Light Heavyweight Title.

Johnson came in via an extended ring walk, circling the arena, wearing a plain grey sweatshirt and knit cap, giving a very working man impression.  When the bell sounded to begin action, Johnson charged across the ring scoring combinations and attacking the body from his southpaw stance.  Rope burns and evidence of body punches were already apparent on Gonzalez’s back by the end of the first round.

The forty-one year old former champion demonstrated that his skills were still sharp in making Gonzalez miss many of his punches with superior speed and head movement.  Gonzalez came forward constantly though and never lessened his work rate, which began to turn the bout his way as Johnson’s body attack disappeared.  “I tweaked my left shoulder in the fourth or fifth round and I couldn’t utilize my left hand as much,” Johnson revealed after the bout.

The middle rounds saw Gonzalez outwork Johnson, whose elusiveness became less effective.  Other than a good shot to the ear which staggered Gonzalez momentarily in the seventh round, rounds five thru nine were mostly Julio pushing Reggie into the ropes and landing the bigger punches.

In the tenth, Johnson had his biggest round of the evening landing multiple series of 1-2 combinations which went unanswered from Gonzalez and control of the bout’s pace had turned.  The remainder of the contest saw Gonzalez wanting to engage in toe to toe action, while Johnson preferred to evade the initial attempts and draw his foe in for counterpunches, loading up for big power shots seeming to desire a knockdown or even stoppage.

In the end, it was a very tightly scored bout from which the judges had to decide between Gonzalez’s superior aggressiveness and high workrate which controlled the action and pace of the bout, or prefer Johnson’s great head movement, defense, and slicker boxing.

The referee for the bout was Rick Exe.  Judge Mickey Lofton scored the bout 116-112 for Johnson, while judge Ray Clarey scored it 116-112 for Gonzalez, and judge Kenny Saintes scored it 115-113 for Johnson, resulting in a Split Decision victory for Reggie Johnson.

Julio Gonzalez commiserated, “I felt I won the fight.  He won four rounds at most.  It was completely obvious.  I’m not afraid to go into anyone’s hometown to fight, but I just want a fair decision.  Reggie, you said you’d give me a rematch, but let’s do it in California!”

Jesse Reid, James Green, and Bobby Benton worked Johnson’s corner.

Always one who gave back to his community, Johnson utilized local sparring in Houston and brought young prospects from Houston area gyms to fill out the undercard.

In the co-main event, Houston’s Maurenzo “T-Diddy” Smith engaged in a six round contest with comebacking veteran James “Machine Gun” Gatlin of Atlanta.  After a long period of inactivity, Gatlin seemed ill-prepared to go the distance.  Smith was able to have his will with him and land any shots he so desired.  Gatlin was gassed and relied on the strategy of trying to draw Smith in and load up with one big shot.  He didn’t land many and when they did, they did little damage.  The referee called an end to the one sided affair midway through the final round.  Smith now looks to contend for the Texas cruiserweight title in a bout which would complete his trilogy with rival “Crazy” Robbie McClimmans of Conroe.

“Mean” Eugene Hill of Dickinson, Texas, moved to 10-0 disposing of Rozell Traylor in the first round.  Last year Traylor dropped his pro debut to Hill by second round TKO.  With three more fights under his belt and coming off a victory, Traylor attempted to avenge his loss.  Hill wanted to top his previous performance and did just that, knocking out his foe just before the end of the first round.  He demonstrated his maturation as a fighter in remaining patient and focused during the bout.  He cornered Traylor on the ropes and put him down twice with well placed combinations.  The first time he bounced back up, but the on the second occasion, the referee counted him out.

Lafayette, Lousiana’s, Wilford Sypion, Jr. remained perfect in gaining his fourth knockout victory in as many tries.  He is the son of the legendary middleweight who had memorable bouts with Marvin Hagler, Iran Barkley, Mustafa Hamsho, & Frankie Fletcher.  With his opponent putting up little resistance, Sypion landed combinations and attacked the body, resulting in scored knockdowns in rounds one and three before referee Kenny Saintes had seen enough.

2007 Texas Golden Gloves champion Justin Jones of Houston, picked up his second victory scoring a shutout over Kirby Gillespie of Dallas.  Jones boxed well, breaking through Gillespie’s jabs and clutching tactics to land flurries and body shots.

Houston heavyweight Herman “Skip” Scott received his 2nd victory by way of TKO when referee Rick Exe decided that Charles Scott’s activity level wasn’t at a high enough level for the bout to continue.  Skip held a huge height and reach advantage over Charles

Mike Martinez made quick work of Jerrick Stephens winning via first round stoppage.

The bouts will be delay broadcast online from the website http://www.greenplanetmobile.com/ .
 
Johnson Wants
Hall-of-Fame Career!

By Andre Courtemanche

Former middleweight and light heavyweight champion Reggie “Sweet” Johnson (43-7-1, 25 KOs) has had a good career.

In his first world title fight in 1991, Johnson had a prime James Toney legitimately down and hurt, but lost a razor-thin split decision. Two fights later, he lifted the WBA strap from the talented multiple world champion Steve Collins, no easy feat, and then successfully defended three times.

In 1995, coming off a two-and-a-half year period where he had fought less than one round, he knocked out IBF Champion Williams Guthrie to take his second world title. He defended successfully twice before losing respectably to all-time-great Roy Jones Jr.

If he were to retire today, the boxing world would remember Reggie Johnson as a very good fighter.

That’s not enough for Reggie.

“It will mean the world to me,” says Johnson of someday being inducted into boxing’s hall of fame. “Let’s see if a third world title will concrete me in with the greats.”

The 41-year-old Johnson will begin his quest for a third world title, and the accolades that could come with it, at the “Fight Night for Climate Change” event on February 23 at the Civic Center in Lake Charles, Louisiana, when he faces top contender and fellow former champion Julio Cesar Gonzalez for the IBA World Championship.

Energetic and over-flowing with confidence, Johnson agreed to talk about his immediate plans, his future plans and where he hopes to end up.

How are you feeling? Are you injury free and coming into this fight at 100%?

I’m feeling great! Thanks for asking. Yes I’m healthy and my elbows haven’t felt this good in almost a decade. I’m at 120% going into this fight. God willing I will be there to give the boxing fans of Lake Charles, and the world over, the best Reggie Johnson.

You were originally scheduled to face Glen Johnson last year and then suffered an injury. How did your opponent go from Glenn Johnson to Julio Gonzalez?

Well, when my elbow injury happened, Glen got the opportunity from Showtime to fight Chad Dawson. It was a big letdown because a lot of work, money and resources were spent to make Johnson vs. Johnson a reality. Glen Johnson is the #1 contender by the IBF and it was a huge shortcut for me and Team Johnson. We had been working on this fight for two years. So when Glen took the Dawson fight, I did my research and found out that Gonzalez had a win over Glen. He was also a respected former world champion who had fought Roy Jones, Montell Griffin, and Clinton Woods. So a win in great fashion over Gonzalez should position me and shine a light on my pursuit of a third world title.

Why such a tough opponent for your first fight in almost three years?

Well when I knocked out Fred Moore, then the # 15 guy, I had been away from the ring for three years and eight months. My mindset has always been to win fights in the gym. I know that with young, hungry, world-class fighters pushing me everyday as my sparring partners, and add in my 23 years of experience, it makes sense for me to start at the top. Besides it’s not in my DNA to fight ducks. My resume will indicate.

What do you see in Julio's style that you can take advantage of?

For starters Julio helped me get ready for a few of my light heavyweight world title fights. This was when he had about 10 fights, so I know him well. Julio is like all the great Mexican fighters who fight with a lot of passion and heart. Julio’s tough, but him being 6’ 2” and fighting like the average Mexican fighter plays in my favor. So I see his style making my job a little easier. His trainer Dub Huntley worked with me in 1989 when I moved to L.A. to pursue my career. So he knows what Julio is up against and he also knows that Reggie Johnson never over-estimates or under-estimates any man when that bells ring.

You've had a terrific career already, what is pulling you back to the ring?

Well security of family is always a motivator. Plus I have some unfinished business. But I really want to position myself to one day get in the Boxing Hall of Fame. I was invited out there in 2005 and 2006 which I think is a good sign, so lets see if a third world title will concrete me in with the greats. If it is God’s will to bless me in that way, it will mean the world to me.

How is working with your promoter Kerry Daigle going?

Kerry Daigle serves as my friend first and as my agent. He’s been awesome and was the first to believe in my mission and vision. He’s been another one of blessings from God. Kerry and I have been together for three years now and he and I both has seen a lot of people come and go in reference to Team Johnson. Kerry has been consistent and loyal and that’s hard to find in this our industry.

Fighting in Louisiana, do you feel as though you're the hometown fighter?

Somewhat. I’ve spent a lot of time doing business there in reference to staging the Johnson vs. Johnson fight in Lake Charles. Lake Charles is a low key city that I am falling in love with. Great people and food is really what Lake Charles host for the world. Lundy & Davis Law Firm and Trinity World Boxing L.L.C. have been great handling the legal end and going to bat for Team Johnson making my return to the ring a reality in the state of Louisiana. We want to really thank Mr. Hunter Lundy for spearheading the event. If you’re ever in Lake Charles, you most visit my new-found friend Tony Bruno at “Sweet and Treats” Bakery. I vote it the best in the world. Tell him to give you some Tea Cakes on me.

Has your style changed at all, or are you still the same "Sweet" Reggie?

My style is still the same for the most part from my middleweight days but as a light heavyweight my power has improved at least 50 percent. When you add my experience with the punching power, I’m knocking guys out accidentally. My last fight with Fred Moore, I set him up and hit him with a uppercut and then went to grab him but he was out cold.

What are you up to outside the ring? Are you set up for life after boxing?

Well I’m involved with my new church home (St. Stephens - Pastor Paul Landrew), the youth in my community, speaking engagements, getting my promotional company up and running, and then there’s my real job: my kids.

Which one of the current light heavyweight world champions would you most like to fight?

The first one that gives me the opportunity or the first one I position myself to fight by becoming the #1 contender