Unreal these threads about Joe ducking, he never ducked anyone! Joe wasn't a huge draw in the UK and the World for years after he won his first Championship (reletively). This made him one of the highest risk, lowest reward fighters for the US stars. They could make more money fighting people of much lower skill than Joe. Joe was a ducked fighter! As for ducking later in his career i.e. fighting Hopkins and RJJ. Joe was by this point a huge draw and only those two matched his drawing potential, which is why he had these fights. Dawson, Froch etc were not ducked, they couldn't sell out their own living room!
Anyone who thinks Calzaghe ducked journeyman Johnson doesnt know the facts or just wishes that was the case due to their hate of Calzaghe. Calzaghe pulled out of fighting Johnson due to injury. Calzaghe was an injury prone fighter. Remember he pulled out of fighting Sheika 3 times and Lacy, but look what happend there. When Calzaghe was ringside with a view to fighting Johnson, Johnson lost to Woods and blew his chance Just look at Johnsons SMW resume when Calzaghe was SMW champ Johnson has lost at SMW to - M Sosa who had 5 losses and 2 draws, and lost his next 2 fights after beating Johnson Kiwanuka who had 3 losses and 2 draws, had lost his last 2 fights coming into his fight with Johnson and his fight after Johnson Ottke 16-0 who in fairness was an outstanding SMW boxer Vanderpool 27-1 who lost his next fight, but in fairness that was at MW to Hopkins and Vanderpool had a good run after Branco 38-4-2 who was a world class SMW and became WBA LHW champ Sheika who was 19-1 and lost his next fight, though in fairness that was to Calzaghe. The SMWs that Johnson has managed to beat Campas 3-20-4 coming off of only 2 losses and won his next fight Watson 24-16-1, Johnson was his last fight Renteria 9-23-5 coming in, whos last 10 fight record before facing Johnson was 0-8-2 Zimmerman 15-2-0 coming in, who had lost his previous fight and the one after Its a joke Calzaghe beat Hopkins who beat Johnson, or Hopkins who beat Tarver who beat Johnson Calzaghe beat Sheika who beat Johnson, Look at the form line in general Calzaghe beats Kessler who beats Froch who beats Johnson. Calzaghe beats Woodhall who beats Branco who beats Johnson or go further and see that Johnson lost to Dawson. Follow the losses back and they all lead back to Calzaghe
Easy?, doubtful unless you're that stupid. This will be a tough fight and Johnson would keep coming forward all night, Calzaghe will be forced to throw moving back.
He did duck him. He pulled out of fighting Glen about 4 times it was one of the first blatant duckings i remember. It made me hate Calzaghe. He probably would have beat glen unless Glen caught him, but he didnt want to take that chance.
Glen Johnson was nothing but a journeyman at supermiddle weight, he was having a tough time when at that weight but to his credit he turned it all around again.
That is the type of fighter Calzaghe is best against!! Johnson may keep coming forward but he has never been the fastest and whilst he constantly comes forward he doesn't throw constantly. Joe would pick him off with high speed combos and then move out the way and do it again. Also if Johnson got too close there are not many fighters as good as Joe is at tying his opponents up. It will be a wide ud, maybe not an easy one as he will have to work every min of every round but Johnson is made for Calzaghe to look good against!