Let's see what Johnson has left. He was hit with a big shot in his last fight and nearly went down. The Johnson that fought beterbiev may take a few fights to get back to that level. Buatsi is building up slowly. I think it's 50-50 at the moment. I wouldn't put money on either with much certainty.
Buatsi has got a lot to prove in the ring granted. I think he's a real talent and we'll soon find out, but even so Callum Johnson has to be one of the most oddly overrated fighters on the forum. He's a puncher, a strong come forward fighter who is undoubtedly good to watch because of his style- that's about it. He's one dimensional, one paced, very easy to hit as he only knows one way to fight, 36 in two months and he's had 2 fights in 3 years. I don't see him fighting for a world title again, and next fight he loses his career is basically over.
Sounds like the money wasn't enough, then. It's a legit reason to turn down offers, you know, especially multi-fight ones. Even if the purse for the last fight is decent, the overall package might not have been worth a year of his career in his mid-30s. A three-fight deal also ages Johnson and gives time for Buatsi to develop - it's almost an admission he's not ready. If the fight is deemed worthy of six-figure pay days to both fighters now - make it now. And Hearn must have been pretty sure a boxer who chose to leave his promotional umbrella for a bitter rival's wasn't going to take the offer and hand that control back to Matchroom. So it was more likely to do with publicity - get people naively believing Johnson ducked the fight - than a genuine effort to get it done. Unless of course Hearn made the three-fight offer irresistible. He didn't and it doesn't seem he came back with an improved one either. Smoke and mirrors...
