JOHNSON
MIAMI, Florida, CMC:
JAMAICAN EX-WORLD light heavyweight boxing champion Glen Johnson is awaiting the outcome of October's clash between Americans Antonio Tarver and Roy Jones Jnr. to decide on his next move.
Johnson, Tarver and Jones have set up a light heavyweight triangle that represents the cream of the 175-pound division, and Johnson is anxious to reclaim his status as the number one, following his loss to Tarver in June.
Tarver and Jones are gearing up for their lucrative tie-breaking third match scheduled for October 1 in Las Vegas, and Johnson's manager Henry Foster wants to ensure that the 36-year-old Caribbean pugilist is prominent in the promotional scenario surrounding the fight.
"We can't argue with these two guys fighting, but for these guys to recognise themselves as legitimate champions, they have to come through Glen Johnson," Foster said in a Miami Herald story.
Miami-based Johnson stopped Jones in nine rounds last September and won a close decision against Tarver three months later.
The narrow result prompted an immediate rematch, which Tarver won in a unanimous decision June 16.
Immediately, post-fight talk centred on a third bout between Johnson and Tarver, but Tarver, a Tampa resident, eventually accepted a third fight with Jones.
"We have not heard from Tarver's people since the rematch. All the talk of a third fight was in the ring. It became obvious Tarver didn't want to fight Glen again," Foster added.
Tarver's promoter, Joe DeGuardia, said two weeks ago a third Tarver-Johnson fight lacks priority until after Tarver-Jones III.
Johnson, who had beaten Britain's Clinton Woods for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) title in February 2004, has a ring record of 42 wins (28 knockouts) against 10 losses and two draws.
