JOHNSON
SACRAMENTO, California, CMC:
JAMAICA'S FORMER world light heavyweight boxing champion Glen Johnson has signed to fight the American George Khalid Jones in an International Boxing Federation (IBF) title eliminator on September 30.
The card, which will be telecast live from the Cache Creek Casino Resort, will also feature an eight-round contest between rising heavyweights Jason Gavern and Travis Walker.
Johnson is aiming to tackle the winner of the October 1 multi-million dollar showdown between Antonio Tarver and Roy Jones but his handlers - in deciding to take next month's fight - have decided to place the 36-year-old Caribbean fighter in a lucrative position in the event that the Tarver/Jones winner does not want to fight him.
"We have to conduct what's best for Glen, (regardless) of the Tarver-Jones fight," Johnson's manager, Henry Foster, said.
"Obviously, we are eagerly awaiting the outcome of the fight and hope to cajole the winner to fight Glen," he said.
Jones is a hard-hitting southpaw with a record of 23 wins (13 knockouts) against two losses and one draw, while Johnson has 42 wins (28 knockouts) against 10 losses and two draws.
Despite not owning any of the major world titles, Johnson, Tarver and Jones are considered the best light heavyweights in the world.
Johnson knocked out Jones in nine rounds in September, defeated Tarver in a split decision three months later and lost a decision against Tarver on June 18 this year. Instead of granting Johnson an immediate rematch, Tarver opted for a third fight with Jones.
Tarver stopped Jones in two rounds in May 2004, six months after losing a decision to the former undisputed light-heavyweight champion.
The winner of the Johnson-Khalid Jones fight will become a No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger for the IBF light-heavyweight title.
Britain's Clinton Woods, beaten by Johnson for the IBF belt last year February, currently holds the title and will defend it against Julio Gonzalez on September 9.
