CALL IT A COMEBACK: JOHNSON EXPLAINS DECISION TO FACE GROVES
By Doveed Linder

After a brief retirement, former world light heavyweight champion Glen Johnson (51-17-2, 35 KOs) discusses his December 15th fight in London against George Groves (15-0, 12 KOs) and his reasons for continuing with his career. Johnson explained to Boxingtalk, "I feel that I can still make some money in this game and I don’t want to cheat myself out of it."
 
DL: How did this fight with George Groves come about?
 
GJ: They gave me a call and asked me if it was something I was interested in, so I said, “Yeah, let’s do it.”  I was training, just shaking out and keeping my body sexy.  This came up, so I took it.
 
DL: You announced your retirement on ESPN2 after your last fight (a unanimous decision loss to unheralded Andrzej Fonfara in July).  Why did you change your mind?
 
GJ: After I started training again, I started to feel good.  I thought, “You know what?  It doesn’t hurt to try it again.”  So I’m going to give it another shot.  I’ve been working on new things and that’s why I think I can do a better job (than he did in his last fight).  I really feel excited and I really feel good.  I like the new things I’m working on and I feel that these things might be the missing part.  There were a few things missing from my game and that’s why I’m giving it another shot.
 
DL: Did you find retirement to be difficult?  Is it hard to live without the excitement of a fight on the horizon?
 
GJ: I wouldn’t say difficult.  I do feel that I have some good fights left in me.  I feel that I can still make some money in this game and I don’t want to cheat myself out of it.
 
DL: What’s your plan now?  Are you getting back into the mix, or are you just taking it one fight at a time?
 
GJ: I’m getting back into the mix, but you still have to take it one fight at a time.  First I have to go back out there and prove to myself that the things that I’m working on that weren’t there the last couple of years will make the difference.  I’m just excited about getting back into the ring.

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