21.11.03 – By Micah Yonkoski: It’s happened so many times that it’s almost laughable, that is unless you are Glencoffe Johnson. Glenn has been robbed more times than Seven-Eleven and it’s almost as if he’s cursed from getting over the hump. Being a lifelong Red Sox fan, I am all too familiar with this way of thinking and the foolishness that follows, but when things happen time and time again, it has to make a man wonder about a lot of things.
At age 34, Glencoffe Johnson has been in the ring with many and most of the fighters from 160 to 175 and despite doing everything he could and should do to ensure a victory; Johnson has on so many occasions been the victim of bad luck and the dreaded “hometown decision.”
Well, Johnson’s nemesis Déjà vu made another unfortunate appearance and found him on the disappointing end of the official scorecards. And, once again it appeared to most that he deserved the win.
When the IBF declared the fate of their vacant 175 pound crown to be decided between Johnson and the Sheffield born scrapper Clinton Woods just 72 hours before their scheduled fight, it seemed as if all the tough breaks and hard work were going to finally end for Johnson, but as we now know, that wasn’t exactly the case, it was ruled a draw.
While this decision may pale in comparison to some of the others he has encountered in his fifty fight career, it’s still the same principle. After all, it was a close fight and when the winner was announced, Johnson left the ring without having his hand raised and with that all too familiar feeling in the pit of his stomach.
Clinton Woods #4 and Johnson #8 came into the bout with the full intention of giving it their all and after 36 minutes of pugilism, no one could argue otherwise. However, the title still remains vacant and within ninety days they are ordered to do it again.
Judge Tony Pallola scored the fight in favor of Johnson with a final tabulation of 116-112 while Albert Bennett (US) saw the fight in favor of Woods by the score of 115-113 and Howard Foster saw the fight even at 114-114.
Personally, from what I saw it appeared as though Johnson pressed the action enough to squeak out a victory, but that’s not how things work for Johnson. Most rounds were close and tough to score and had not he been victimized so many times in bouts passed, a draw would seem acceptable.
Very rarely does a draw please anyone, unless you are Daniel Judah, but this was an action fight and the rematch should be much the same, but hopefully with a more definitive outcome. Nonetheless, should the return bout go the distance again, you almost feel as though the inevitable will happen.
However, Johnson and his camp don’t share the pessimism that I as a lifelong Red Sox fan deal with and they are determined and confident that the next fight will be different and Johnson will leave the ring finally wearing the IBF Light Heavyweight championship that he’s fought so long and hard for.
Now, let’s just hope that something can be done about them Sox!!
*A special thanks to Main Man Boxing and Craig Goosen for helping with this interview.