Allan Green takes on Glen Johnson this Saturday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The fight will open Group Stage 3 in the Super Six World Boxing Classic, where the winner will advance to the semifinal round. The fight can be seen on Showtime at 10 pm ET as the lead-in to the main event of Juan Manuel Lopez vs. Rafael Marquez.
Allan Green vs. Glen Johnson
Money Line: Green +135; Johnson -165
Super Six Group Stage 3
Allan Green (29-2, 20 KOs) has been given a second life in the Super Six tournament. After replacing Jermain Taylor after the first group stage, Green drew Andre Ward and Mikkel Kessler to finish off the group stage. After getting shutout against Ward, Green got good news when Kessler had to withdraw from the tournament. Now Green gets the 41-year-old Glen Johnson where the winner advances to the Knockout Stage. Now 31, Green has yet to capitalize on his potential and it’s now or never. He packs a strong punch and has some highlight reel knockouts to his credit, but Green needs to put together a complete performance to get past the rugged Johnson.
No matter what Allan Green shows up, chances are that Glen Johnson (50-14-2, 34 KOs) has seen it before. Probably four times. Glen Johnson enters the Super Six as a replacement for Mikkel Kessler. It is his first fight in the tournament but a win over Green puts him into the knockout stage. The question surrounding Johnson is whether the weight cut to 168 pounds will deplete him come fight time. Johnson has not fought at the super middleweight level for ten years. While both Green and Johnson have lost their most recent noteworthy fights, at least Johnson has been competitive. He has the style to beat Green, but age and weight loss may have caught up with him.
Staff Picks
Corey Willinger: Johnson is the obvious choice in this one, and it comes down to a matter of styles. The only way Johnson knows how to fight is to crowd and swarm his opponent. The one thing Green doesn’t like his opponent to do is crowd and swarm him. And it’s disturbing really because Green is younger, more technically sound, fighting in his own weight class and has so much more upside with a win than does Johnson, who is in the twilight of his career. Despite his age catching up to him and the fact that he is moving down in weight and thus likely to be a little drained, the Road Warrior stays on top of Green all night, but like Andre Ward, fails to stop him unless Green quits or his corner does the deed for him. Johnson by near shutout 118-108.
Trent: This fight is going the distance and it may be painful to watch at times. Glen Johnson will carry this fight but his tank is hovering around Empty. He will bank enough early rounds to establish an early lead. Allan Green will have to rally late and that’s just not his style. He will need that late knockout but Johnson is as sturdy as they come. I see Johnson winning a decision but closer to 116-112.
