The "Sweet" Resurrection of Reggie Johnson
By Michael J. Campbell
“Sweet” Reggie Johnson of Houston, Texas, said he wasn’t on a “comeback,” but rather was in need of some “get back” and returned to the ring for some unfinished business. Titles at middleweight and light heavyweight and 25 world title contests couldn’t satiate his desire to fight and after long contract disputes and wanting to “do things his way,” he finally got another big fight after a two and a half year layoff.
A scheduled contest with top ranked “Gentleman” Glen Johnson was cancelled last November due to and arm injury suffered by Reggie during preparations. Three months later, Glen is scheduled to fight WBC champ Chad Dawson, and former WBO champion Mexican Julio Gonzalez, of Huntington Beach, California, stepped in to battle for the IBA Light Heavyweight Title.
Johnson came in via an extended ring walk, circling the arena, wearing a plain grey sweatshirt and knit cap, giving a very working man impression. When the bell sounded to begin action, Johnson charged across the ring scoring combinations and attacking the body from his southpaw stance. Rope burns and evidence of body punches were already apparent on Gonzalez’s back by the end of the first round.
The forty-one year old former champion demonstrated that his skills were still sharp in making Gonzalez miss many of his punches with superior speed and head movement. Gonzalez came forward constantly though and never lessened his work rate, which began to turn the bout his way as Johnson’s body attack disappeared. “I tweaked my left shoulder in the fourth or fifth round and I couldn’t utilize my left hand as much,” Johnson revealed after the bout.
The middle rounds saw Gonzalez outwork Johnson, whose elusiveness became less effective. Other than a good shot to the ear which staggered Gonzalez momentarily in the seventh round, rounds five thru nine were mostly Julio pushing Reggie into the ropes and landing the bigger punches.
In the tenth, Johnson had his biggest round of the evening landing multiple series of 1-2 combinations which went unanswered from Gonzalez and control of the bout’s pace had turned. The remainder of the contest saw Gonzalez wanting to engage in toe to toe action, while Johnson preferred to evade the initial attempts and draw his foe in for counterpunches, loading up for big power shots seeming to desire a knockdown or even stoppage.
In the end, it was a very tightly scored bout from which the judges had to decide between Gonzalez’s superior aggressiveness and high workrate which controlled the action and pace of the bout, or prefer Johnson’s great head movement, defense, and slicker boxing.
The referee for the bout was Rick Exe. Judge Mickey Lofton scored the bout 116-112 for Johnson, while judge Ray Clarey scored it 116-112 for Gonzalez, and judge Kenny Saintes scored it 115-113 for Johnson, resulting in a Split Decision victory for Reggie Johnson.
Julio Gonzalez commiserated, “I felt I won the fight. He won four rounds at most. It was completely obvious. I’m not afraid to go into anyone’s hometown to fight, but I just want a fair decision. Reggie, you said you’d give me a rematch, but let’s do it in California!”
Jesse Reid, James Green, and Bobby Benton worked Johnson’s corner.
Always one who gave back to his community, Johnson utilized local sparring in Houston and brought young prospects from Houston area gyms to fill out the undercard.
In the co-main event, Houston’s Maurenzo “T-Diddy” Smith engaged in a six round contest with comebacking veteran James “Machine Gun” Gatlin of Atlanta. After a long period of inactivity, Gatlin seemed ill-prepared to go the distance. Smith was able to have his will with him and land any shots he so desired. Gatlin was gassed and relied on the strategy of trying to draw Smith in and load up with one big shot. He didn’t land many and when they did, they did little damage. The referee called an end to the one sided affair midway through the final round. Smith now looks to contend for the Texas cruiserweight title in a bout which would complete his trilogy with rival “Crazy” Robbie McClimmans of Conroe.
“Mean” Eugene Hill of Dickinson, Texas, moved to 10-0 disposing of Rozell Traylor in the first round. Last year Traylor dropped his pro debut to Hill by second round TKO. With three more fights under his belt and coming off a victory, Traylor attempted to avenge his loss. Hill wanted to top his previous performance and did just that, knocking out his foe just before the end of the first round. He demonstrated his maturation as a fighter in remaining patient and focused during the bout. He cornered Traylor on the ropes and put him down twice with well placed combinations. The first time he bounced back up, but the on the second occasion, the referee counted him out.
Lafayette, Lousiana’s, Wilford Sypion, Jr. remained perfect in gaining his fourth knockout victory in as many tries. He is the son of the legendary middleweight who had memorable bouts with Marvin Hagler, Iran Barkley, Mustafa Hamsho, & Frankie Fletcher. With his opponent putting up little resistance, Sypion landed combinations and attacked the body, resulting in scored knockdowns in rounds one and three before referee Kenny Saintes had seen enough.
2007 Texas Golden Gloves champion Justin Jones of Houston, picked up his second victory scoring a shutout over Kirby Gillespie of Dallas. Jones boxed well, breaking through Gillespie’s jabs and clutching tactics to land flurries and body shots.
Houston heavyweight Herman “Skip” Scott received his 2nd victory by way of TKO when referee Rick Exe decided that Charles Scott’s activity level wasn’t at a high enough level for the bout to continue. Skip held a huge height and reach advantage over Charles
Mike Martinez made quick work of Jerrick Stephens winning via first round stoppage.
The bouts will be delay broadcast online from the website
