Johanneson: 'I'm going to win - impressively' by Paul Concannon Feb 3rd 2007

Hard punching British super-featherweight champion Carl Johanneson will be hoping to make challenger Ricky Burns his eighth stoppage victim on the bounce when he defends the title against the talented Scottish youngster in Leeds next Saturday (Feb 9th). With the hard work just about done, Carl, alongside new trainer Martin Williams, joined us to talk about his thoughts ahead of his second title defence. BB.Net: How is your preparation ahead of next week's bout with Ricky Burns? CJ: All good, it's all coming together now. The final preparations are just about done. BB.Net: How's your weight? CJ: Good, I will make 9-4 no problem. BB.net: As the fight gets closer, you're notoriously moody in the gym; speak about current state of mind. CJ: Very good, when I get grumpy it's a good sign, a sign of how focused I am on the fight. BB.Net: How about your sparring? CJ: Actually, I have just been down in Sheffield sparring with Andrew Facey. BB.Net: How did that go? CJ: Good, he's big like Burns, awkward like Burns, so Andrew has been good preparation getting ready for burns. Being tall and awkward, he's perfect. But we will see what happens on the night, we may need a plan B and I have got one. BB.Net: Burns is a good boxer, and proved durable in his bout with Alex Arthur what sort of problems do you think he will pose for you come fight night? CJ: I'm not giving too much away, but I'm going to take care of business like I always do. BB.Net: Like your previous challenger Fehintola, his stats indicate that he isn't a puncher, though he likely hits a little harder than Femi. In your eagerness to get the stoppage, you were caught often by Femi. Can we expect to see more head movement this time around? CJ: Yes, more head movement this time, definitely. Styles make fights and he's the number one contender; these are the fights I want. BB.net: With Femi being tall and rangy, you probably got some pretty good preparation for Burns last time out? CJ: Yes, Femi is tall with that long reach. I was too eager in that last fight and never showed my best, I pretty much got hit a lot because Femi pissed me off and I wanted to stop him. BB.Net: What does it mean to be defending your title in here in Leeds? CJ: It means a lot; the people in Leeds want to see good fighters from Leeds, and there is no way Burns is taking that title from me. BB.Net: Can you talk about your game plan? CJ: It's going to be a good fight. BB.Net: A likely scenario seems for Ricky to be on the move looking to counter. CJ: People are saying it's going to be an exciting fight, he probably will be trying to counter, but you don't know until fight time, so I don't get too hung-up on the game plan. BB: Net: As ever Carl you, have that quiet air of confidence, that whatever happens, you will have the answer. Do you think the spell you had in America at the start of your career helps, with respect to knowing how many facets you have to your game when the going gets tough. CJ: Absolutely, I'm confident, whatever happens I can adapt, you have to be able to adapt in a fight, because as you know, anything can happen. America was a good experience, and like I said, these are the fights that I want; he's number one and it's time to step it up and show people what I have got. BB.Net: What's your prediction? CJ: I'm going to win, impressively. BB.Net: Carl, there has been talk of a world title fight later in the year, there are some excellent champions & fighters at the weight, how would you feel about mixing it with the likes of Barrera, Manny Pacquiao or Joan Guzman? CJ: Fine, I would like Barrera because he's retiring this year and the Guzman fight would make for a good fight but, but I'm not looking at them, the only man who is in the way at the moment is Ricky Burns. BB.Net: Any message for Ricky Burns and the fans? CJ: Ricky, let's just get it on, and for those people who can't make it up for the fight, watch it on SKY because you are in for one of the fights of the year, me and Ricky are going to make a great fight, don't miss it. BB.Net: Martin, any final thoughts from you? Martin Williams: Carl is a talented fighter. Good trainers are blessed with good fighters, not the other way round like some people seem to think. You can't make a donkey into a horse! Carl is a rare talent, and it's very rare you get two brothers that are as talented as him and his brother Danny (Wallace – also under Williams tutelage), two thoroughbreds. Carl will do the business on the night, I'm confident of that. Photos: Cliff - http://www.kududesign.co.uk/

Go back Comment on this article | Send to a friend | Print

There are no comments. Click here to be the first who comment on this article.