Anthony Johnson: “I Made My Job My Passion”

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    5Anthony Johnson sat at the edge of the ring covered in sweat as the clock slowly moved past two o’clock on Wednesday afternoon. Johnson had just finished using the curve machine, a treadmill that is shaped like a u, using a specialized altitude mask to restrict breathing while taking short sprints and then stopping to check his heart rate. “This is harder than the fight” Johnson said as he addressed the whole gym who was currently engulfed in a 2Pac song that played in the background.

    For Johnson, August 16th is a culmination of handwork that started in Nebraska, where Johnson was born and raised. “I was real athletic, I played sports all throughout high school” Johnson said when reflecting upon his past achievements in life. It was a chance internship opportunity that sent a young Anthony Johnson to the Bay Area when he was attending the University of Nebraska that began to set his roots in California. “It was my first trip out of Nebraska and once I got out of Nebraska, I feel in love with the Bay Area. I vowed to myself once I graduated college I will come back out [to California].”

    Yet things were not that simple as Johnson initial moved to Los Angles before returning to the Bay Area as a mixed martial artist. “I moved up here with no job in sight, I just moved up here and made it a go and have been here ever since.” Johnson explained. It was a solid amateur career in kickboxing that allowed Johnson to travel throughout the United States that seemed to mesh his skill set perfectly for mixed martial artists as many were watching his career closely from the very start.

    “I wasn’t ready to quit fighting and concentrate on work, so I quit work to concentrate on fighting. I made it my passion, I made my job my passion.”

    Johnson competed in the now defunct mixed martial artist promotion Strikeforce based out of San Jose, CA that had a national television deal via Showtime. Things looked to be culminating into a perfect ending for Johnson who seemed destined for title aspirations until a knee injury derailed his hopes of competing in mixed martial artist, so what did Johnson do? Well, he turned to boxing to see how things might go and the results were positive.

    Johnson recollected on his first pro fight in which he didn’t even know he was going to fight on that occasion. Johnson who was greeted by his trainer at the time and informed during his shadowboxing that he should get his gear, because he was fighting tomorrow in Sacramento, CA and needed to get ready to weigh in. Johnson was not just making his debut against Henry Wells, but also fighting at Arco Areno, where the NBA franchise the Sacramento Kings compete.

    “I threw up in my mouth and then swallowed it from not having a real training camp” Johnson recalled with a laugh. Johnson went on to win a healthy decision in his debut and even would re-match Wells beating him soundly in the second bout as Johnson started off his pro boxing career 2-0 with two wins over Wells.
    Johnson would later on become a last minute replacement opponent for the feared power punching prospect, Joe Gumina. Gumina at the time was undefeated, Johnson stepped up to pull off the upset victory outboxing the powerful Gumina on Solo Boxeo. The victory had been viewed as the major win of Johnson’s career as most fighters are unable to take Gumina’s power let alone stick to a game plan and out box Gumina. In Johnson’s last bout, he arguably looked the best he has ever looked as he demolished Harry Gopaul on his way to a third round technical knockout and seemed even more crisp with his combination punching.

    Johnson now hopes for a new milestone as he hopes to become the inaugural BKB crusierweight champion. Johnson will be greeted by Dimar Ortiz of Chicago, Il and a fighter that Johnson candidly admits “…I don’t know a lot about him….he is 10-0 with 7 knockouts judging by his record he seems to be a pretty good fighter with power in both hands….being forced to fight in the pit, I am sure somebody is getting knocked out.”

    Johnson who is training at Undisputed Boxing Gym in San Carlos, CA for this bout credits Brian Schwartz and Mike Bazzel for putting together the perfect camp and having him in the best shape of his career. “Anyone who has followed my career knows that once I started training at Undisputed Boxing Gym I just improved by leaps and bounds.” Johnson explained as looked back at his trainers. Johnson who had just completed hard sparring in preparation of his bout had onlookers expressing how primed Johnson looked ten days out from the fight with hand gestures and head nods.

    “I can’t wait to bring another belt back here, then it can be me and Bruno [Escalante] with the belts” Johnson exclaimed. Bruno Escalante recently won a title last December and now it is Johnson’s mission to add to the Undisputed Boxing Gym’s list of accomplishments.

    Johnson, who towers with his massive frame well over six feet tall is now at a weight that is optimum for his performance, cruiserweight. A weight he can comfortable make, but is incredibly strong for the weight class. Johnson who had campaigned at light heavyweight appears to simply have just out grown the weight class and now is eager to not just compete at cruiserweight, but earn his first championship belt in the professional ranks. For Johnson, August 16th is the story of a man who has fought so hard for a dream in the background of superstars around him finally getting his moment to emerge as the star he justly is in his own right.

    Big Knockout Boxing Gabriel Rosado vs. Brian Vera will take place August 16th at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, NV at 10pm EST/ 7PM PST. For information on how to watch the event on PPV please go to BKB.TV for further information.