Glen Johnson

Biography

The Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium, located at 705 Elvis Presley Boulevard in Shreveport, Louisiana, is a significant historical and cultural landmark. Constructed between 1926 and 1929 during Mayor Lee Emmett Thomas's administration, the Art Deco building was designed as a memorial to World War I servicemen.

Architects Samuel G. Wiener Sr. and Seymour Van Os of Jones, Roessle, Olschner & Wiener designed the auditorium, with construction carried out by the Ashton Glassell Company of Shreveport.

Glengoffe Johnson, known in boxing circles as "The Road Warrior," carved out a remarkable career that spanned over two decades, from 1993 to 2015. Born on January 2, 1969, in Jamaica, Johnson's journey to boxing stardom was anything but conventional.

Arriving in South Florida at 15, Johnson laced up the gloves when he was 20, making his start at a police boxing gym in Miami. Despite this late entry, he quickly made up for lost time, amassing an impressive amateur record of 35-5 and clinching the Florida State Golden Gloves Championship twice, at 165 and 178 pounds.

Johnson's professional career was defined by his extraordinary durability and relentless pressure-fighting style. These attributes, combined with his willingness to face any opponent, anywhere, earned him the moniker "The Road Warrior." His crowning achievement came in 2004 when he shocked the boxing world by knocking out the legendary Roy Jones Jr. in the ninth round, a victory that catapulted him to the top of the light heavyweight division.

Following this upset, Johnson secured a split decision win over Antonio Tarver, capturing the IBO and The Ring light heavyweight titles. This remarkable year culminated in Johnson being named the 2004 Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America.

Throughout his career, Johnson faced a who's who of boxing, including multiple bouts with Clinton Woods, Chad Dawson, and Antonio Tarver. He challenged for world titles across three weight classes, showcasing his versatility and tenacity. Notable fights include his IBF light heavyweight title defence against Woods, a victory over former champion Montell Griffin, and hard-fought battles against Chad Dawson for the WBC light heavyweight title.

In the twilight of his career, Johnson joined the Super Six World Boxing Classic as a replacement for Mikkel Kessler. He made his mark in the tournament by knocking out Allan Green in the eighth round, advancing to the semi-finals, where he faced Carl Froch in a closely contested bout for the WBC super-middleweight title.

Johnson's final title challenge came in 2010 against Tavoris Cloud for the IBF light heavyweight belt. Although he lost a close decision, Johnson's performance, landing more punches according to CompuBox, exemplified the grit and determination that defined his career.

Retiring in 2015 with a record of 54 wins (37 by knockout), 21 losses, and 2 draws, Glengoffe Johnson left an indelible mark on the sport. His journey from late starter to world champion and his fearless approach to facing top-tier opponents solidified his place as a fan favourite and a respected figure in boxing history.