Johnson, 42, has puncher's chance

ATLANTIC CITY -- When Showtime needed a replacement for injured Mikkel Kessler in its "Super Six" super-middleweight tournament last November, Glen Johnson wasn't on the radar. For one thing, he had been campaigning as a 175-pound light-heavyweight for more than 10 years, and for another, he was approaching his 42nd birthday in January.

It was manager Lou DiBella who went to Showtime. "I said, 'He can make 168,' " DiBella recalled. "They said, 'No, he can't.' I said, 'Believe me, Glen Johnson can make '68.' In a bizarre way, I think he's in his prime at 42 years old."

Johnson (51-14-2, 35 KOs) made the 168-pound super-middleweight limit in November when he scored an eighth-round knockout over Allan Green to advance to the tournament semifinals against England's Carl Froch (27-1, 20 KOs) Saturday night at Boardwalk Hall. At Friday's weigh-in, Johnson again made weight with room to spare, tipping the scales at 166.5 pounds to Froch's 167.5.

Froch is heavily favored to win and advance to the championship final against Andre Ward in the fall. But it would be foolish to discount Johnson's chances to pull off an upset based on his experience as former IBF light-heavyweight champion and his current condition.

Asked if he's started to feel his age yet, Johnson said, "I don't feel no different than at any time in my life. There is nothing I can't do that I used to do. I still run my same speed that I always run. I run a seven-minute mile for five miles. I don't know what a different feeling is like because I haven't had it yet."

Known as the "Road Warrior" because of his willingness to fight anyone and anywhere, Johnson is a seasoned pro who has been through some serious wars. Plus, he can take inspiration from old foe Bernard Hopkins, who last week became the oldest champion in history, regaining the light-heavyweight title from Jean Pascal at the age of 46.

One of the best fights of Johnson's career came against Hopkins in 1997 when Hopkins scored an 11th-round TKO. Johnson still wants a rematch with Hopkins by next year, he said, "while it's still relevant."

But in the meantime, Johnson is anxious to see if Froch can handle his straight-ahead, power-punching style. "Carl is physical, more of a brawler, like a tough guy," Johnson said. "But I'm also aggressive and a tough guy. I have better skills. At the end of the day, I'm going to come out victorious."