The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

ALTHOUGH Tureano Johnson has been denied a shot at WBA and IBO middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin thus far, his promoter Gary Shaw was back on the stump petitioning for Johnson to receive that opportunity.

Golovkin retained the title last weekend and moved to 33-0 with a TKO victory over Willie Monroe Jr. However, Shaw said his camp saw some signs that Johnson could have an edge if they were to square off.

“I really believe that Tureano Johnson would have a hell of a fight with Golovkin. I felt that fight on Saturday didn’t show Golovkin well, and I think he’s a hell of a fighter but he got hit with a lot of punches, a lot of jabs,” he told boxingscene.com.

“I don’t know if that performance was done so to have Cotto or ‘Canelo’ want to fight him. But I just don’t think it helped his stock. At the end in the interview his face was pretty scarred up.”

Shaw said despite the hurdle of being denied that title shot this month, a scenario remains where Golovkin would be forced to face the hard-hitting Bahamian.

“We had a fight with Golovkin, we had a contract but at the last minute they pulled out and switched to Willie Monroe. They said they wanted to fight a southpaw, I don’t know what it proved. I know what it didn’t prove,” Shaw said.

“I’m hoping the WBC will mandate Tureano against Heiland for the mandatory to ‘Triple G’ (interim champion). I’m not sure [Miguel] Cotto will fight ‘Triple G’ if he beats Daniel Geale. ‘Canelo’ is not going to fight him, he doesn’t need ‘Triple G’. He does tremendous ratings and fills stadiums, he doesn’t need anybody. Tureano against ‘Triple G’ would be a tremendous fight, but we’ll see what the WBC rules and mandates.”

Johnson, 30, rose to prominence with his fifth round TKO over Alex Theran last January.

Following the fight, Johnson (18-1) made it clear that his intention was to rise quickly up the ranks as Shaw outlined.

“I’m ready to fight Gennady Golovkin, Miguel Cotto, Jermaine Taylor or any other champion out there,” he said. “These are the types of fights I would like to pursue. I’m here to take over this division. Everyone knows I should be undefeated so I’m going to leave no doubt about it every time I step in the ring.”

It was his debut on the inaugural RocNation Sports promotion “Throne Boxing.”

Johnson is now ranked at No. 8 in the WBC, No. 12 in the WBA and No. 12 in the International Boxing Federation.