The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

Even before the swelling went down on his face following the 12-round battle against Eamonn O’Kane, Tureano Johnson was ready to issue a new challenge as the number one contender for the IBF middleweight title.

At the post fight press conference following his unanimous decision win over O’Kane Saturday night in Madison Square Garden, Johnson immediately set his sights on multiple middleweight title holder Gennady “Triple G” Golovkin.

He noted flaws in the champion’s game, ones that he will be ready to take advantage of when the pair inevitably meet in the ring.

“I stand before you as the new number one mandatory for Triple G’s IBF title,” Johnson said. “When that opportunity comes, you won’t be disappointed. I will definitely bring it and give all I can. I ain’t just going to fight Triple G for fighting’s sake. I’m going to beat Triple G. That’s what my game plan is. I hope you all enjoy it. We’re going to make that happen. I definitely see a lot of things I can capitalise on when I watched David Lemieux and Triple G tonight. You guys saw what I did tonight. Yes, I have a better Mexican style than Triple G. I’ve got a cast iron chin, and it has been tested. Has Triple G been tested?”

The bout appeared on the undercard of the HBO Boxing Pay-Per-View, highlighted by the much anticipated Gennady Golovkin versus David Lemieux bout.

Golovkin defeated Lemieux via eighth round stoppage and added the IBF middleweight title to his WBA and IBO titles.

The eager Bahamian fighter may have to wait on that coveted matchup against Golovkin as the Kazakh fighter is positioning himself to face the winner of the Miguel Cotto vs Canelo Alzarez bout on November 21.

Cotto is currently the lineal, WBC and The Ring middleweight champion.

Johnson said that he would be willing to cede his mandatory title defence should Triple G face the Cotto/Alvarez winner to unify the middleweight title.

After further discussions between Johnson’s Golden Boy Promotions and Golovkin’s K2 Promotions, Johnson could be aligning himself for a shot at the aforementioned unified title.

In the meantime, if they choose not to take that route, Johnson says he’s ready to face Golovkin right now and he is ready to win.

The 31-year-old improved to 19-1 (13 KOs) since he made the shift to the professional ranks following his impressive run at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

While he noted his admiration for Golovkin’s punching power, Johnson said he is willing and able to accept the challenge.

“He’s like any other character. He’s one that has very good technique, very good balance, extremely serious power. I would love to feel the heaviest blow from the hardest puncher. I don’t like taking punches but I do have a knack for taking a good blow. He could hit me with all he’s got, I can hit him back too,” Johnson said. “You’re just not going to see a competitor, you’re going to see a champion arise when I fight Triple G.”