The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

TUREANO Johnson is set to return to the ring in just over a week and while his focus is on the task at hand, his ultimate goal remains his quest for an upset win over the unified middleweight champion.

Johnson (19-1, 13 KOs) will face Antonio Gutierrez (21-2-1, 9KOs) of Mexico  on the Francisco Vargas-Miguel Berchelt card, which is scheduled for January 28, at the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California.

Johnson was featured on Craig Scott’s  #Breakout series where he discussed the matchup against the 22-year-old Gutierrez and looked ahead to Gennady “GGG” Golovkin.

“Gutierrez is a decorated fighter. He is from a very strong heritage of the Mexican background. Mexican fighters have a tendency to be very tough and very good. This fight is no pushover at all. He poses a great threat in the front of me but I’m sure I’m capable of overcoming this match.”

Johnson, 31 injured his shoulder in a unanimous decision win over Irishman Eamonn O’Kane on October 17, 2015. With the win, he became the mandatory number one contender for the International Boxing Federation’s (IBF) middleweight title.

He further damaged his shoulder just ahead of his scheduled fight with IBF middleweight champion Golovkin. That fight was set to take place on April 23, but Johnson was forced to pass on it to undergo surgery.

He remains steadfast in his aim to challenge Golovkin in 2017 and fulfill his duty as the mandatory challenger.

“I suffered a rotator cuff tear in the first round of that fight. It sidelined me for my most anticipated fight, but we are back on the ball and guaranteed to make that fight happen for the fans,” Johnson said, “In this boxing world it is a lot of complications. As far as my camp, and me we are able, pledged and ready to go to war with GGG this very year and hopefully we can get it done. From what we have seen, not knowing his issues or having never spoken to him, he looks as if he has his table pretty full, but hopefully he can fit me in inside there so I can put a spoiler in that plan that he has.

Robert Diaz, the head matchmaker for Golden Boy Promotions, said they’re looking forward to getting Johnson back in the ring.

“Tureano’s coming back. He had an injury and he had surgery. He was out on the shelf rehabilitating, but now he’s ready to get back in the picture,” said Diaz. “He’ll have a good fight to test the shoulder to see how he’s doing. And them from there, he’ll take on his position as the IBF mandatory.”

Johnson has won his last five fights, with two coming by way of technical knockout. His only loss was to American Curtis Stevens in 2014.

Johnson has high hopes for capturing a title to add to his WBC Silver Middleweight belt and become the country’s first world champion since Elisha Obed.

“It was in 2016 that the Bahamas won the Olympic gold medal in the 400m by Shanuae Miller, we won the 4x400m in London. We can go on and on when it comes to track and field and my country is no stranger when it comes to being the best athletes in the world. Even the likes of Elisha Obed when he won the world title in the 1970s,” he said, “After so many years of such a drought of world champion boxers, my country would welcome it. It would be such a phenomenal feat, not just for myself. As a man of God, and standing on my belief as a Christian, I believe it would be a phenomenal moment throughout my country and for my fellow Bahamians. To win a world title would mean the world to me.”