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I chose boxing over education at the age of seven and now Devin Haney for world title glory is my biggest target
Abdullah Mason gets a huge homecoming this weekend against Albert Bell, but underneath him on the huge world title show in Cleveland is another fighter looking to bring the biggest prizes back to Ohio.
Delante ‘Tiger’ Johnson is considered one of the brightest talents in boxing and after climbing the rankings quietly, this weekend is an opportunity for him to demonstrate why he is a force to be reckoned with at the business end of the welterweight division.
Boxing since the age of seven, Johnson’s target has always been world titles and victory over Christopher Guerrero on Saturday night can take him one step closer to the likes of Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia, two world champions at 147lbs.
DAZN Spotlight: Tiger Johnson
That dream is within touching distance and with one more win, it will make a two-decade sacrifice feel entirely worth it after giving up on education to put everything into a sport which he hoped would one day change his life.
“I’m born and raised in Cleveland. It was rough. I feel like if you can make it out of Cleveland then you can make it out of anywhere,” said Johnson during an exclusive sitdown with DAZN News .
“That’s how I found boxing. I was fighting in school and always fighting with the older kids.
“My dad took me to the gym when I was seven and the rest is history. I had a natural talent for boxing. I had my first fight at eight. That’s been my journey and that was the start of my journey. I knew as a kid boxing was going to be my life.
“I knew I wasn't gonna go to college or anything like that. Boxing was the only thing I cared about, and I’ve sacrificed my whole life to boxing. Boxing saved me. It motivated me and it kept me out of trouble. I’ve beaten all the odds and now I’m here.”
So far on his professional journey, Johnson has found only success, but despite his flawless record, it was an altercation with Devin Haney on the Teofimo Lopez vs. Shakur Stevenson fight week that put his name in the headlines.
The brawl received widespread attention, but the most significant impact from the feud could be the fact that Johnson could soon be in line to challenge Haney for the Californian’s WBO welterweight belt.
Johnson has only featured in 17 contests, but despite his inexperience at boxing’s highest level, he is insistent that his fight with Guerrero is the bout that will catapult him onto the world stage.
“After I handle business on July 4, I’m looking at getting near the top fighters in the welterweight division,” revealed the 27-year-old.
“If I have it my way then I will go for the world title right away. I feel like I’m ready for the top fights and I’m ready for whoever. If I have to pick one fighter next, then it’s Haney for sure.”
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