Glen Johnson to challenge Lucian Bute on November 5th

Dan Rafael of espn.com reports that IBF Super Middleweight champion Lucian Bute on November 5th in a bout that will be televised on Showtime.

Johnson got that bout after negotiations failed with Mikkel Kessler and Kelly Pavlik.

“We reached an agreement. I’m just waiting for the paperwork and I’m moving forward. I’m preparing myself mentally and physically,” Johnson told ESPN.com. “I have every intention of going to Canada to derail that train.”

Leon Margules, Johnson’s co-promoter with Lou DiBella, said the offer eventually was improved, but he was still not happy with it. However, Johnson so badly wanted the fight, he gave Margules firm orders not to blow the deal. Margules didn’t and Johnson accepted an offer that will pay him less than $400,000.

“It’s a better deal than they initially offered, but it’s not as healthy as it should (be),” Margules said. “But at the end of the day, Glen’s the boss and he wanted the fight. The difference in money, while important, was not going to deter him from making sure he got this opportunity.”

“To be honest, I stopped focusing on the dollar value and just kind of wanted to keep my eyes on the prize, which is the opportunity to derail that train and then make a splash in a rematch or fight somebody else for big money,” Johnson said. “It is not about what I get for this fight. Even if I got what I wanted to get, or somewhere in between what I wanted and what I’m getting, it really wasn’t going to change my zip code. I had to just focus on the opportunity to fight for a world title against a major star in the sport in Canada. It doesn’t come any better than that.”

“We worked very hard for the Pavlik fight and we were very surprised with what happened,” Bedard said. “We were already planning press conferences. But at least he pulled out three months before the fight and not three days like he just did (for a fight scheduled against Darryl Cunningham on Aug. 6). We know we have a guy, Johnson, who will be there. This is Lucian’s biggest opponent. He’s fought everybody. He’s only been knocked out once and that was by Bernard Hopkins in 1997, and he didn’t even go down.

“For Lucian, there are still a lot of people who don’t think he’s the best super middleweight, so I think it’s a great fight for fans to see where Lucian is now. People (in Quebec) are happy that we can bring this quality of fighter here to fight Lucian. A lot of people think it’s a tougher fight for Lucian than Pavlik.”

“I’m extremely excited. I’m delighted. I believe this could not come at a better time,” Johnson said. “I’m coming off a loss I’m disappointed in. There’s nothing like getting an opportunity to go out there and redeem yourself, so this opportunity couldn’t have come at a better time.”

“He’s a tremendous body puncher,” Johnson said. “I’ve seen him work. He’s an overall good boxer. He’s a southpaw, so that bring its own difficulties. I have tremendous respect for his abilities and I have huge respect for his stardom and for him as a person. But this is a business and this goes out the window when the bell rings. I’m trying to feed my family and beat him.”

“It’s really a fight Glen’s wanted since they sparred,” Margules said. “He’s always believed he could beat Bute. Glen wanted the fight in the worst way.” The Jamaican-born, Miami-based Johnson, who has suffered several debatable decision losses in his opponent’s hometown, said he is not concerned about going to Bute’s turf for the fight. He said he knows he cannot leave it to the judges.

“I believe the knockout is going to happen. I feel like this is something I need to win the fight,” Johnson said. “I just need to dominate. I’m not going to win a close decision. I better go in there and separate from myself from Bute in every fashion and a knockout would be the best way, the sure way to get that victory.”