Callum Johnson eyes Joe Smith Jnr world title fight after devastating return to the ring

Boston boxer defeated Emil Markic in second round stoppage after two year hiatus...
Callum Johnson with coach Joe Gallagher. Photo: Getty ImagesCallum Johnson with coach Joe Gallagher. Photo: Getty Images
Callum Johnson with coach Joe Gallagher. Photo: Getty Images

Callum Johnson returned to the ring after 777 days to earn a 'brutal' victory over Emil Markic - and now he is targeting a world title fight with.

The Boston boxer (19-1) looks set to return to action in June as he puts two years on inactivity behind him, while promoter Frank Warren aims to secure a bout with reigning WBO light heavyweight champ Joe Smith Jnr.

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"He (Warren) has told me I'll be back out in June and his plan is to try to get a world title fight, Joe Smith Junior," said Johnson, who won the vacant WBO global title on Saturday.

"That's what he's trying to do and he said he's spoken to Bob Arum about it and things are hopefully going well."

Two years of pent up aggression were unleashed on Markic at Bethnal Green's York Hall on Saturday night, the fight stopped in the second round as Johnson threw powerful punch and punch at the helpless Croatian.

"It was great to win again," Johnson added. "There was a lot of pressure. I know that comes with the sport but it was along time out the ring.

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"I had a new promotional team, a new TV network and all eyes were on me.

"I was a little bit eager and made a few mistakes, but I think I did perform. Not to best of my ability, but I impressed and excited people. It was a good night."

Johnson may have perhaps benefitted from a longer battle after missing two years of his career, injury and the Cobvid-19 pandemic among the factors.

But the 35-year-old delivered yet another impressive display.

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"I don't shy away from it or pretend I'm not in there to score a knockout," he added.

"I look for knockouts, sometimes a little too much and I should take my time a little more.

"It was good to do it for real again, with real bad intentions, and I did what I said I was going to do."

Johnson proved too much for Markic (32-3) but the Croatian did manage one good shot in the first round.

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Johnson continued: "It was a brutal beating towards the end, but he caught me with a corker. I walked onto a right hook and my legs buckled.

"But it's boxing. I was out (of the ring) for a while, made a mistake but I took the shot and recovered quickly.

"I knew where I was but it was a good shot. But next time I'll try to avoid it - they're not good for you.

"He was a good opponent, 24 knockouts from his 32 wins.

"There's not many people who would agree to come against an opponent like that with two years out, but we were confident. We worked hard in the gym."

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Boston's Angelica Finch had a frustrating evening as she made her professional debut on Saturday.

She cut her lip in what appeared to be a head clash with opponent Jamie Bates as they met at the North Hotel in Aberdeen in an all-female line-up.

The contest was stopped and awarded to the Shropshire fighter.