Speaking to Naz protégé Callum Johnson

BoxRec News recently had the opportunity to catch up with Prince Naseem Hamed’s boxing protégé Callum Johnson, after he recently notched up his second win as a pro.

You came back from the Dehli Commonwealth Games a gold medal winner despite never having been selected for the Great Britain podium squad. Was it nice to go over there and prove a point to the selectors?

CJ: Yes, it was nice to prove that I was the best in Great Britain at my weight, but I had previously boxed for GB and I think I would of got my call-up to the podium squad under new coach Robert McCracken.

Most amateurs are currently looking forward to the 2012 Olympics. Were you tempted at all to stay in the unpaid ranks and go for gold in London?

CJ: Yes I was very tempted to stay amateur and go for gold in London but I’m 25 and I felt it was the right time for me to chase the pro dream.

So, was it simply your age that in the end convinced you to turn pro?

CJ: Both the age factor and wanting to be a pro champion.

You have had your first two pro fights on the undercard of Ricky Burns’ world-title defences and racked up two wins. Have you been happy with your performances so far?

Yes, I suppose. Obviously you always want to do better, I’m never happy. My first was a stoppage but I still felt I could have done a lot better. The second was a points win against a spoiler who was just there to hold all night and survive. I was happy with some things in my second fight but not happy with other things.

Has there been anything you have found difficult about making the transition so far?

CJ: No, not yet. I just see it as boxing.

You competed for Scotland as an amateur, despite being born south of the border and living in Lincoln and your first two pro-fights have been in Scotland. Have you been pleased with how the Scottish fans have accepted you as one of their own?

CJ: Yes, most certainly. The Scottish fans have been great and I hope they continue to support me throughout my career.

You are of course managed by one of Britain’s most famous fighters in Prince Naseem Hamed. How did that come about?

CJ: We have a good mutual friend and that’s how we met. Naz was interested in coming back in to the sport and obviously I jumped at the chance to work with him.

How have you found it so far working with Naz and what do you hope to learn from him?

CJ: It’s been great working with him, he is a massive name in boxing and I feel only good things can come from it.

Hamed clearly has high expectations for you and has been quoted as saying that you will be a world champion within three years. Do you take that as a compliment or does it put you under any pressure to live up to the hype?

CJ: Obviously it is a compliment but I take no pressure from that as I’ve got no time scale on anything. I just want to take each fight as it comes and keep winning. If I win a world title in three years or ten years, I would be a very happy man.

Ok, so what are your goals for your first year in the sport and what do you hope to achieve in the long-term?

CJ: This year i just want to be as busy as possible and keep learning, rack up as many wins as possible, stay undefeated then look at domestic titles next year. Obviously my long-term goal is to be as good as I can be and to reach the top of the sport becoming a world champion one day.