Former NFL Great Chad Johnson Excited For Boxing Debut

While the headlines center around Floyd Mayweather and Logan Paul leading up to their June 6 main event, another key athlete will be stepping inside the ring in Chad Johnson.

The former NFL wide receiver and outspoken personality will take on Brian Maxwell in an exhibition match during the Showtime pay-per-view from the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

For Johnson, it is another opportunity to showcase himself to the world.

“I’m transitioning that flair you saw from me on the football field all into this sport,” Johnson said. “To me, my style is like Emanuel Augustus. Once I got those basic fundamentals down to a tee, I could add that trickery to my game.”

Known for his speed and athleticism on the football field, Johnson has always been around combat sports. He routinely would show off his workouts, many of which included the same skills he has been perfecting leading up to this bout.

“I never thought about stepping in the ring,” Johnson said. “I never thought there would be an opportunity to do so. But I love boxing. I’m friends with every boxer out there because I love and study all of it. I didn’t expect anything like this to happen. When Floyd called, the first thing I wanted to know, was how much time I had to prepare. Once I knew that I had enough time that I could look like myself in there, I knew I could pull it off.”

While some doubt what he can do in the ring, Johnson wants to make sure people know he is fully-focused.

“This is a one-time thing,” Johnson said. “I’ve done some crazy things in life, and this is one to add and scratch off the bucket list. I’m coming in there to have fun and entertain.”

Dana Becker

The world of MMA is one of the few sports that brings together people from all walks of life. I try my best to tell those stories and also present breaking news to the masses.