Former ASA American Champion Tony Johnson In a conversation with , he named the Russian Evgenia Goncharova the most difficult opponent of his career and included him in the top 5 heavyweights in the world.
Johnson and Goncharov have met three times. In June 2019, their fight was declared invalid; in August of the same year, Goncharov won by unanimous decision, and in September 2022, Goncharov knocked out his opponent in the first round.
On August 16 in Moscow, Goncharov will meet Adam Bogatyrev in the ASA Grand Prix heavyweight final. Johnson himself will meet former champion Alikhan Vakhaev at that August ACA 178 tournament.
— You are probably confident about your upcoming fight. What do you hope for after the fight with Alikhan Vakhaev?
“I am focused on the ACA 178 tournament match but my main goal is to want to fight for the title again.
— Didn’t the ASA promise that the winner of your confrontation will become a contender for the belt?
— Alikhan is now first in the ranking, so this fight is quite logical. And then you will be able to see Evgeny Goncharov again.
— Do you remember your most difficult opponent?
— Evgeny Goncharov. He is my most difficult opponent, not only in Russia, but in my entire career. He beat me twice and knocked me out. I give him credit, he is my strongest opponent.
— So you, after fighting with Daniel Cormier, Derick Lewis, Alexander Volkov, Vitaly Minakov, celebrate Goncharov?
– Yes! I beat Cormier until I made a mistake. I beat Volkov. I was not well prepared for Minakov, so this meeting does not count. That is why I call Goncharov. I prepared very well for the fights with him and he beat me twice.
— Would you include Goncharov in the top 5 active heavyweights in the world?
– Maybe, yes. The ASA is one of the coolest organisations, so why not put it in the top five,” Johnson told .
Watch the live broadcast of the ASA 178 tournament on August 16 on (from 21:30 Moscow time) and Match! Fighter (from 19:30), as well as on matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru websites.
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Source : MatchTV
I am Ashley Ortiz and I am a professional journalist working for Athletistic. My specialty is in sports journalism, particularly boxing. I have written articles for some of the most renowned publications on the subject, and my work has been featured across both print and digital media platforms.
