Chad Johnson’s boxing debut: Why former NFL star says fight is a ‘one-time thing’

Chad Johnson is about to make his boxing debut on Sunday when he steps into the ring towards Brian Maxwell.

As part of the Floyd Mayweather vs. Logan Paul undercard, both Johnson or Maxwell will get the primary win of their respective boxing careers. Johnson hasn’t fought so far whereas Maxwell sports activities an 0-3 document as a boxer, although he’s 2-3 as an MMA fighter.

However why is the previous NFL star combating? Certain, it is not for financial functions, as the previous Bengal made loads throughout his NFL profession to maintain him going.

MORE: What is the purse in the Mayweather vs. Paul fight?

As an alternative, Johnson is simply hoping to entertain of us as he seems to be to carry his personal towards an expert fighter.

“My purpose is to get out alive. I would like my face nonetheless intact. I would like my children to nonetheless know it is me. However I need to entertain. I do not need to embarrass those that put the time and power into me,” Johnson stated, per ESPN. “People who find themselves shopping for tickets, folks which can be exhibiting up, I would like them to depart and say, ‘I doubted Ocho, however to see him get within the ring, realizing that somebody tried to kill [him]. He placed on one hell of a f—ing present.'”

Nonetheless, regardless of his love for boxing, Johnson is simply treating this exhibition as a one-time occasion.

“It is a one-time factor,” Johnson stated of his exhibition, per SB Nation. “I’ve accomplished some loopy issues in life, and that is one so as to add and scratch off the bucket listing. I’m coming in there to have enjoyable and entertain.”

Definitely, that is one thing that Johnson has been good at throughout his profession. With the Bengals, he sported the nickname of Ochocinco earlier than altering his final identify to that later in his profession. Johnson was often known as a fun-loving participant whose on-field antics delighted followers.

MORE: Everything you need to know about the Mayweather vs. Paul fight

Now, he is hoping that can carry over into the ring, though he did not assume that he would ever be concerned in a boxing match.

“I by no means considered stepping within the ring,” Johnson stated. “I by no means thought there could be a chance to take action. However I really like boxing. I’m buddies with each boxer on the market as a result of I really like and research all of it.

“I didn’t count on something like this to occur. When Floyd known as, the very first thing I wished to know was how a lot time I needed to put together. As soon as I knew that I had sufficient time that I might appear to be myself in there, I knew I might pull it off.”

And Johnson has been placing in some severe work to be sure that he does put his finest foot ahead in his match with Maxwell. He has been coaching with boxing champions Jermall and Jermell Charlo to assist him put together, and whereas the work has been laborious, Johnson thinks that he is in a very good place to a minimum of compete on this battle.

“They’re down right here f—ing me up within the ring. It is upsetting,” Johnson stated. “It is good work, although. The one factor that’s saving me with them is my athleticism and my potential to need to survive. Taking what I’ve realized all through the years and making an attempt to execute it within the ring whereas stress is being utilized. It has been cool and pleasurable. It has been an important studying expertise for one thing I’ll do on June 6, and what higher folks to be taught from than one of the best of one of the best.”

We’ll quickly see how a lot of Johnson’s coaching carries over into the ring. Studying from one of the best will certainly assist him.

However he solely has one likelihood to get this proper.