Callum Johnson quietly re-emerging as cruiserweight contender

Callum Johnson, the former light heavyweight contender who lost a four-round shootout to Artur Beterbiev in 2018, dropping the champion in the second round, is now the WBO’s No. 4 cruiserweight.

Johnson, of Boston, U.K., is hoping for one last title run before calling it a day, and now the 38-year-old banger might not be far off an opportunity. 

Johnson (22-1, 15 KOs) retired in 2021, but he returned at the end of 2023 and has boxed twice in six months, scoring nondescript but important victories.

“He’s getting little wins on the circuit,” explained his trainer, Joe Gallagher. “We’re just keeping him active and we’ll look to get him out at the beginning of September, and then we’re looking to make our move. He’s ranked No. 4 by the WBO. People have wrote him off, but he’s there, he’s busy, he’s active, and you’ve got to stay busy and active.

“[Sanctioning] bodies aren’t necessarily looking at venues or did you fight on TV. They’re looking at fights and weights and if you’re fighting regularly, and often you get the opportunities.”

Johnson, who stopped popular Sean Monaghan after losing to Beterbiev, has struggled to come to terms with the death of his father – one of many issues he has faced away from the ring. But he feels he could have a title in him. A one-round win over veteran journeyman Darryl Sharp and a points victory over Viktar Chvarkou prove little, but the WBO has acknowledged his movement. 

“People had sort of forgotten about him,” Gallagher admitted. “Obviously, it’s been well documented with what’s gone on with him in the past, but he’s in the latter stages of his career and he’s just keeping busy, keeping regular and just trying to build some momentum. That’s what Callum Johnson needed – some momentum – and getting him two, three, four fights, no matter what they are. He’s in the ring and fighting and he’s ready to go, instead of being thrust back into the main stage.”

Johnson had also been scheduled for another contest earlier this year on a Gallagher-promoted bill, but the show did not happen when headliner Paul Butler’s opponent Norbelto Jimenez did not have the correct medical paperwork in place and the show was pulled at the 11th hour.

Gallagher hopes that fight, for the lightly regarded IBO bantamweight title, will still go on in the next few months. The trainer’s busy roster includes a number of young talents, including Josh Holmes, a junior lightweight who is 15-0; light heavyweight Billy Deniz (10-0); Mikey “The Omen” Callaghan (5-0); light middleweight Clark Smith (6-0); and Joe Cooper, who just won his debut and is signed by Frank Warren.