Johnson: A deal to fight Bute on Nov. 5 has been finalized

Glen Johnson was informed by his promoter, Leon Margules, that a deal to fight unbeaten IBF super middleweight titleholder Lucian Bute on Nov. 5, most likely in Canada, has been finalized, he told RingTV.com on Tuesday.

"It's done. I just got off of the telephone with Leon and he told me that it's a done deal," said the 42-year-old Johnson (51-15-1, 35 knockouts), who will take part in his third fight at 168 pounds after having fought 22 consecutive times as a light heavyweight.

"It feels great, being down from 175 pounds. I'm so looking forward to going over there and making a splash. Man. I know that this guy is a big star in Canada, but I've got to go over there and derail this train."

Johnson  is coming off a unanimous-decision loss to WBC beltholder Carl Froch (28-1, 20 KOs) in June in the semifinals of Showtime's Super Six World Boxing Classic.

"My performance against Froch was disappointing to me," said Johnson, who is co-promoted by Margules at Warriors Boxing and Lou DiBella. "I look back at the fight and realize that there are so many more things that I could have done that I didn't, and those things cost me the fight."

In his previous fight, Johnson stopped  Allan Green (29-3, 20 KOs) in the eighth-round in November of last year after having replaced Mikkel Kessler, who had withdrawn from the tournament with an eye injury in August.

Bute, 31, is coming off a knockout victory over Jean Paul Mendy  last month, his sixth consecutive stoppage.

"I believe that Lucian Bute is more talented than Froch but that Froch is a tougher guy, more of a solid guy who doesn't do any one thing great," said Johnson. "Froch is a very, very solid guy, not so much defensively, but he can take it and give it as well. Bute, I believe that he has more skills and he's got a lot more going for him as far as market value. So he's looked at as a super star over there in Canada."

Bute will be the first southpaw Johnson will have faced since twice losing decisions to Chad Dawson (30-1, 17 KOs) in April 2008 and November 2009.

The Jamaican-born Johnson is known as "The Road Warrior" for his reputation of fighting anyone, anywhere and at any time, as well as for his rugged, in-your-face style.

"That's my nickname, yes it is. And that's what I like to do," said Johnson. "So this is just another one of those times where I've got to go over there and really take care of this. I am so looking forward to going over there. I'm just so very excited."

Last year, Johnson fought three big bouts -- against Yusaf Mack, IBF light heavyweight beltholder Tavoris Cloud and Green. Johnson scored three knockdowns in the sixth and final round of his knockout of Mack before losing a unanimous decision to Cloud. A victory over Cloud would have made Johnson the oldest man to win a light heavyweight belt.

Johnson was required to drop weight for Green, whom the veteran outworked throughout most of the contest before ending the fight with a crushing, right-left-right combination.

"I don't know how much I have left in my career, but I can tell you that I feel really good right now, and I think that I've got a few more good performances in me," said Johnson.

"For me, it's just one fight at a time. And for mow, I will try to bring my talents to the forefront one more when I go to Canada in November."

Lem Satterfield can be reached at lem.satterfield@gmail.com