Hard Rock Stadium Miami — “Ocho Cinco” Johnson scratched boxing off his bucket list as the opener for the Floyd Mayweather vs. Logan Paul exhibition event.
Brian Maxwell DROPPED Chad Johnson! pic.twitter.com/aYrpTh3fN6
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) June 7, 2021
Johnson looked a little uncomfortable in the beginning choosing to react and throw hooks instead of the lead off jab at his opponent Brian Maxwell.
Slay that shit different in the ring, bruh was trying to take my head off https://t.co/aQQ1Vxcgkl
— Chad Johnson (@ochocinco) June 7, 2021
However, as the four round affair progressed, Johnson began to feel more confident landing significant strikes and even braving a center ring firefight with the bare knuckle fighter.
“I had fun. I had two months to get ready for this and I want to thank God for keeping us safe out there. I want to thank Floyd, Leonard Ellerbe and my whole team for allowing me to check this off my bucket list. My life has always been about taking chances and doing crazy stuff and this is just one off my bucket list.
“It’s a message for a lot of people who are scared to fail, scared to lose, scared to take chances to go out there and live. Don’t be scared to fail, it’s okay. I don’t box. I fight but it ain’t in the ring so of course I was a little sloppy.”
-Chad Johnson
Unfortunately, in the fourth round, Johnson caught a right hook that laid him flat on the canvas. However, he bounced back and stayed in the fight even on questionable legs.
Chad Johnson got dropped in the fourth round but showed major heart by getting right up. #MayweatherPaul
(via @ShowtimeBoxing) pic.twitter.com/MTW67QEzc9
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) June 7, 2021
It was a redemption for the new spate of former professional athletes making a foray in boxing. After NBA great Nate Robinson took a massive ‘L’ to YouTuber turned boxer, Jake Paul, at Triller’s inaugural Fight Club event, the world has been skeptical about pro’s from other sports venturing into the squared circle.
Chad had fun 😁 #MayweatherPaul pic.twitter.com/dEC5Xww03d
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) June 7, 2021
Johnson didn’t look stellar but he looked confident as the night went on. He also stayed in the fight and got up after he was knocked down.
Not all former pros from other sports will look bad. Yes, they will probably land on their face when fighting someone a little more seasoned from a training perspective, but Chad Johnson showed anything is possible.
