Delante Johnson faces matchmaking scrutiny despite undefeated record

Undefeated professional boxer Delante ‘Tiger’ Johnson is facing criticism regarding his matchmaking and career progression. Despite an 18-0 record and an Olympic pedigree from the Tokyo Games, the Cleveland native remains ranked only No. 9 by the WBO, leading analysts to question whether his promoter, Top Rank, is avoiding high-level competition.

Brian ‘Bomac’ McIntyre, the trainer behind Terence Crawford, has expressed high confidence in Johnson, stating, ‘I look at that kid like, man, he can be another Bud Crawford.’ McIntyre recently joined Johnson’s team as head trainer. However, critics note that at nearly 29 years old, Johnson’s career trajectory lacks the rapid ascent seen in other elite fighters like Crawford, who had already secured multiple weight-class titles by this age.

While Johnson has secured several regional belts, his recent performances have often relied on decision wins rather than knockouts. His professional record includes eight knockouts, and his recent ten-round bout against Christopher Guerrero resulted in a points victory, further fueling debates about whether he is ready to face world-level threats.