"If he wants to address me tell him call me Mr. Mackey," said The Bahamas' super middleweight title holder Jermaine 'Choo Choo' Mackey yesterday, in a response to a challenge bout from Taureano Johnson.
Mackey said Johnson is a frustrated fighter who is at the bottom of the boxing food chain who is trying to blame him for his failures as a fighter. Mackey, the former British Commonwealth, World Boxing Association (WBA) Fede Caribe and World Boxing Council (WBC) CABOFE title holders, said he is willing to move down in weight class if necessary.
"I don't want them to think for a second that I am scared to fight," said Mackey. "I have no problem in defending the title, I just needed an opponent and promotional company. I am willing to fight him at his weight class. I am willing to fight Ryan McKenzie at the light heavyweight class.
"Reno (Taureano) needs to watch his mouth because he is talking to a four-time title holder. I fought for seven titles and won four of them. He can never walk in my shoes. I don't want him to think or feel that I am scared of him. He was handed multiple contracts and did not take advantage of any of them. I took advantage of my opportunities and was in a position to fight for a world title. I've fought quality fighters like Adonis Stevenson who now holds a world title. I am ready, willing and able. All he has to do is find the promoter and we can get it on."
According to Mackey, the British Commonwealth title was taken from him after he lost to Stevenson. That fight, Mackey said, was for a shot at a top 10 rating in the world. The 12-round bout with Stevenson took place in Belle Centre, Montreal, Canada. Stevenson won with a technical knockout that came in the fifth round. Mackey's last fight was against Yunieski Gonzalez, held in August of last year at the Doubletree Miamimart Hotel, in Miami, Florida. The 10-round bout was handed to Gonzalez. As for Johnson, his last fight with Willie Fortune was held on February 22, 2013. The eight-round bout that took place in the Morongo Casino Resort and Spa, in Cabazon, California, was handed to Johnson. That win was the 14th for Johnson, who made his professional debut in 2010. The Bahamian fighter has a blemish free win/loss record of 14-0 (10 KOs). The two fights prior to Fortune were Technical Knockouts (TKO) recorded in the third and first round against Morla Jose and Jonali Reyes respectively.
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