Manny Pacquiao has enlisted the help of former MMA fighter Dashon Johnson to prepare for one of the biggest boxing bouts in history with Floyd Mayweather Jr.
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The name will be an obscure one even to seasoned MMA followers with Johnson winning his first nine pro fights in the Xplode Fight Series but then suffering back-to-back losses by submission to Godofredo Castro and Jake Matthews in his only two appearances in the UFC.
The 27-year-old was released from the UFC last year after violating his contract before his fight with Castro, Johnson accepted a boxing fight with just two days notice – a match he went on to lose by unanimous vote.
Johnson hasn’t competed in any MMA fights since he was released in October 2014 and holds a rather average pro-boxing career mark of 15-19-3.
It’s certainly a strange choice of father from Pacquiao who you’d expect would be training with a fighter who could emulate Mayweather’s style.
But despite doubts, it’s an opportunity that Johnson has admitted is a ‘blessing’.
“Honestly, it’s a dream come true. Watching Manny over the years, and seeing him progress, and him actually having me in camp for arguably the biggest fight in history, it’s honestly a blessing,” he told ESNews, via MMA Mania.
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