Naseem Hamed praises 'chilling' Callum Johnson debut
Hamed hails 'brilliant' Johnson
Manager Naseem Hamed described Callum Johnson's second-round stoppage of Belfast's Phillip Townley as a chilling introduction to professional boxing.
Hamed had tipped the Commonwealth Games light-heavyweight gold medallist for 10 knock-outs in his first 10 bouts.
"This guy's got dynamite in his hands," the manager told BBC Scotland.
"I just feel that he is so explosive, so chilling. He throws his punches so correctly. That is one of the reasons I got involved with Callum Johnson."
The man who won the world featherweight title as Prince Naseem said the Scotsman had started to live up to the promise he had spotted as an amateur.
I have been waiting for this moment since I was a baby
Callum Johnson
"It was not just about winning a gold medal for me," he said after the bout in Glasgow.
"It was about somebody who knows how to fight in the best way."
Hamed thinks his protege should be fast-tracked into title contention.
"It was a chilling performance," he said. "An absolute brilliant performance and it looked like he had been in that ring as a professional for the past 10 years doing that job.
"But that was his first fight and basically it was an amazing, crisp shots, very confident.
"That guy had never been stopped and had come all the way from Ireland at great expense and he is going back with the first KO on his record.
"Calum just looked so slick and so ready and, when you have performances like that, it is not going to be long.
Johnson stopped Townley in the second round at Braehead Arena
"If it was up to me, I'd put him up for a title within 10 fights because he is capable of winning any kind of title right now.
"That's how confident I am with Callum Johnson right now.
"The first 10 fights are like his apprenticeship. But he is moving so fast, how are you going to hold him back?"
Lincolnshire-based Johnson, who qualified to box for Scotland through his grandparents, talked just as confidently about his own prospects.
"My first one out the way now," he said. "I am just buzzing and working with Naz and boxing in front of all those people.
"I have been waiting for this moment since I was a baby.
"The left-hook is my baby punch. There's not many lads who are going to take that left hook on the chin, or to the body, because I can punch.
"I just can't wait to get my career rolling now and start looking at the title in 10 fights or whenever it comes."
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