Bute vs. Johnson Results: Glen Johnson a Fighter Who Doesn't Know When to Quit

There are few boxers who can contend for titles well into their 40s.

Clearly, Glen Johnson is not one of these fighters.

It's nothing against Johnson, who holds a 51-16-2 career record with 35 knockouts, but outside of George Foreman and Bernard Hopkins, there are few boxers who prove the world wrong at this age.

Before Saturday's unanimous decision loss to Lucian Bute, Johnson had lost three of his last five fights. The fights he did win weren't title fights.

This only solidifies the fact that Johnson should retire, and hopefully at this point he'll realize he's only hurting how his career is ultimately viewed.

And let's be clear, Johnson isn't Foreman or Hopkins. While their victories were also shocking, they also were legendary fighters. Johnson wasn't and never will be.

Johnson has always been a good fighter, but later in his career he needs to understand it's time to give it up. It's hard for a fighter like him because he's always been a challenge, even in most of his losses. When you have a chance, it's difficult to resign.

But Johnson is hurting himself more than he is helping himself right now and he's already fallen into the pattern so many storied fighters have lived: in short, blindly swinging for a comeback story when there is little to no hope of scoring a knockout.

Headed into Saturday's title fight, Bute held the advantage in several categories, including boxing skills, power, speed, height and yes, age. Simply looking at the breakdown, Johnson and his camp had to know the cons outweighed the pros.

The best thing for Johnson to do now is hang up his gloves and respectfully bow out.

There's no use disgracing an accomplished career.