Is Kevin Johnson the worst offensive fighter in the top 15?
December 14th, 2009
by Chris Williams: I’ve seen a lot of bad offensive fighters in my day, but after seeing heavyweight contender Kevin Johnson’s performance against World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko last Saturday night, I would have to say that Johnson has the worst offensive skills than any of the current top 15 fighters in the division.
Johnson wasted a perfect opportunity in his title shot against Klitschko by staying on the ropes the full 12 rounds and throwing nothing but jabs for the most part. What was he thinking? Having a good jab is a good thing, but if that’s all you have going for you offensively, I don’t see how Johnson thinks he can last long. It’s too bad, because he has some good skills to work on.
Defensively, if you were to get him off the ropes, Johnson could be an excellent fighter. He picks off punches well and is good at ducking them. However, it takes a lot more than that if you want to be a top fighter. You can only go so far with a good jab. Johnson’s right hand and left hook are weak looking, and you would think that a fighter ranked number #6 in the WBC would have more offensive tools than what Johnson showed in the Klitschko fight. It wasn’t just that Johnson was afraid to throw punches. I don’t think he had the weapons to use against Klitschko.
Below are a list of the top fighters in the heavyweight division, at least according to the sanctioning bodies. Of all the fighters listed in the top 15, there are couple that I feel that Johnson may have better offensive skills than. For example, Ustinov, the 6′7″ 300 pound heavyweight, who fought on the undercard of the Klitschko-Johnson fight last Saturday night, looked to have little in the way of offensive skills. I saw no jab from him whatsoever, and his hand speed was dreadful to the say the least. However, Ustinov was capable of loading up with a nice right hand or left hook at times and did succeed in knocking Monte Barrett, his opponent, to the canvas in the 2nd round after catching him near the ropes. I still think that Ustinov has better offensive skills but not by much.
Ray Austin
Oleg Maskaev
Chris Arreola
Manuel Quezada
Denis Boytsov
DaVarryl Williamson
Eddie Chambers
Evander Holyfield
Derric Rossy
Fres Oquendo
Samuel Peter
Juan Carlos Gomez
James Toney
Sam Sexton
Brian Minto
David Tua
Alexander Dimintrenko
Tomasz Adamek
David Haye
Wladimir Klitschko
Nikolay Valuev
Vitali Klitschko
Ruslan Chagaev
Rene Dettweiller
Jonathan Banks
Chauncy Welliver
Gonzalo Omar Basile
Sebastian Koeber
Brian Minto
Lamon Brewster
Kali Meehan
John Ruiz
David Rodriguez
Alexander Ustinov
Alex Lepai
Tags: 30 Responses to “Is Kevin Johnson the worst offensive fighter in the top 15?”
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talk the talk, but sure as hell can’t walk the walk! What a fool!
Anyone who truly believes Haye stands a snowballs chance in hell at defeating Vitali is either delusional or so far up the UK’s a55 that they are completely sealed off from air from the rest of the rational world. Remember the last heavyweight hopeful who talked like Haye does? The one and only Fraudley Harrison. Hell, that sorry piece a55 slosh was even knighted for the love of Christ! Take my word on it, when Haye is on the losing end of a decision against John “Hug the Nuts” Ruiz, you will be recalculating your assumptions of the fact someone is a good heavyweight just because they are black and can bump their gums endlessly…….go ahead and add Kevin Johnson to that list, and Mayweather after Pacquiao hands his a55 to him.
Yes and this is why we find it so wasy to believe that david haye will knock the whole lot of them out
gary gary
TO David number 14, I Am not doubting Vitali’s skills but dont you think the heavyweight division being filled with loads of big flabby beer drinkers as something to do with his performances?
Valuev is the worst heavyweight iv ever seen
johnson dont deserve to be in top 15.
he’s an overated bum. but, the klitchko’s had to have seen videos of hi before they chose him, so was this just another weakas easy defence against another cherrypicked opponent.
there are 2 serious contenders out there with the credentials to beat the klitchko’s, one from yester year in david tua, who seems to be cherrypicking easy opponents in a wierd way of getting back to the top, he just needs to hurry up or get left behind.tuaman has the power to rule the whole division, but needs to up his gear.
and the undisputed cruiserweight champ david haye.
hate haye as much as u want but u dont get to be undisputed champ at any weight without serious credentials.
he’s stepped up and looks awesome compared to flabby,overweight and out of shape arreolas etc, and has proved himself at world level albeit at crusierweight rather than b and c class fighters like chambers,arreola,johnson etc. then steps in and gives barrett a lesson in knockdowns before striking him out, then shakes and wobbles the behemoth in valuev before taking his title. hes now done things that no other man at heavyweight has done and that includes so called world class fighters and past greats.
give credit where credits due,when they have done something worth hype give it, if not they’re still wannabees.
Yes!
I dont think hes the worst, well maybe, but we need to accept that if he was always that bad hed of never of got the oppertunity.
It was cuz he was fighting a Klitchko, they do the same thing to everybody, Arreola gave it the best shot ive seen for a while and the fight wasnt even close.
The Klitchkos have delt with pretty much all the REAL contenders with exception to a couple and now they are having to deal with the 2nd tier.
You cant blame Johson for having a go but it seems that they all see weaknesses and are confident they can compete until the fight actually starts and the whole game plan goes out the window.
The fight was awful and one sided but Johnson didnt really do any more or any less than people like Samuel Peter.
what a not well earnt pay day for the very boring running take cover pin make sure you remind me never to watch him ever again
The true measure of Kevin Johnson’s ability, courage and class were on full display Saturday against Vitaly Klitschko. That is to say, after sulking against the ropes like a dog getting whipped, throwing almost no punches for 12 rounds and getting completely whitewashed in his first (and hopefully last) title shot, Johnson showed that he is a trash talking coward shortly after the fight. He performed this achievement by magically discovering truckloads of bravado and guts only after the bell rang and thus when it was illegal for Klitschko to kick his a__ some more.
The true measure of Kevin Johnson’s ability, courage and class were on full display Saturday against Vitaly Klitschko. That is to say, after sulking against the ropes like a dog getting whipped, throwing almost no punches for 12 rounds and getting completely whitewashed in his first (and hopefully last) title shot, Johnson showed that he is a talentless, trash talking coward shortly after the fight. He performed this achievement by magically discovering truckloads of bravado and guts only after the bell rang and thus when it was illegal for Klitschko to kick his a__ some more.
Johnson’s performance was a complete disgrace. He could not crack eggs with his Sunday punch, even if he did ever throw it. He wore a mask of fear on his face throughout the entire fight. His entire strategy consisted of demonstrating his ability to slip and roll with punches. He had no offensive strategy WHATSOEVER.
He occasionally threw a few snappy jabs, but rarely followed them up. This was doubly disappointing, because he did not even TRY to take advantage of the opportunity presented him. That is, if he actually attempted to fight, that is to HIT Klitschko on occasion, he stood a decent chance to win. Klitschko tends to bust up around the eyes and Johnson could have closed an eye or open bad cuts with a couple of fast combinations. Instead, he froze against the ropes, posed in front of Klitschko and waited to get hit some more. I mean at least Arriola TRIED to fight.
Those who will seize upon this pedestrian decision to criticize Klitschko are making a mistake. A fighter can only react to what the other fighter is doing. And when the other fighter is showing all the offensive desire of a tortoise, what options does he have? He can only punch, punch and punch some more. Which is exactly what VK did.
That said, I can see the beginnings of advancing age to appear on Klitschko. Although I think he will defeat Haye easily, the end is coming soon for Vitaly. It will be a big loss for boxing to lose such an excellent heavyweight, and more importantly, such a class act.
The performance was no different from most other American fighters that have fought the Klitschko’s in the recent past none appeared to gon in with a gameplan, never taking the fight to them, not being a warrior, no never give up attitude, no nothing to lose all out attack in the last round. Kevin Johnson’s nowhere near the best boxer in the US, so i’m not sure what putting him up against V Klitschko was going to prove he had very little chance from the first bell, but didn’t even try to win the fight.
Johnson was only trying to go the distance not to win, I guess he deserves some credit for succeeding, but what a boring fight.
Johnson is one of the guys who give boxing a bad name… If I should have a chance to fight for HW championship I would go all out. Possibly after a few punches I would lie on the floor wondering wich bus hit me but I would at least try!
Arreola got a beating but he went for it. Johnson had a big mouth before the fight, claiming a KO in round 7, and maybe 5 if he got mad but had his back to the ropes and covering up almost before the first bell! The only thing he showed the world is that he’s a coward and Vitali lacks the fantasy and the instructions from his corner to mix up his shots.
Johnson was ducking low and almost every time to his right so he was pretty vunarable for a low left hook or uppercut. I’ve seen only 2 from Vitali near the end of the fight.
Don’t get me wrong, Vitali and his brother are by far the best HW’s in the world, but their opposition is all cra.
Kevin Johnson has got to be the in tha top 5 most boring n useless waste of space good for nothing fighters of all time.. FACT
Goose – Good shout on Sexton.
Safety Pin showed more aggression at the end with Wlad than in the entire fight. Lets not forget the weigh in either – DO NOT TOUCH THE SHADES!!
Kevin Johnson is a terrible boxer. He has a long reach and nothing else going for him.
I can safely say he will NEVER win a title.
The fight was boring & bad performances on both boxers parts, i like the Klitchkos but if Vitali fought like that against Haye, Haye would dispatch him in 6-7 rounds
Kevin Johnson is a terrible boxer. A long reach with nothing else going for him.
I can safely say that he will NEVER win any titles.
they are just making these articals because they jeolous of how good Vitali Klitschko is even if its not a knockout he still wins so easy
one of the biggest load of cra i have ever watched! never had it in him to win… tyson would of destroyed him in 1 round.. he should go back to amature.. No to be proud of about that fight… joke!!!!
The Kevin Johnson’s of this world all have one thing in common their craving to survive to perhaps fight another day even at the cost of betraying their lack of courage for the whole world to behold.
This type fearful behavior in the ring on the part of Johnson was only made possible by the stimulus provided by one Vitali Klitschko, a true champion . The cowardly showing last weekend in Bern is something Johnson will have to live with the rest of his days.
The assertion that Vitali has suddenly become“slow” and or ineffective as a puncher will much like the assertion that Vitali boxing with an open mouth has a fitness problem will in due course be shown to be another wishful fantasy of the hysterical assemblage that does not for whatever reason seem to be able to live with the fact that the Klitschko duo is and have been for a long time the very capstone of the heavyweight boxing world.
“I be roll’n wid dem punches, you know”. The Kevin Johnson’s of this world all have one thing in common their craving to survive to perhaps fight another day even at the cost of betraying their lack of courage for the whole world to behold.
This type fearful behavior in the ring on the part of Johnson was only made possible by the stimulus provided by one Vitali Klitschko, a true champion . The cowardly showing last weekend in Bern is something Johnson will have to live with the rest of his days.
The assertion that Vitali has suddenly become“slow” and or ineffective as a puncher will much like the assertion that Vitali boxing with an open mouth has a fitness problem will in due course be shown to be another wishful fantasy of the hysterical assemblage that does not for whatever reason seem to be able to live with the fact that the Klitschko duo is and have been for a long time the very capstone of the heavyweight boxing world.
I like that you have Sexton on your list, his fights with Rogan were two of the most entertaining heavyweight bouts I’ve seen in the last few years and I’m really looking forward to seeing what he can do at a higher level – assuming he gets past Danny Williams of course
Johnson should of stayed in bed thats how USELESS he was, on the biggest night of his life and fighting for the biggest prize in his profession he was an utter DISGRACE. Wouldnt you rather get knocked out trying to win the championship of the world rather than fight like he did.
thats giving him way to much credit he was a scared punk as bch like all the other american hw’s gettig theyr butts kickt by the klits and thet piece of cp haye aint no better
This fight was historical for me because it was the first time I ever stopped watching a fight after the 2nd round. Vitali looked like cr#p and Johnson shouldn’t have even bothered showing up.
johnson’s a joke -and he was talking trash! what a bonehead. he stunk the joint out.
why can’t we make some noise -and get the klitschkos to fight each other??? it’s the only fight at heavyweight worth making. why not???
in history is a bit rough..
but he could have done much better against vitali…
to his credit, somehow he cut vitali…and frustrated Vitali too..
Johnson was a load of sh$t, his only skill was defense and not offense. He was totally useless.