Klitschko-Johnson: What happened to Kevin?
December 14th, 2009
By Jim Slattengren: To listen to previously unbeaten heavyweight contender Kevin Johnson (22-1-1, 9 KO’s) speak before Saturday night’s fight, you would think that Johnson was going to rip World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko’s head clean off his shoulders. At least you would have thought that Johnson, 30 was going to make a game effort of it by going out on his shield by trying to take Vitali out with some meaningful punches.
However, what boxing fans ended up seeing was Anoki immediately going to the canvas in the 1st round and spending the better part of the fight kicking at Ali’s legs and attempting no punches. Johnson didn’t seem to even try to make a fight of it with Klitschko. He stayed on the ropes, looking to hit Klitschko with counters. But mostly, Johnson just covered up and talked a lot.
Klitschko looked bad because he was rarely able to land cleanly with any of his power shots all night long. He tried, but his lack of hand speed was the issue. Johnson was able to either block Klitschko’s slow incoming fire or else duck them well before they would land. Klitschko didn’t help himself that he was telegraphing many of his punches.
This made it easy for Johnson to block or else get out of the way of the punches. But beyond the defensive side of the fight, which Johnson did quite well at, he fought very poorly offensively. Indeed, I’d have to five Johnson a ‘D -’ for his efforts on the offensive side of the fight. It wasn’t as if Johnson didn’t have his chances.
Klitschko looked wide open all night long for potential opportunities to be countered. The problem was that Johnson looked timid, as if he was afraid to throw right hand for fear of having Vitali land a counter left or right hand immediately after. It might happened, but at least Johnson would have had a chance to win the fight. By jabbing only, Johnson basically gave the fight away to Klitschko without much of a struggle.
Johnson’s corner was after him early in the fight trying to get him to open up more with his offense. However, Johnson looked depressed as early as the 3rd round, as if he knew he was going to lose. His body language was negative between rounds, and he didn’t look happy for an instant.
So where does Johnson go from here? I don’t honestly think that Johnson would do any better against IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko. I see that as another one-sided loss for him. Unless Johnson can fix his offensive liabilities in the near future, I also don’t like his chances against other top heavyweight contenders like Odlanier Solis, Alexander Povetkin or Eddie Chambers. Johnson might have a small chance against WBA heavyweight champion David Haye, only because Haye has limited reach and sometimes fades late in his fights.
Tags: 22 Responses to “Klitschko-Johnson: What happened to Kevin?”
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KJ gave a shocking account of himself. I don’t quite understand his gameplan apart from bouncing of the ropes and covering up for 12 rounds. After that performance, I’m confident we won’t be seeing him on any networks anytime soon. I predict an Otis Grant-like break down for this fool!
WHEN I SAW QUEEN-PIN IN THE BURGER KING THE NIGHT BEFORE THE FIGHT, I KNEW FOR SURE THIS CLOWN WAS ONLY THERE FOR THE PAYDAY, HE SHOULD SAVE SOME OF IT, AS HE WOULD´NT BE GETTING ANOTHER ONE LIKE THAT.
You might want to check the compubox stats, because according to that Vitali landed almost 50% of his power punches. So where are u getting that he missed all night? Maybe with his jabs, but that was almost to be expected. I honestly think that Vitali looked great and with the exception of a somewhat lack of killer instinct on saturday night he fought a perfect fight. We need to remember that fighters can only do so much with the opponent that they were given. I honestly am frustrated at how we can say that Vitali is loosing his skills when this is only the second fight that he has ever one that wasnt via knockout.
Guys, I think Scott Gil-Freud’s comment (above) was a pis take of Scott Gilfroid. I know you yanks don’t get sarchasm, but come on…
I just don’t understand why he talked smack before the fight and during the fight and did nothing to back it up. It’s fine to be hard to hit but to offer no form of attack for 12 rounds of boxing is a joke.
If he were to come out and admit he was there for a payday then I’d think slightly more of him. As it is, he is a bum with a big mouth who got made to look totally stupid in front of millions of boxing fans. Have a good Christmas Kev
You were vry kind giving him a D for offense, I gave him a straight F. He should of stayed in bed thats how USELESS he was.
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 cr*p.
And what’s with the sudden Haye worship? Has everybody forgotten Haye’s opponents of the past 2 years? His dull fight against Valuev? And the fight before that …who again… Monte Barrett??? The same guy that got smoked by Solis and barely survived the first round against a very slow Ustinov… and before that Cruiser Enzo Maccarinelli who’s barely a top 50 boxer right now… He hasn’t proven anything yet, I want to see him up against Tua, Arreola or Boystov. But that’s never gonna happen!
Johnson was so fast, as Scott said he would be, that he didn’t appear to be moving. That jab certainly made a mess of Vitalis face. If he fought Haye they would need a shovel to remove him afterwards. He couldn’t even be the genie in Aladdin at the pantomime as he would get stuck in the trapdoor. He might be useful for proof load testing cranes.
Scot Gil-Freud Is quite clearly the most idiotic person alive. To say that “Kevin ‘Saftey Pin’ Johnson clearly WON the fight. He showed the defensive skills of a heavyweight Floyd Mayweather, combined with the speed and elusiveness of Andre ‘The Matrix’ Dirrel” is like me saying that Chris Arreola is as cut as Manny Pacquiao!!
RETARD
Also, Kevin Johnson should PERSONALLY refund all spectators monies as that fight was a complete rip-off!
Great comment by Scott G-F above and I agree with Lee – the more I see of the other slow HWs the more I think haye would easily win as he has the power and speed for KO and skill for a points win.
it was different to ali/inoki because that match was supposed to be fake…but inoki was planning a double cross (where he took ali down with his legitimate ju jitsu skills & submitted him) which ali caught wind of. ali had grappling banned & inoki couldn’t take a punch from a boxer so you got the shin kicking thing. ali should have known better than to get involved with japanese wrestlers tbh.
as for johnson…he realised he wasn’t good enough & decided not to get knocked out. no heart.
the more i see of the hw division the more im convinced that Haye would destry them all. The only way i can see anyone beating him is by a lucky punch. Vitali looked slow and old and primed for a meeting with the hayemaker.
He doesn’t need five years on fights he needs five years in jail for fraud. That wasn’t a boxing match that was a 12 round conversation. Appalling. Don’t even think of Haye and Johnson together in the ring. They would trash talk there way through the evening. I cant stand Haye but even he would have difficulty knocking this fellah out. They would keep stopping to chat about how good they are. All talk! again.
he needs like 5 fights.. to get his offence..and confidence.. maybe more..
I wouldn’t walk to the nearest street corner to watch johnson fight for free.
johnson limited power, not the best counter puncher.. very timid, david haye would wipe the floor with him gong back to ya last paragraph. i heard that he damaged his right shoulder in the build up to the fight that is why he wasnt thrwoing right hands.. not 2 sure bout that though.. he wouldn’t beat wladimir or haye or even james toney lol… maybe the yanks should have an all american bout sponsered by burger king johnson v arreola
Reminded me of Lewis-Tua. At some point, you would think Johnson would figure out that they are taking punches, so might as well go for some offensive combinations… but this doesn’t happen; they are content with losing a one-sided fight.
I would really like to hear Johnson explain his actions in the ring!
He defecated himself. Very poor from Johnson after all this pre fight talk.
Kevin is a joke
THAT’S A HEAVYWEIGHT FIGHT? DAMN, MANNY VS COTTO 3RD ROUND WAS MORE EXCITING THAN THE WHOLE FIGHT.. HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION HAS NO SKILLS…