Klitschko-Johnson: Will Vitali show his age this Saturday?
December 7th, 2009
By Dave Lahr: World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Vitali Kitschko (38-2, 37 KO’s) will be returning to action this Saturday night in a title defense against unbeaten American Kevin Johnson (22-0-1, 9 KO’s) at the PostFinance Arena, in Berne, Switzerland. It’s only been three months since the 38-year-old Klitschko last fought and with that kind of short time between bouts, Klitschko could find himself at less than 100% against Johnson. Klitschko is getting up there in age at 38 and has a history of suffering bad injuries both in the ring and in training.
Johnson, though, is younger, faster, and has a much better jab and movement. After all these years, Klitschko has finally met up with a fighter that can match his skills. In many ways, Johnson is the superior fighter. The only thing that Johnson is missing is big right hand power. However, Johnson may not punch with a ton of power with his right hand, but his left hook more than makes up for it.
Johnson’s left hook is better than Klitschko’s left hook and a formidable weapon if one of Vitali makes the mistake of getting to close to him. Even if Klitschko doesn’t get close, Johnson has a reach of 82”, two inches more than Vitali and will be able to land shots even when the Ukrainian thinks he’s safe on the outside. This isn’t a fight that is going to be like any of Vitali’s previous bouts.
I take that back. I think it could turn out to be a lot like Klitschko’s bout with Lennox Lewis in 2003. The action in that fight took place mainly the outside with Lewis and Klitschko trading jabs and right hands. Lewis ended up getting the better of Klitschko when they got in close and ripped his face up with a couple of hard right uppercuts that sliced up Vitali’s lips and eyes to the point where the fight needed to be stopped.
Johnson plans on fighting Vitali on the outside because he sees how vulnerable Vitali is when fighting at the distance. However, when the action does get in close, Johnson will be ready for his own equalizer – a nice right uppercut that would make Lewis proud. Once Vitali sticks his chin out while in close, Johnson will nail him repeatedly until Klitschko either backs off, goes down or ends up with a severely lacerated face.
I don’t think Vitali’s face will be able to take the punishment from Johnson’s jabs and uppercuts and I can see this fight being stopped at some point due to cuts.
Tags: 24 Responses to “Klitschko-Johnson: Will Vitali show his age this Saturday?”
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Lahr – you are stupid!
Vitali is getting old – one never knows when he will be ready to go, that point is correct. However your point about him fighting beatable challengers is correct and thats exactly what this is
vitali ko for sure 100% any 1 want to bet against it?
very many guys writing here have no clue, but yet somehow they publish this crap. There is always some chance that a contender will beat a champ (one can get a bit slower, more vulnerable, the other will be better than ever before) but in this case the chance is very slim.
Most likely Vitali will simply destroy dominate him, and likely destroy him.
I canot take seriously, Vitali will khock him up in the third round, he is nothing compering to Vitali, by the way I,m not Vitlai,s fan but I,m saying the fact.
I don’t understand the logic behind some of these writers, vitali’s got the highest knockout ratio of any other heavyweight in history of the sport, and has never been behind on a single judges scorecard in any of his fights, and you still think that Kevin Johnson is going to stop him? By tko? People have to entertain themselves i guess.
Just kidding, Dave.
Hey everybody, don’t be fooled. Dave really wants to bet on Vitali and he’s trying to convince the 7 people who read his articles to bet on Kevin King Pin so he’ll get better odds in Vegas. Think it’ll work? I’m guessing yes. I was so convinced that Vitali’s face won’t stand up to all those “jabs and uppercuts” that I just dumped $20,000 on King Pin. Think I did the right thing?
Dave, I enjoyed your “article” so much that I am respecfully requesting a follow-up on Sunday morning after Johnson gets smoked.
I think Dave Lahr is really Sam Peter. He hates the Klitschko bros, and this is his revenge.
Dave Lahr black listed me. Wahhhhh!!!!
lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Another totally ridiculous article on this totally ridiculous website. Until they start actually using writers that can give unbias opinions and state facts then they will just continue to have their articles and authors ridiculed.
Vitali is always 100% fit he could have fought the following week after Chris he made it look that easy.
Vitali is getting up there at 38, only 10yrs behind George Foreman when he fought and in my opinion beat Shannon Briggs.
How does Kevin have a better jab where has that been shown he hasn’t been near the opposition Vitali has seen and thrashed.
He has had the GOOD LUCK to meet beatable opponents!! one of them was unbeaten the others legitimate contenders how does luck come into it?
Good luck to Kevin he has a right to be there but I believe he will join the ranks of victims and before the final bell.
And you know what for Vitali’s next fight they will mention, yes you guessed it, Age, Injuries, easy opponents,zzzzzzz
this guy obviously dosent have the slightest clue about boxing lol
SSSSPPPLLLAAATTT!!!and that will be the end for mr johnson
There is no way Kevin Johnson has the superior jab, or movement. He has nothing on Vitali except reach surprisingly, but Vitali will still utilize his height and stance and negate this. I’d be surprised if this fight goes past 8 in favor of Vitali.
Judging by the names on Johnson’s resume I don’t see VK even breaking a sweat, unless he has to chase Johnson down.
If anything Vitali has shown much better movement than ever , especially in the fight against Arreola.
I think the fight will be a jab contest with Vitali using his superior height to slowly break Johnson down.
Johnson is not a bum , he is a good boxer but doesnt have the physical tools needed.
lol at this article, johnson is a terrible heayweight who has fought nobodies, he will get knocked out within 5 rounds easy
Klitschko is going to win this fight just as he’s done most of his others….by using the jab. Johnson may have a longer reach and a good jab, but he’s 6’3, not 6’8. Vitali is much taller and he will jab, jab, jab until Johnson is beaten up. At that point, the ref or the corner will stop it.
And please tell me how Johnson can be ready for Vitali based on his opposition up to this point? He’s undefeated and that’s how he got this fight. Vitali will win easily by stoppage between rounds 6 and 9.
Vitali all the way, no other heavy can touch him at the moment.
no chance,vital is a quality operator!
Just one word – Lol