Kevin Johnson says he was injured for Klitschko loss, wants fight with Haye
July 30th, 2010
By Jim Dower: Heavyweight contender Kevin Johnson (22-1-1, 9 KO’s) partly explains the reason for his lopsided 12 round unanimous decision loss to World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko last December, saying that he was injured in the 2nd round of the fight and that affected him for the remainder of the bout. Johnson, now looking for his next opponent, would like to fight WBA heavyweight champion David Haye next.
There’s one big problem preventing Johnson from getting a fight with Haye and that’s his lack of ranking in the WBA. Johnson isn’t ranked in the top 15 by the WBA, and without the number #1 ranking, Johnson will likely continue to be ignored by Haye for the remainder of his career. It’s safe to say that Haye will never fight a guy like Johnson.
With Haye talking about wanting to retire by 31, he’s going to probably try to get the most out of the remainder of his fights before he hangs them up for good. A fighter like Johnson, who has a great jab and a defensive style of fighting, isn’t an appealing option for a slugger like Haye. Johnson showed a good chin in his loss to Vitali last December, but mostly his defensive safety first style of fighting ensured that he wouldn’t be seriously hurt by Vitali.
However, Johnson probably would have a decent chance of beating Haye if he could get him in the ring, but that probably won’t happen. Johnson is probably too dangerous for Haye, and for that reason, he’ll continue to be ignored by him. If Johnson really wants a fight against one of the Klitschko brothers, then he’s going to need to go after some of the top 15 heavyweights and try to pick up some fast wins to work himself back into a title shot.
Johnson needs to get back in the top 15 real quick, because his ranking has slipped dramatically since his loss to Vitali Klitschko last December. Johnson isn’t ranked in the top 15 by any of the sanctioning bodies despite being better than a lot of the fighters that are currently ranked ahead of him. It might have to do with his poor, non-performance against Vitali. Johnson appeared to be looking to just survive through much of the fight.
Tags: 21 Responses to “Kevin Johnson says he was injured for Klitschko loss, wants fight with Haye”
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johnson doesnt fight he just runs all night after klitchko farce he should be banned and made to do track and field
Haye may just give Johnson a shot,As he poses little threat ,but for haye it may be just enough to avoid himm too.thats sad.
What the hell is this writer talking about?! I think we all have some kind of criticism of Haye, nigling or large but to say Johnson would be a ‘dangerous’ prospect for Haye is absurd. He has zero offensive ability.
Shannon Briggs is ready to fight Vitali. Sam Peter is also ready to fight Wladimir. These two fighters have the guts to actually fight the Klitschko brothers. I give them credit for that.
Now what is Haye doing? He and Booth can keep trying to use the contracts as an excuse but they are just lying to themselves. They are scared, pure and simple. Haye had done all of the talk and when Wladimir and Vitali start to talk back and challenge Haye what does Haye do? Would Haye fight Briggs or Peter? No. He would not have the guts to face them.
It’s astonishing how people can say they are losing interest in the bout when they commenting on it on a forum. Plus how much duller would boxing be if all fighters were respectful of each other and kept giving out compliments? And can people stop saying dude. Please
Hard to win a fight with Haye if you dont throw punches
@ Ade ur spot on
Haye just like Mayweather is basically going to make the fans beg for the fight so he can make himself look great by taking it in the near future
plus Haye has a dodgy contract were he has to pay money to 3 separate parties for the next 2 fights, so he isnt going to fight the klits when he is going to have to give 1/2 of the money away
he will fight A-Force and Chagaev most likely then his contract will be his own and he will fight the klits probly in may or june
@…ADE…..are you high dude…..thats funny…..
Andrew, it is simple. Haye has wound the brothers up perfectly. He will be sitting back laughing everytime they roboticaly call him out in their wooden videos. A year from now the fight will be made and will make all the more money for being so eagerly anticipated, it’s how boxing works. Look at mayweather pac. Simple really. Some people just Simply can’t understand how things work.
I don’t understand why Haye and Vitali don’t just get it on. Both are open in their calendars and it would be a great prelude to Haye v Wladimir
KJ is dreaming if he thinks he has a chance of getting in the ring with Haye, instead of jumping back in at the deep end he should fight another decent heavyweight,
and Jim dower…. Do you really think David haye is a slugger?, is that how you would describe his last 3 performances?
KJ was proud just to go 12 rounds with Vitali who had only allowed one other man to finish a full fight against him. Pathetic. At least he got paid a cool mil for it.
he may have twisted his sock in round 2
but after round 12 he had a bruised ego lmao
I think Johnson should prove himself deserving by fighting Pavetkin, or solis,or perhaps Adamek or one of Vitalis better nightmares,before he is in line for a title shot again.I think he was injured in pride for sure.
KJ was a total joke in his fight !
How was he ranked number 1 by the WBC, when he is ranked 15 by WBA ? the rankings are really messed up right now
sorry but KJ would lose another 12 round decision to haye, infact he wouldnt win a round
Did Johnson hurt his legs in the 2nd round or are they too weak to take the weight, because he leaned on the ropes all fight.
This fight will never happen. Johnson hasn’t turned 38 yet.
People dont but Johnson has a permanent shoulder problem, he probably tweeked it in Klitschko fight.
But still he was rubbish, and really should not be fighting
typical sh*tty us heavyweight with a padded record & a big mouth.
sorry Kevin but you are overweight and Haye isn’t. He would dodge your power shots all night and his speed would drop you like an overcooked German sausage. Haye KO 7
I think it was a paper cut, and you know what they really are painful. almost as painful as the excuse.