By Jim Dower: Unbeaten super middleweight prospect Marcus Johnson (18-0, 14 KO’s) defeated Victor Villereal (8-4-2, 4 KO’s) by an eight round unanimous decision on Saturday night at the First Council Casino, in Newkirk, Oklahoma. The final judges’ scores were 80-71, 80-71 and 80-71. Johnson, 23, a former 2004 United States Amateur Light Heavyweight Champion, dominated the entire eight rounds of the bout, knocking Villereal down once in the 6th round and pretty much having his way the rest of the fight.
Johnson appeared to have hurt his right hand in the 6th round, because he was complaining about having hurt in between the 7th and 8th rounds. He may have actually hurt it even earlier, because even between the 3rd and 4th rounds, Johnson looked upset, talking to his trainer in an animated conversation despite easily winning the rounds.
Whatever the case, Johnson looked great in the 8th round, landing well with double left hooks and hard jabs. Johnson never really did need his right hand because his left hand was more than enough to beat the likes of Villereal.
The fight was one big beat down with Johnson doing virtually all the punching until the 5th round when Villereal landed a couple of hard right hands that briefly had Johnson holding on to prevent Villereal from throwing any additional shots.
Johnson was never hurt but he looked like he wanted to ensure that Villereal didn’t land a big follow up shot. Late in the 6th round, Johnson dropped Villereal with two solid left hooks to the head that sent Villereal down face first. He got up, more embarrassed than truly hurt and lasted out the remaining seconds of the round.
Johnson went back to his left hook in the 7th, using that weapon almost exclusively to punish Villereal early in the round. At the halfway point in the round, Johnson again appeared to hurt Villereal after tagging him with a nice double left hook to the head. The remainder of the round saw Johnson nailing Villereal with hard single shots, mostly left hands to the head.
Johnson’s hand speed and punch variety was quite good. In fact, he already looks like one of the best super middleweights in the division even though he’s still fought next to no one and is inexperienced. In a couple of years, he should be at the top of the super middleweight division ready to challenge for a title. The only question mark that I can see with Johnson right now is his chin and his heart.
We won’t know whether he has a good chin or the heart until he faces a better opponent than Villereal. I didn’t like the reaction that Johnson showed when Villereal tagged him a few times in the bout with some hard right hands. Johnson looked uncomfortable during those times and seemed to kind of wilt for 20 to 30 seconds after getting hit.
In addition, in between rounds, Johnson didn’t look confident as he spoke to his trainer and seemed to be worried despite the fact that he having an easy time of it in there. When Johnson has to face a much tougher opponent than Villereal, I wonder how he’ll react when he’s put in there with an opponent that is trying to take his head off. Will Johnson be able to handle or will he fold? Only time will tell.