By Jason Kim: Unbeaten heavyweight contender Kevin Johnson (22-0-1, 9 KO’s) plans on trying to fight World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (38-2, 37 KO’s) from the outside, saying to East Side Boxing “I can stand outside and box the hell out of Klitschko.” That’ll be interesting to see, because it runs counter to the normal logic of opponents of the big 6’7 ½” Klitschko brother.

On the outside, it would seem logical that the 38-year-old Vitali would have most of the advantages. Although Vitali’s reach – 80” – is two inches shorter than Johnson, Vitali’s jab is more powerful and if the two fighters get in a battle of jabs, I wouldn’t like Johnson’s chances of success. One would hope that Johnson isn’t pinning all his chances of beating Klitschko on being able to out-jab him from the outside.

If that’s Johnson’s only plan on beating Klitschko, then he’s going to be sadly mistaken because Vitali will mix in more than enough power shots to win most, if not all, of the rounds. The lack of power for Johnson is his main problem going into their December 12th fight at the PostFinance Arena, in Berne, Switzerland.

Johnson, 30, has never been a very big puncher and outside of B level fighters, he’s never beaten a top rung heavyweight during his career. Indeed, Johnson has never even faced a top tier heavyweight before. The large part of Johnson’s fights have consisted of 2nd and 3rd tier opponents. He’s been shielded from 1st tier fighters until now.

That’s not good news for Johnson, because Vitali is perhaps the best heavyweight in the entire division bar none and he has much more experience than Johnson has against quality fighters. Not only that, but Klitschko will have a huge 4 ½” height advantage over Johnson. The weights of the two fighters are roughly the same, however, but Vitali appears to be the more solid fighter. Johnson looks to be carrying around an extra 15 to 20 pounds of fat on his frame.

Johnson has been able to stay on the outside and use his excellent jab to beat the mostly mediocre opponents that he has faced during his six year pro career. Because he hasn’t faced anyone with power or real boxing skills, Johnson hasn’t had to work hard in most of his fights to get his wins. Johnson doesn’t tend to throw a lot of punches during his fights and like to fight at a kind of lazy economical rate.

It will be a big test to see if Johnson’s body can ramp up and let him throw more punches without tiring out. Johnson is going to have to let his hands go more if he wants to beat Vitali. Johnson can’t afford to fight lazy off the ropes and expect to hurt and knock Vitali down like Johnson did with his last opponent Devin Vargas in May 2009. Johnson spent a great deal of time on the ropes in that fight, taking a lot of shots and throwing back occasionally.

Vargas ended getting hurt by Johnson’s left hooks and taken out. However, 27, was taking a big step up in that fight by facing Johnson and wasn’t ready for a fighter like Johnson. Vitali will be ready and he won’t likely be effected by Johnson’s jabs nor his occasional pot shot left hooks. The only chance that Johnson has if he tries to outwork Vitali and tire him out. It’s a near suicidal strategy, but it’s his only chance. Johnson will get out-pointed if he stays on the outside.