Kevin ‘Kingpin’ Johnson talks about Haye/Klitschko and getting another world title fight

By Boxing News - 07/11/2011 - Comments

By Ian Aldous: Former World heavyweight championship challenger, Kevin ‘Kingpin’ Johnson (25-1-1) is back on the road to the title. This week he spoke with me about how he intends on becoming ‘Kingpin’ of the heavyweight division.

First of all, please give us your thoughts on the Wladimir Klitschko vs. David Haye unification fight.

KJ “He (Haye) did everything that we thought he would do. He talked himself into a beautiful payday and it was put up or shut up. He didn’t put up but he will now shut up.”

You’ve got a healthy professional record of 25-1-1. Where do you rank yourself in the heavyweight division right now?

KJ “I’m always gonna be at the top, always gonna be at the top. I’d like to get a crack at David Haye, get a crack at Tony Thompson, you know, the Arreola’s. I wanna get a crack at everybody.”

What do you feel you need to do to earn another world championship fight? Because it seems like a lot of fighters are ducking you.

KJ “Everybody’s gonna do it, you know, that’s why I never had a crack at the top 10 opposition before I went in there with Vitali. People play games but I should be able to be in there with a couple of top 10 guys and crack their behinds before going in for another world title shot.”

So, why do you feel people are ducking you?

KJ “Because I’m good, I’m very good and the messed up part about me is I can’t be hurt. It’s impossible.”

In December 2009 you fought Vitali Klitschko for the WBC world heavyweight title. You went the distance with him (one of only three fighters to ever achieve this). Looking back, what were your thoughts on the fight?

KJ “I should’ve turned into a pitbull and just locked ass with him (laughs). That sums up everything, that I should’ve turned into a pitbull and just locked ass for 12 rounds. I will fight him again and lock ass for 12 rounds.”

Am I right in saying that you were recently challenged by Cuban heavyweight, Mike Perez (16-0)?

KJ “I’m gonna beat his ass, not box his ass. He didn’t call me out, that’s the most wrong thing you could ever do. We were supposed to fight in prizefighter (one night, three-rounds, eight-man elimination tournament) but I didn’t. I was looking forward to locking ass with him but we didn’t. So, we didn’t fight in prizefighter but we can still make a prizefight, the tournament didn’t mean anything, there was nobody in the tournament. Let’s just make the fight happen.”

When will you next see you in action?

KJ “Hopefully I can get a shot at Perez, Odlanier Solis or Tony Thompson or Arreola. Those are the guys that are on my radar. I wanna rip and I wanna chew right through them and that’s about it.”

Don’t forget to check out the official online home of Kevin ‘Kingpin’ Johnson located at www.kingpinkj.com



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