By Jim Dower: Unbeaten super middleweight contender Tommy Oosthuizen (18-0, 13 KO’s) will be facing Marcus Johnson (21-1, 15 KO’s) on April 27th at the Buffalo Run Casino, in Miami, Oklahoma. Oosthuizen, 23, will be defending his International Boxing Organization title in the fight against the 26-year-old Johnson.
This is a fight that would have been a lot more appealing had it taken place early in 2011 before Johnson was easily beaten by Dyah Davis by a lopsided 10 round unanimous decision in April 2011. Johnson was badly exposed in that fight as a pot shot fighter unable to keep up with the busy Davis.
Oosthuizen should be able to dominate Johnson as long as he remembers to throw enough punches. Oosthuizen hasn’t looked that great in piling up an undefeated records against mostly 2nd tier opposition. He looks like a skinner, weaker, less technical version of Andy Lee. He lacks Lee’s power and skills and tends to throw a lot of slapping shots. However, Oosthuizen has a big advantage over Johnson in that he’s not just a pot shot fighter that throws a punch every once in a while. Oosthuizen, #7 IBF, #10 WBC, likes to apply pressure and keep busy. As long as he’s able to take Johnson’s occasional big shots, he should be okay. Johnson is the better puncher by far but he needs to change his style of fighting and get a lot busier if he wants to win this fight. I doubt he will.
Johnson is a former 2004 U.S Amateur light heavyweight champion with good skills but he seems to be still stuck on the amateur style of fighting and hasn’t adapted yet to the pro game. He may need a new trainer or someone to impress upon him that he needs to retool his came completely if he wants to find success at this level. I give Johnson a chance against Oosthuizen if he rushes him and tries to bury him with shots. But if he takes hit time and throws 10 to 20 punches per round while admiring his work, Johnson will lose badly.
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