By Scott Gilfoid: Heavyweight contender Tyson Fury (19-0, 14 KO’s) isn’t going to be helped one bit in his December 1st fight against Kevin Johnson (28-2-1, 13 KO’s) for a bout against one of the Klitschko brothers in 2013 or whenever Fury decides to man up and fight one of them. Fury and Johnson will be fighting at the Odyssey Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.

Johnson, 33, doesn’t have the fire power to prepare Fury for one of the Klitschko brothers, and Fury is kidding himself if he thinks this fight will get him ready for a fight of that magnitude. Heck, I don’t see Johnson as capable of preparing Fury even for a fight against Kubrat Pulev, a fighter who I consider a lot better than Fury. That’s who Fury should be fighting now, not Johnson.

I do think Johnson has the potential of puffing up Fury’s face something awful en route to losing to him a decision, but that’s about all I can see Johnson. He doesn’t have the offensive weapons outside of his excellent jab to beat Fury. To beat Fury, Johnson would have to walk him down and overpower him with head shots, but Johnson lacks the work rate and power to accomplish that task.

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Johnson is replacing Denis Boytsov, who pulled out of the Fury fight because he didn’t have enough time to get in shape before December 1st. There’s still a slight chance that Fury winds up facing Boytsov at a later date, but I’m not holding my breath expecting that to happen.

While Johnson doesn’t have the skills to beat Fury, I do see him as a step up from the last four guys that Fury has faced. Fury has been taking it extra easy in his last four fights as he’s taken his career backwards for some peculiar reason after having beaten Dereck Chisora in 2011.

Johnson doesn’t have the power or the pressure style offense that Chisora has, but he’s got a jab that would enable to beat Chisora if they were to fight. I’d definitely pick Johnson over Chisora. Johnson will beat Fury in the jabbing game and he’ll force him to turn to his power shots and high volume punching to win this fight.