Kirk Johnson came out "guns blazing" against Vitali and he didn't look good

Like always you remember the bad fight but forget the others. At MSG against Brock it was rocking

 

It's noticeable how much better Vitali is there, compared to now. So much faster, sharper, better timing.

 

That video of Kirk Johnson is probably what is going to happen to Arreola. The difference is Arreola lands punches at awkward angles and he may be able to land and be competitive with Vitali for a round or so.

 

Arreola is aggressive by nature where as Johnson was a ring technition.

 

That fight was a real dissappointment for me. I was following Johnson and thought he would put in a better showing than that...until I heard about all the weight he would take into the fight for "strategic" purposes. I have never agreed with a fighter putting on extra poundage to fight a bigger guy. Imo you should be in your best shape ever and play to your own strengths. Regardless of weight though Johnson was going down. Even the way in which Kirk entered the ring was different from usual. He seemed like a real headcase.

 

Johnson wasn't aggressive at all. He fought scared, fought in retreat, didnt bother aiming when he swung like a pitcher at the mound.

He ****in' sucked in this fight.

Arreola will fight IN THE POCKET and beat the **** outta Vitali there. His old ass isn't the same in that footage. I guarantee he'll crumble and everyone will say it's because Vitali was old.

Arreola TKO 5 :smoke

 

Johnson didn't manage much aggression. Vitali, however, really was aggressive, jabbed, moved forward, and through his right hand very often.

THis, in my opinion, is what he needs to do to Arreola to get him out early. Chris will miss ALOT. Vitali's defense is both very effective and one of a kind at heavyweight. He'll pick Chris apart while tiring him out by making him miss. The times he doesn't? Having the best chin in the heavyweight division, arguably, is gonna help in those instances.

Vitali, TKO 8. I do believe, however, that Chris will have some moments and fight his heart out, and his stock will likely remain in the arena it was in entering this fight upon losing it.

 

That was a prime Vitali, Arreola is now fighting an older Vitali who has declined in physical skills. None the less Vitali knocks out Arreola.

 

Solid.

 

Arreola had problems with Walker. Vitali will be even a bigger problem.

 

He fought a shot up McCline. Vitali may be older, but, he far from shot.

 

If Chris comes in the 240 range, he could make this interesting.

 

To beat Vitali u got to attack him like Lewis did. That's Chris's only chance.

 

You mean to say he came out Donuts Glazing that mother ****er was fattttt

 

Kirk was pressured into taking this fight by his management at the time. His first (and correct) instinct was to pass because he was not nearly in fight shape. The talk about carrying the extra weight was ex-post-facto rationalization. He fought Vitali at 260 lbs and his best fighting weight was 235 or so. He tried to invoke George Foreman and Larry Holmes to excuse his weight, but in the end, his bad descision to take this fight on such short notice ruined his career forever.