:think nobody gives this guy a chance. People are all ready talking about future Vitali fights before this one is even done. But could Kevin Johnson shock the world?
I keep saying while I think Vitali will mess him up and stop him, yes it's not in the books till it's in the books. Eight years and that many hard fights' difference and VK is prone to sports injuries. Johnson is a fine fighter and he may be in the right place at the right time.
Well, Buster Douglas held physical advantages over Tyson... height, reach etc. Johnson has NOTHING over Vitali
Kevin Johnson's best win was against Devon Vargas who took the fight in one weeks notice, and Johnson was still taking too many shots. If Vargas had at least 8 weeks to prepare he probably would of beaten Kevin Johnson. Now he's up against Vitali who is in boxing shape, KJ beating Vitali? Not likely.
An injury of the champion is the only thing which comes to mind. A busted knee, a torn sinew, something like that. Kevin has next to no other chance, not even a 1-punch-KO (thanks to Vitalis granite chin). Vitali is an intelligent fighter. He does not take any opponent lightly, and fights safe.
Douglas - Tyson was unique. Tyson had all these troubles in his personal life, wasn't focused. With Tyson's very short frame, the difference between being a ferocious KO artist and a good but very beatable fighter was small. Tyson needed speed, timing, accuracy to the the force he was in his prime and to overcome his height disadvantage. Being 10% below his best was more damaging for Tyson than for someone like Lennox, Wlad or Vitali. Vitali has lost his one punch power after his surgery, is a little slower now and is still a huge problem for any opponent with his size, accuracy, workrate and chin. Tyson past his prime still had power and will, but was much more ordinary as a fighter in general. Also, Douglas was really an underachiever before and after Tokyo, he simply put it all together for this one fight. Johnson has some talent, but it's unlikely he is a sleeping giant like Douglas was.
Tyson had well documented personal problems under estimated him Was not in good form or atleast fought like he didn train and had an awful and illequipped corner. Buster fought fight of his life with inspiratio n of his dead mother. Vitali in tremendous shape, well trained and prepared, never underestimates any body and has a capable corner.
No way... Douglas was bigger and could punch hard and Tyson was not at all hard to hit... Johnson is smaller and has no real punch power and Vitali is EXTREMELY hard to hit... The one and ONLY guy who ever managed to hit Vitali on regular basis was Lennox Lewis, and even these were mostly glancing shots cousing cuts but no real damage. The few real power shots Lennox Lewis managed to land, Vitali took in a stride and never even shake his head. So what chance Johnson does have? He won't hit Vitali at all, even if he does it's likely to be only fast glancing shots with no real power, and even if he manages to land a few really power shots (for which he lacks real power) it won't even dent Vitalis nose lest take him out... Even against Wladimir I'd say Johnson would have no chance not even the famous "puncher's chance" because he can't outbox him and has no power like Brewster or Sanders to take him out with one or at most 2-3 shots. With Vitali he has even less chance - I don't believe there's a boxer who could take Vitali out with one single punch, and more than one punch Johnson can't really hope to land... So I don't see any chance for him short of Vitali dislocating a shoulder, slipping a disc again or plainly breaking a leg in the ring
If Chris byrd can end up with a win on his record against VK then it's certainly possible johnson can do the same. I'm not comparing styles or anything, just saying that if Byrd of all people, an undersized pillow puncher, can emerge with a win, then Johnson could maybe do the same. I think people are under-estimating johnson. He'll most certainly lose, but i think he'll fare better than most seem to think. To the poster above, I have to say its quite a stretch to say vitali took those shots in his stride without even a shake of hte head ...