I remember reading an article about Kirk Johnson in the mid-90s, in some boxing magazine. Johnson was just an emerging prospect at the time. One of his pro victories was over Ross Purrity, who wasn't well known either, at the time. The article had a picture of Johnson fighting Puritty. If my memory serves me correctly, the article said that Johnson scored a knockdown (possibly two knockdowns) over Puritty en route to winning a decision. Years later, I regarded this as evidence of Johnson's power, as Puritty subsequently proved to be quite iron-chinned. Can anyone confirm that Johnson really knocked down Puritty?
And if anybody can perhaps find that particular article online and post it, that would be great. Thank you.
It was in one of the obscure boxing magazines. I don't remember the name. It only did features on fighters, never covered bouts. It wasn't in publication for too long.
Saw the fight. I know he dropped Purrity to his hands and knees at one point in this fight, and won a clear cut decision. One of Kirk's better early performances, actually.
Impressive no matter who you are. Purrity was a tough s.o.b. and that is truly impressive that Kirk was able to put him down.:bbb
Someone that posts in General used to be present when Kirk Johnson sparred Ike Ibeabuchi and Kirk used to routinely completely outclass/batter him. I wouldn't doubt it, Johnson was very athletic and fluid at his best... A larger, harder hitting Chris Byrd without all of the evasiveness I suppose.
I remember Johnson getting increasingly touted from 1999 and when he punched out Maskaev in 2000. So I thought I'd take a look and see what he was like. What fight would that just happen to be? By sheer chance, the Ruiz fight in early 2002. Soured me to Kirk completely. Shame really, but even with Ruiz's panto act at times, Johnson was absolutely bloody awful. When Lewis was meant to fight him in 2003 I was a right moaning git about it and thought it was worthless, then when he turned up bloated and got bombed out by Vitali it just compounded my negative feelings. I should probably watch some old stuff of his, I have had the feeling before I was being unfair to him. But even if I see a killer in those fights, I'll know how massively he underperformed on his two biggest stages.
