Good, he's a well schooled, somewhat slick I guess you could say, fighter. He has good hand speed, good power, he seems to like to dictate/control things more than force it, which I like to see, as I believe its more about the poise you show, rather than the ability to get an over-matched opponent out of there in double quick time, as you dont always learn anything from that, plus an exciting performance, does not equate to how much potential you actually have imo. Johnson had his problems with Derek Edwards, but Edwards, whilst not seemingly being that well known, is a pretty slick fighter, infact you might say there is a bit of the old school about the way he rolls with punches and counters.
I used to live in Texas, and worked with his mom at this chicken joint back in...'04, I believe it was. I used to see Marcus all the time. He dated my manager's daughter. He was in his 20s, she was 17...he was a cocky dude even back then. I hope he gets KO'd soon.
style flatters to deceive power hasn't carried as he's increased level of opposition likely a ko victim ala danny jacobs in the next two years
I'm looking forward to seeing Johnson tested. Derek Edwards is Johnson's best win. He was 25-0, but calling his previous opposition a bunch of tomato cans would be an insult to tomato cans. In the Johnson/Edwards fight all the elements of a KO were there, but Johnson backed off, slowed down, and did not go for it. I'm totally undecided about the guy. I'd like to see him fight a Zuniga or Brinkley type fighter; someone who is a known quantity so we would have something solid to measure Johnson against.
I think he gets hit way too much for someone who has his speed and style. Hard to really tell though, as Boo mentioned, because he hasn't been tested.
He seems solid offensively but he might have some defensive liabilities and as mentioned we haven't really seen him tested to gauge his intangibles.
I remember watching that fight with Edwards and I was more impressed with Edwards. Solely because I thought he looked damn good technically for a guy with only 6 Amateur Fights. On a Showtime card featuring Allan Green versus one of the Simms Twins...Johnson was fighting some Mexican Journeyman Club fighter named Villareal and MJ was getting popped a lot more than he should have versus a fighter that had NO skill. But after the fight it was latter told that he was injured (hand). I am excited to see how much he will grow and if he will ever get some intensity. Sometimes he looks a little disinterested.
He's a decent fighter right now, but he needs a lot of work if he wants to be a champion in the future. Solid hand speed, ok power, very leaky defense. His resmue is very very thin for a prospect with 20 fights at 25 years old. His biggest test was against Derek Edwards in a ShoBox event back in Chicago and he failed to impress. He still is a prospect so he can still grow, but he needs to put in lots of work to get to a championship level fighter.
