Ok, I know that Johnson's popularity atm is at the lowest point possible and I know he has really taken a lot of flak but. . .try to step back and analyze this rationally. I managed to watch the entire fight and I actually developed a strange admiration for Johnson. I thought his defensive work was brilliant! This guy stood with his hands at his waist in front of Ivan Drago and his 92% KO ratio and didn't flinch. He slipped, dodged, shoulder rolled, rope-a-doped, he did all the tricks! He even puffed Vitali's eye with a meager ****ing jab. I know Klitschko dominated. . .but still. I think Johnson has serious skill. Vote and thoughts.
Johnson doesn't deserve to ever get in the ring again. After talking so much smack, he ****ing does absolutly nothing, and when the fight is over he throughs a fit and starts going at Wlad? WTF he just had 12 rounds to let his anger out, and he ran like a pussycat. **** him and his defense.
Made the whole sport look like ****. But, yeah, not only is he talented but he could have made a real go of it if he tried to fight. I'm not kidding either, if he let his hands go, he could have at least gone home with some dignity and had VK's respect even. This content is protected
This was Kevins big time fight, a chance to make a name for himself and be someone. Instead Kevin ran away and chose to not engage. Im not sure whats more stupid, talking yourself up and not delivering - or not making the most of a golden opportunity.
who gives a **** about his defense if he didnt even win 1 round? the game is to hit and dont get hit... and he failed at it. miserably.
He's difficult to hit you gotta give him that, but that's about it. Never really tries to counter even though he had many opportunities against vitali. KJ fought like he had nothing to prove except going the distance, but that isn't the mentality a challenger should have, and they might as well have made the fight a 6 rounds cause KJ was all defense and it wouldn't change if they went on 20 rds
It is not hard at all to position yourself perpendicular to your opponent.... hoist your shoulder closest to him and bend away to avoid shots. What Kevin did is not hard at all. It isn't hard to avoid throwing punches. It's when you realize "Oh yeah, I have to punch back" that the whole dynamics of your approach has to change. People make too big of a deal of KJ's little bit of offense that he brought... then they wonder where it ran off to; as if it just magically disappeared. His offense left because shortly after he mounted it he was answered back by Vitali. And the price KJ had to pay (Vitali's answer) was no longer worth it. Also, after KJ opened up.... in the following rounds Vitali was much more aggressive. Because Vitali knew right then that Kingpin couldn't do anything to him. Vitali was standing right in front of KJ to be hit, but KJ did squat. Some either don't give respect to it or they just don't notice it.... but when KJ (or anyone for that matter) opens up too much and gets too confident Vitali's left counter hook is waiting for them, usually followed by a right straight. It's his punch to keep his opponents honest. So honest in KJ's case that he no longer desired to even attempt stealing a round.
good thing that wasn't the fight to save boxing and bring in casual fans. hell, even hardcore fans like me would quit watching if that's what boxing matches look liked everytime. btw vitali had a puffy eye at the weigh in already. johnson should not get credit for something that vk's sparring partner or wife did.
You could replace the name Kevin with Cris and that middle line with "Instead (Cris) chose to not train and give himself a legitimate chance." and the entire post applies to Arreola just as much as to Johnson.
I got the exact opposite feeling of him from the fight. It went from liking the guy, for what I have seen him do in the past. To respecting the guy for what he did the first few rounds. I gave him a pass due to this being his biggest fight ever and being overseas. Also for never seeing dimensions like Vitali's. He didn't look horrible and actually pretty slick. To hating the guy because his talent was evident, but he had decided to fight like a survivor instead of like a man who wanted to be a champion. Never get tired. Never take a risk. Never attempt to get ANY offensive momentum going. I wouldn't care if the guy never fought again. He damn sure should never get a title shot again.
Oh, he Flinched allright and all night. It was a very dissapointing performance overall, but his defense was pretty good although sure a lot of athletic guys could do that if they concentrate exclusively on not getting hit
I still got a bit of respect for Johnson, he fought kind of scared but it was a massive step up for him, hes quite green and VK is the most dominant HW champ since Tyson (along with Lewis). He has skills and I watch him for that, with more experience will come confidence, ok hes not raging bull, balls to the wall, but he has skills
The defence was ok but if you don't throw anything back it kind of defeats the object. I think most fighters could fight in that way if they wanted but the point is to slip shots and counter. He aint no 'Sweet Pea'.
Before a big game I promised myself I would attack the basket but I ended up taking jumpers. Some mental blockade. Perhaps Johnson wanted to fight back but after absorbing Klitschkos first punch he couldnt pull the triger and fought scared.
