"Too Sharp" was seemingly ducked by just about everyone around his weight class in his prime years, from Tapia to Michael Carbajal. He isn't discussed much around here, but besides a point loss in his second professional fight the man was undefeated for a decade in two weight classes, and only beaten anywhere near his prime (past it, realistically) by a massive bantam in Marquez. So, discussion? He upset a red hot P4P guy in Fernando Montiel while well past his best, a last great performance similar to Michael Carbajal against Arce.
Most definitely one of my alltime favs from the lower weights. Such a supremely gifted athletic talent, with some truly astounding handspeed. I dont know so much about him getting ducked...by 97 he was already talking of retirement and he didnt really have a hell of a lot of rivals around that realistic options. From memory either Asian or Asian based and South American fighters held the other trinkets at fly. I remember him talking of Carbajal...and maybe even Carbajal talking about him. But Michael was all over the place promotionally and by the stage Mark was coming up, his career was winding up. Aside from that later win against Arce. Would have been great to see Johnson in with the likes of Arbachakov or Sasakul..and especially Tapia or even Romero. Really is a shame...he is a guy who is hard to rank because he was so awesomely talented and dominant against an ok crop of fighters but he really never tested his talents against truly good fighters.
I'd love to see his fight with Jimenez, who was a very solid fighter himself. Was supposed to have ran Mark very close in it, although I suppose Johnson may've been a tad green. As a criticism, for someone so often lauded as a slickster, he never did seem to have the kind of feet that many others are noted for. He could close the distance very quickly for his combinations, but otherwise he seemed rather flat-footed, so it's difficult to gauge how he'd do against the more talented pressure fighters.
I thought he was generally more of a offensive fighter than he was a slickster...I mean he could be slick but like say someone like Mosley he didnt blend it that well nor do I remember him being that sensationally slick in full defensive mode...A lot of it had to do with him offsetting his opponent with his blinding speed of hand IMO.
Johnson was an excellent boxer puncher. Him and Timmy Austin were my favorites to watch at the lower weights. If you like Johnson watch some of Austins fights.
He showed how good he was when he beat Rafael Marquez (imo) after having spent years in prison. his in-fighting is some of the best
Mark Johnson is posibly one of the most under appreaciated fighters of his generation.. When he was champ i always had him in my top 5 Pfp. I was a regular at many of his fights at the forum and pretty much saw all his fights coming up. HE was dominant and was the complete package.Maybe the best fights ive seen in the lighter divisions was Johnson- Albert Jiminez(another underappreaciated guy) a fight that could have gone either way. He had Excellent Speed,Big power,good Chin,great ring general, at times he was like Shane Mosley a highly skilled fighter that fought like his Mexican opponents, but when Johnson wanted too he could be slick.. HTH Mark Johnson is the best flyweight that i have ever seen, and at Super Bantam id make a fight between him and a prime Johnny Tapia even money..... IMO he is a first ballot HOF, but he will probably have to wait a few years, since he seems to be forgotten.
IMO Johnson was clearly the better fighter, Austin was kind of chinny.. Johnson had an excellent Beard didnt show any vulnerabilities to the end of his career, and even then he was beating Montiel and giving Rafa Marquez all he could handle.
I gave him 5~6 rounds I think and a couple of even rounds. the point deductions made it a bit awkward. one of the best BW fights of the decade imo
