Klitschko.com - English

25
Nov
2009
Klitschko-Johnson on U.S. TV

It has been announced that HBO will televise the upcoming bout between undefeated heavyweight contender, Kevin “Kingpin” Johnson (22-0-1, 9 KOs) and Vitali Klitschko (38-2, 37 KOs) for the WBC heavyweight championship on December 12th. In addition to Johnson vs. Klitschko, which will take place at the PostFinance Arena in Bern, Switzerland, HBO will also be airing Victor Ortiz vs. Antonio Diaz and the rematch between Juan Diaz and Paulie Malignaggi from the UIC Pavilion in Chicago on HBO’s Boxing After Dark. The special duel site, triple header, will kick off at 10:15 PM with Oritz vs. Diaz, followed by Diaz vs. Malignaggi II. Immediately following Diaz vs. Malignaggi, HBO will air the WBC _title_ fight from Switzerland, tape delayed.

“I couldn’t be more happy or excited that HBO has decided to air my upcoming fight against Vitali Klitschko,” stated Johnson. “Now all of my fans here in the U.S. will have the opportunity to witness me becoming Heavyweight Champion. I want to thank HBO for this opportunity, and remind everyone to tune in On December 12th, to witness the Kingpin become THE NEW WBC Heavyweight Champion of the World.”

The Kevin Johnson vs. Vitali Klitschko fight for the WBC Heavyweight Championship of the World is promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing and K2 Promotions.

Kevin Johnson: “I can stand outside and box the hell out of Klitschko!”

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=22046&more=1
And to here Johnsons full interview skip to the 85:35 mark of the tape

Next up we were afforded the opportunity to have a nice chat with heavyweight contender Kevin Johnson. Here are some excerpts from this portion of the show:

On training and preparations for his upcoming fight with Vitali Klitschko:
“Things couldn’t be any better. Perfect. Wonderful.”

On whether or not he feels he is ready for challenging Klitschko:
“Oh yeah, 100%.”

On fighting outside of the United States for the first time in his professional career:
“It’s making me work harder so I could go over there and clarify this win.”

On being able to get inside on someone as big as Vitali:
“Well that’s the thing about this fight. I don’t have to worry about getting inside for this fight right here, because I don’t have to go to him. I have the reach advantage. I can stand outside and box the hell out of him all day.”

On having a back-up plan in a fight:
“Plan B, C, D, E, F, and G—you’re always supposed to have fifteen backup plans just in case one don’t work, you need another and another and another.”

On implementing his game plan against Klitschko:
“There’s several things I can do to beat the guy. You can’t really say what you’re going to do until you step into the ring and hear that bell ring.”

On what he believes is the key to beating Vitali Klitschko on December 12:
“Not getting hit.”

On his lack of amateur experience:
“If you know me and you do your research on me, you would know I have the best amateur background that anyone else would dream to have.”

Here's what Johnson had to say during today's press conference:


"Thank you i like to thank god 1st for put everything together; putting this fight into proper (inspection?). For me, I thought my toughest fight would actually not be this fight. I remember when I was down in Florida. I was coming from the Dominican Republic and I stopped and I seen Lennox Lewis in the airport, and I walked up to Lennox Lewis and I told Lennox I said do you know who I am? He said you look familiar. So, I went on to tell who I am. He said I heard about you. I told him: I say you're my biggest test. My dream is to fight you . You're the best heavyweight in the world and most dominant heavyweight in the world.

About a couple months ago me and Lennox enjoyed a ride and I asked him a couple questions about the fight with Viatli. How difficult was he? And in his mind he came up with the same answer I came up with: It's not difficult breaking down a robot. It's difficult building up one. My whole life I broken down a lot of things but I never rebuilt it. I can tear down anything. The easiest thing a man can do is tear down anything. The hardest thing another man can do is build up something else.

This is no problem for me. This is not a test nor a task. I've done this all my life. Me being the best boxer from the United States, that's just not being the best boxer. I've been blessed with 3 things that no man can ever beat. I'm standing here undefeated because those 3 things are so dominant. Nobody can ever stop me, nobody can ever touch me if i don't want to get touched, nobody can ever hit me if don't want to get hit. Nobody can ever outbox me. Why? Because I'm too superb. 20 years experience. Very superb. It's a difference. I got something that he don't got. Because when I walk away a winner December, 12th you'll know the things that i have. The whole world will be shocked, because nobody is expecting this. Nobody is expecting a 22 and 0 kid to destroy this guy the way I am going to destroy him. If the bout makes 10 rounds, if it makes 10 rounds; that's a big if, I don't think this bout will make even 9 rounds. I don't like to make predictions. I will say 9 rounds.

He's not ready. How do I know he's not ready. Cuz there's only 2 people in this whole world that can get him ready to fight me and no neither one of them was there to help. that was
Mohammed Ali and Larry Holmes, and if you didn't train(pointing at Vitali) with Mohammed Ali and Larry Holmes you hurt yourself. You're in good shape probably, but you're not ready for me. 1 thing. If you get that ring you better ride(?) it."


couldn't follow this incoherent mouth months ago how could that change now. Sounds like he try's to have a prepared speech but always gets drunk before delivering it; and it gets all jumbled up in his mind. I like this quote "My whole life I broken down a lot of things but I never rebuilt it. I can tear down anything. The easiest thing a man can do is tear down anything. The hardest thing another man can do is build up something else."

So is he saying he has down nothing special cause anybody could tear something down. And Hasn't Vitali built his record, career and legacy very nicely. Which in his words is the hardest thing a man can do. I have no Idea.
I really do expect a huge KO win pretty early or at worst 5-7rds(if Johnson pulls a Haye and runs)to send a message to David Gaye that he might want to wait a couple more years and hope Vitali's body, and skills eventually breaks down