WBC champion Vitali Klitschko (39-2, 38KOs) continued his dominance of the heavyweight division with another easy unanimous decision victoory over formerly undefeated challenger Kevin Johnson (22-1-1, 9KOs) moments ago at the PostFinance Arena in Berne, Switzerland. The win marked the third time this year that Klitschko has successfully defended the title he won back after returning from nearly a 4-year layoff.
PREFIGHT
Like a scene out of Studio 54, German singer, songwriter and producer Jan Delay was on hand to perform his hit single "Disko" prior to the fighters making their entrances. The challenger, Kevin Johnson, made his way to the ring first to the sounds of Michael Jackson's "Make That Change". He'll have to face more than just the man in the mirror tonight. He looks somewhat confident, but he does have a look of uncertainty on his face. The champion, Vitali Klitschko, enters next to the sounds of AC/DC's "Hells Bells". He looks extremely focused and ready.
ROUND 1
Klitschko immediately starts walking Johnson down carrying his left hand low. Johnson circling. Jab to the body lands for Johnson. Klitschko answers. Johnson eats a right against the ropes. Johnson electing to stay up against the ropes for some reason, doing a poor man's James Toney impersonation. Klitschko looks a little confused. Johnson lands a couple more jabs to the body. Klitschko lands a right over the top. Left hook lands for Klitschko. Another left hook lands to the body for Klitschko. Interesting round won by Klitschko.
Klitschko 10 Johnson 9
ROUND 2
Both men trade jabs to start the round. Johnson backs right back up to the ropes. Nice 1-2 lands for Klitschko. Jab lands for Klitschko. Johnson talks a little smack to Klitschko against the ropes. Right hand from Klitschko grazes Johnson, but he rolled with it. Johnson making Klitschko miss a lot against the ropes, but he is landing his share. Pitty-pat jab and a irght lands for Klitschko. Johnson's awkwardness making it a little hard for Klitschko to land solid. Right hand lands for Klitschko. Johnson lands a jab upstairs. Round to Klitschko.
Klitschko 20 Johnson 18
ROUND 3
Again, Johnson backs up to the ropes as Klitschko walks him down. 1-2 lands for Klitschko. Lead straight right lands for Klitschko. Left hook lands for Klitschko. Johnson lands a jab. Another right hand lands for Klitschko. 1-2 lands for Klitschko. Johnson not offering much. Johnson backs up to a corner and eats a right. He shakes his head to taunt Klitschko, but fires nothing in return. 1-2 lands for Klitschko. Johnson lands a jab. Klitschko peppers him with another 1-2. They trade jabs. Round to Klitschko.
Klitschko 30 Johnson 27
ROUND 4
Klitschko backs him up to the ropes again. Jab lands for Klitschko. Johnson answers with one of his own. Left hook and a right hand lands for Klitschko. Both men missing with a lot of punches now. I literally feel my eyelids getting heavy right now. Johnson continues to back up to the ropes and roll with Klitschko's punches. Double jab lands for Johnson. Johnson just kissed his glove and taunted Klitschko again. Both men stare each other down at the end of the round. Round to Klitschko. Johnson simply isn't doing anything in there except rolling with punches and landing an occassional jab. I'm not sure exactly what he's trying to accomplish in there...maybe take him into deep water and see what he can do. I do give him credit for having some pretty slippery defense though.
Klitschko 40 Johnson 36
ROUND 5
Klitschko lands a right hand. Jab lands for Klitschko. Johnson answers with a jab of his own. Another. Another. 1-2 lands for Klitschko. Right hand lands for Klitschko against the ropes. Jab to the body lands for Johnson. They trade jabs. Ugly and boring round, but a round won by Klitschko.
Klitschko 50 Johnson 45
ROUND 6
Again, Johnson backs up to the ropes, inviting Klitschko in. I don't think I've seen Johnson throw any other punch except the jab. Klitschko lands a grazing right hand. Another. Now Johson FINALLY lands a left hook upstairs. Another nice left hand lands for Johnson. Klitschko bounces a right off the top of Johnson's head. 1-2 lands for Klitschko. Klitschko peppers him with a couple of uppercuts. End of round. Round to Klitschko.
Klitschko 60 Johnson 54
ROUND 7
"Just let your hands go," was the advice given to Johnson in the corner. Klitschko coomes out and blasts a right hand down the middle. Another. Johnson backs up to the ropes. Nice right hand upstairs lands for Klitschko again. Johnson lands a jab to the body. Klitschko lands a right. They trade right hands. They trade jabs. Johnson lands a jab. Another. Klitschko lands a right upstairs again. Round to Klitschko.
Klitschko 70 Johnson 63
ROUND 8
More of the same. Somebody wake me when something actually happens. Klitschko lands a couple of left hooks as Johnson crouches down. Right hand lands for Klitschko. Johnson getting a little winded in there. Another right hand lands for Klitschko. Another BIG right hand lands for Klitschko. Johnson backs up. Johnson offering aboslutely positively nothing. I mean, if you're going to go out, at LEAST go out swinging...make a fight out of it. 1-2 lands or Klitschko. Johnson just eats it. Jab to the body lands for Johnson. Klitschko just brushes it off with a grin and continues to walk down Johnson and batter him against the ropes. Round to Klitschko.
Klitschko 80 Johnson 72
ROUND 9
Johnson just circling the ring now; perhaps in survival mode. Big right hand lands for Klitschko. 1-2 to the body lands for Johnson. Stiff jab from Klitschko snaps the head back of Johnson. 1-2 lands for Klitschko. Nice left hook upstairs sneak in for Klitschko as Johnson was crouching down. Round to Klitscho. Johnson looks like he's packed it in for the night. Where's Pinklon Thomas, Tim Witherspoon or Razor Ruddock when you need them...geesh!
Klitschko 90 Johnson 81
ROUND 10
Johnson backs up to the ropes again and ducks and dodges about 20 imaginary punches that were never thrown. Klitschko lands a right. Johnson just slides back and forth along the ropes as Klitschko peppers him with jabs and right hands. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! BOOOOOOOOOOOO! They trade jabs. BOOOOOOOOOOO! Right hand lands for Klitschko. Johnson continues to just duck and dodge punches. Right hand lands for Klitschko to end the round.
Klitschko 100 Johnson 90
ROUND 11
The pattern continues...Johnson against the ropes duckin' and dodgin' while Klitschko peppers him with jabs and right hands. Oooooo...Johnson lands a right to the body. Pfffff! Right hand lands for Klitschko. 1-2 lands for Klitschko. Nice right hand from Klitscko blasts Johnson in the head. 1-2 lands for Klitschko. They trade jabs. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Again, they trade jabs. Another right hand lands for Klitschko. I can't actually believe Johnson had the nerve to talk smack at the end of the round. His performance here is HORRIBLE and not worth talking smack about. I think he's actually impressed himself with the fact that he's still standing. Round to Klitschko.
Klitschko 110 Johnson 99
ROUND 12
Yep...you guesssed it...Johnson to the ropes and Klitschko peppers him with punches. Awwwww...now Klitschko is talking some smack, raising his right hand to the crowd while firing his jab. Johnson talks smack back, tapping his chin and begging Klitschko to hit it. This, my friends, is absolutely pathetic. I think this may tie Chris Byrd vs. DaVarryl Williamson as one of the worst heavyweight fights I've ever seen. If you've actually read this far, then you must feel my pain by now. Jab lands for Klitschko. Right hand lands for Klitschko. They trade a quick 1-2. Klitschko continues to land his 1-2. Now Johnson has the nerve to try and flurry. End of round. Round to Klitschko.
Klitschko 120 Johnson 108
Official judges scorecards: 120-108, 120-108, 119-109
THE WINNER BY UNANIMOUS DECISION....AND STILL WBC HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD....VITALI KLITSCHKO
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