Sports
Kevin Johnson
Klitschko up against the “best heavyweight in the world”
Published 28 October, 2009, 18:49
Edited 03 November, 2009, 20:35
When WBC champ Vitaly Klitschko of Ukraine enters the ring to face Kevin Johnson, he’ll be up against the best heavyweight in the world, says Joe DeGuardia, the US boxer’s promoter.
The bout to be held in Switzerland on December 12 will become the first title shot in Johnson’s career.
“We have been trying to get the biggest, most meaningful fights for Kevin for some time now. He is the man that everyone has avoided,” DeGuardia, Star Boxing President/CEO, told Boxingscene.com.
“You have to give Vitaly a lot of credit for accepting such a dangerous challenge that he could have easily avoided. I do believe Kevin is the best heavyweight in the world right now, and on December 12 the world will be able to witness it,” he added.
The 30-year-old Johnson holds the record of 22 wins and just one defeat, and is currently ranked sixth by the WBC.
The American came into focus after an impressive sixth-round TKO of previously unbeaten ex-Olympian Devin Vargas last May.
“Kevin has a jab that is the best in heavyweight boxing today and speed that is unlike any other fighter Vitaly has faced. Couple all of that with the fact that he actually has a longer reach than Vitaly – 82 inches to 80 – and you can see that he has the tools that the others haven’t,” DeGuardia said.
The fight against Johnson will be Klitschko’s third defense of the WBC title, which he regained after beating Samuel Peter of Nigeria in September 2008, and his first appearance in the ring after beating another American, Chris Arreola, on September 26.
