Vitali Klitschko Third Defense, A 12 Round
Unanimous Decision Over Kevin Johnson!

By: Derrick Liner
December 12th, Post Finance Arena, Berne, Switzerland: “Dr. Ironfist,"          Vitali Klitschko retained his WBC heavyweight title winning a twelve round unanimous decision over Kevin “Kingpin” Johnson.

The 38-year old Klitschko, 37 Ko’s in 41 fights making his third defense fighting just 11 weeks after beating Cristobal “Nightmare” Arreola champion could never land his usual big shots. Whether it was the rapid turn around or Johnson’s defensive game plan the 6′ 7½″ champion could never land his patented right hand cleanly or heavy enough to finish the job.

The champion fought behind a stiff jab looking to find a spot for his big right hand keeping the mostly defensive Johnson to the ropes for most of the fight. The big Klitschko right would never fall with Johnson fighting out of a defensive shell looking to catch the bigger stronger Klitschko coming in. Klitschko head hunting landed several overhand rights usually partially picked off by the Johnson defense.
The light punching Johnson scored with periodic jabs and rights adding an occasional hook but never really mounted any offensive assault. The “Kingpin”would alternate between survival mode and a taunting mode trying to lure the champion in but the undefeated challenger could never find his mark or get off with any real combinations.

Johnson would make one last play in the final round to lure the champion in tapping his chin as if to say you can’t stop me. The lure was unsuccessful but it provided the best action of the fight as the two traded in the middle of the ring until the final bell.

Referee Kenny Bayless played no part in the out come and the judges scores were announced judge Guido Cavalleri 119-109, judge Fabian Guggenheim 120-108 judge and Omar Mintun 120-108 all for “Dr. Ironfist” allowing him to hold on to his WBC belt and move him to 39-2, 37Ko’s. Johnson suffered his first loss falling to 22-1, 9Ko’s.