What makes tonight’s boxing card at the Garden intriguing is its many subplots. The main objective is to add some clarity to a muddled heavyweight division, so that finding a worthy contender to Lennox Lewis’ throne won’t prove as difficult in 2004 as it was in 2003.
That’s why tonight is important for Vitali Klitschko and Kirk Johnson, who meet in the 12-round main event. It’s been sanctioned as a WBC eliminator; the winner will become the mandatory challenger to the belt now held by the semi-retired Lewis.
“That’s why it’s important to beat Johnson,” said Klitschko, the Ukrainian heavyweight, who is 32-2 with 31 KOs. “I’m not even thinking about Lewis right now.”
The 6-8 Klitschko earned a huge measure of credibility in America last June when he fought Lewis for the WBC title on short notice and was leading on all three judges’ scorecards when the fight was stopped after six rounds because of a nasty cut over Klitschko’s left eye. There were negotiations for a rematch, a bout that might have been held tonight at the Garden, but Lewis elected not to fight the remainder of 2003.
“If Lewis retires now, he’ll be known as the guy who won the decision but lost the [Klitschko] fight,” said Freddie Roach, one of Klitschko’s trainers. “People want to see the rematch, but Lennox acts like he’s oblivious.”
While Klitschko is fighting to position himself for another shot at Lewis, Johnson is fighting for his professional survival. Johnson (34-1-1, 25 KOs) lost a chance at the WBA heavyweight title in 2002 when he was disqualified for a low blow against John Ruiz.
Another opportunity was ruined last June when he injured a pectoral muscle and had to pull out of a non-title fight against Lewis, opening the door for Klitschko.
“I’ve been telling him it’s three strikes and he’s out,” said Dino Duva, Johnson’s promoter. “He’s got two strikes already. The way boxing is nowadays, you don’t get a lot of opportunities. This is it, and he knows it.”
Johnson, who weighed in at 260 Thursday with clothes on, will use his movement and speed to try to keep the 250-pound Klitschko off-balance. He has said he won’t look to reopen the cut over Klitschko’s left eye.
“It’s hard enough to hit a guy’s chin,” Johnson said. “How can I aim for a little cut? I’m just looking to land enough punches to win the fight.”
The co-feature bout could prove just as interesting. Baby Joe Mesi of Buffalo will put his unbeaten record (27-0, 25 KOs) on the line against Monte Barrett (29-2, 16 KOs) of Queens.
LAST FIVE FIGHTS:
Vitali Klitschko
Date opponent W/L
6/21/03 Lennox Lewis L-6 TKO*
11/23/02 Larry Donald W-10 TKO
2/8/02 Vaughn Bean W-11 TKO
12/8/01 Ross Puritty W-11 TKO
1/27/01 Orlin Norris W-1 KO
*for WBA heavyweight title
Kirk Johnson
Date opponent W/L
7/27/02 John Ruiz L-10 DQ
7/7/01 Larry Donald W-12 D
10/7/00 Oleg Maskaev W-4 TKO
3/20/99 Al Cole W-10 D
11/16/96Terry McGroom W-8 KO
Vitali Klitschko
Date opponent W/L round reason
6/21/03 Lennox Lewis L sixth TKO*
11/23/02 Larry Donald W tenth TKO
2/8/02 Vaughn Bean W eleventh TKO
12/8/01 Ross Puritty W eleventh TKO
1/27/01 Orlin Norris W first KO
*for WBA Heavyweight title
