ok, i've watched this quick, and by most accounts, insignificant fight over and over on youtube. here is the video
now, right off the bat, i noticed that both mens hands were not protecting their faces very well. and what's funny about this is kirk keeps trying to go to the body when vitali's hands are so below his face. another thing i'm noticing is that kirk keeps backing up giving vitali the distance advantage. it doesn't look like vitali is trying to fight tall against kirk, he seems to be brawling with him. hmm, it is very bad if you are the shorter guy and the taller guy has the power advantage. so, what would you say would have improved kirk's chances in this fight?
i would say that he should have jabbed more and went to the head, because vitali's hands were very low and easily blocking body punches. also, his hands should have been much higher. i mean, it seems this fat ass is relying on his "reflexes" or something to evade punches. this guy is not roy jones and the style even caught up to roy jones.
i guess it was useless to pose this question to people who are just fans of boxing. (i know you've boxed before brooklyn) but with responses like "not much" after i've seen holyfield vs. lewis 2 just doesn't show a technical knowledge of boxing. but i'm guilty of this myself...
Oh and make no mistake, Kirk Johnson was a very good fighter when he actually cared about boxing. Good reflexes, fast hands and big punch.
Could of been a champion in this age if he had the dedication and mental fortitude. He KO'd current WBC Maskaev in convincing fashion, he had the talent.
I dont think he could have done much, but like Brooklyn said, come in 20lb lighter.
Every punch he threw went over vitalis head, or vitali kept his head back so it never conected.
Vitali always fights with his hands low but it's very dangerous to assume that he is easy to hit in the head. His leaning back and overhand rights while opponent is coming in, are dangerous and confusing to the fighter.