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I think whomever best controls the pace of the fight between Dempsey & Johnson would be the one who ultimately came out on top, and in that case I think Johnson would have the edge in controlling the tempo...
I could see him mostly neutralizing Dempsey's early round aggression with his excellant strength in the clinches, a few left jabs & right crosses from distance, blocking/parrying the punches that Dempsey does get off (which wouldn't be as many as we normally saw, I don't think), and a little bit of footwork & reflexes in avoiding...Dempsey could be outfinessed if his opponent was reluctant to trade with him and fought more of the defensive game over the first few rounds, as we saw in the Tunney (past his best, but still), Brennan, Meehan, etc., which seemed to be Johnson's normal style in the early going...
Once Dempsey's aggression is reduced some, it's then I could see Johnson start taking over the fight as he starts throwing with more meaning on the inside when within clinching range, particularily with the excellant right uppercuts he possessed, and what seemed to be his favourite right uppercut/left hook combination.
Dempsey would always be dangerous in the fight and he could certainly hurt or drop Johnson for a count at some point in the point...but I like Johnson to overcome Dempsey's possible edge over the early rounds to take the close decision at the end of 15 rounds.
I could see him mostly neutralizing Dempsey's early round aggression with his excellant strength in the clinches, a few left jabs & right crosses from distance, blocking/parrying the punches that Dempsey does get off (which wouldn't be as many as we normally saw, I don't think), and a little bit of footwork & reflexes in avoiding...Dempsey could be outfinessed if his opponent was reluctant to trade with him and fought more of the defensive game over the first few rounds, as we saw in the Tunney (past his best, but still), Brennan, Meehan, etc., which seemed to be Johnson's normal style in the early going...
Once Dempsey's aggression is reduced some, it's then I could see Johnson start taking over the fight as he starts throwing with more meaning on the inside when within clinching range, particularily with the excellant right uppercuts he possessed, and what seemed to be his favourite right uppercut/left hook combination.
Dempsey would always be dangerous in the fight and he could certainly hurt or drop Johnson for a count at some point in the point...but I like Johnson to overcome Dempsey's possible edge over the early rounds to take the close decision at the end of 15 rounds.
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