Archives: Lewis vs. Kirk Johnson Press Conference Report 2003

Scoop Malinowski: Lewis vs. Johnson Press Conference!

By Scoop Malinowski

Los Angeles, CA – It’s official now. The Great Emperor is returning to guard his throne on June 21st in Los Angeles.

Lennox Lewis – with Rocky Marciano – is the only World Heavyweight Champion who has conquered every man he has ever fought. He has chosen Kirk Johnson as the challenger.

The show will go on at the Staples Center with or without Mike Tyson on the undercard (supposedly against Oleg Maskaev). Promoters said ticket prices are still to be determined, dependent on Tyson’s appearance on the attraction. Tyson has a deadline, reportedly tomorrow afternoon.

This promises be an intriguing night of boxing. Lewis is without question one of the great heavyweight champions of all time – George Foreman and Muhammad Ali have both publically called Lennox “the greatest.” He is coming off the most important victory of his long career, the KO of Tyson last June.

The X-factor of the event is that Lewis is 37 now. Though he is a fresh 37 – his masterful style has prevented him from having ever taken a brutal beating – he is still 37. With about 25 consecutive years in this taxing sport. Joe Louis was 37 when he got knocked out by Rocky Marciano. Muhammad Ali was 36 when Leon Spinks decisioned him in Las Vegas in 1978.

There is the feeling in the air that maybe now Lewis has really nothing left to prove. His motivation may not be the same anymore, there isn’t that great challenge to look ahead to.

That is the great question about this fight. Does the great Lennox Lewis still have it? Will complacence strike Lewis again? Will Lewis be able to rouse his greatness once again to turn back the huge underdog Kirk Johnson?

There were lots of interesting comments yesterday in Los Angeles. Here are some of them:

Kirk Johnson: “I have the chance to show the world Kirk Johnson is the best heavyweight on the planet. And June 21st will be my night.”

“I’ve met Lennox two times in my life. The first time was when I was 15 and he was getting ready to go to the 1988 Olympics. He told me to throw the left hook to the body then come up to the head. I saw him again at the Foreman-Morrison fight. He said to me basically, ”Nuff respect, keep doing what you can do.'”

Someone asked Johnson, ‘I want to hear it from you, are you gonna knock Lennox Lewis out?”

Kirk’s reply was, “I’m going to go in there and fight a great fight.”

It wasn’t nearly as persuasive an answer as I recall Oliver McCall’s unforgettable verbal assault of Lewis in London at their press conference before there fight in 1994. McCall stepped up to the podium and glared down at Lewis, “I’m gonna knock you out. I’m gonna KNOCK YOU OUT! I’M GONNA KNOCK YOU OUT!!!” Lewis looked up at McCall, who was almost yelling at him in a confident but hostile tone. Lewis had an uncomfortable expression on his face, as if he was absorbing McCall’s words. Of course, we all know what happened a few days later. It turned out to be an important learning experience in many ways for the young Lewis.

Adrian Ogun, Lewis’ business manager: “We communicated a tremendous offer of $4 million to fight Vitali Klitschko. I don’t know if it was passed on properly from promoter to fighter.”

Emanuel Steward: “I expect a dangerous fight from Kirk Johnson. We’re not taking him lightly. I expect a good, competitive fight. He has a lot of speed and power. I’ve encouraged Lennox to keep boxing because a lot of the other great fighters at this stage of their careers were struggling, they were getting hit a lot. Lennox rarely gets hit, even in sparring. I think he’s fighting at his best now. You have not seen the best of him yet. Out of what’s coming out of the amateur program, I could see Lennox holding on to the heavyweight championship for as long as he wants. I could see him fighting for another two or three years.”

“Lennox asked me if I had a preference, of him fighting Kirk Johnson or Vitali Klitschko. I said no. Vitali probably brings more exposure and marketability. But Kirk is more dangerous. Vitali is clumsy and awkward, maybe an easier fight. Kirk Johnson has never really lost a fight. Ruiz didn’t really beat him. Ruiz is good at winning fights he doesn’t really win. This, to me – Kirk Johnson – is the more exciting fight.”

“I think the Lennox Lewis-Roy Jones fight will happen down the line.”

Lennox Lewis: “I think he’s very dangerous and well deserving of a chance to fight for the world heavyweight championship. I think Kirk Johnson is a more exciting fighter than Chris Byrd. Kirk is a knockout puncher. People don’t want to see pecking in there. They want to see sweat coming from your head when you’re hit. Kirk Johnson is very

hungry at this time. I’m expecting him to come out after me to get my title.”

“I’m not worried about Mike Tyson. I’m worried about myself being heavyweight champion for a long time.”

“I had time to rest, to sit back. I feel people are still crying out to see Lennox Lewis. They’re saying, Don’t retire, don’t retire. That motivates me (to come back and defend my title). I’m still young. There is still some great fights in me. There’s still some work to be done. I’m the man for the job. I’m the king right now. People are just excited to see me.”

“I’ve still been training. I’m here. I’m prepared. I’m going to camp in the Poconos right after this. I’m in great shape now.”

“Let me get past Kirk Johnson first then I’ll give you my plans.”

“I believe Vitali Klitschko definitely does want to fight me. But his promoter wants to be bigger than him.”

“I’m a five-dimension fighter. I feel Kirk Johnson is a three-dimension fighter.”

About Corrie Sanders’ KO over Wladimir Klitschko…”I said I was going to have one Klitschko for breakfast and one for lunch. He basically took away my breakfast.”