This is my continuing list of fights I watched on HBO through the years.
101. Vitali Klitschko vs. Kirk Johnson. December 6, 2003. Klitschko was making his first appearance in the ring since his loss to Lennox Lewis in June. His opponent from Madison Square Garden in New York City was Kirk Johnson, who I thought would be a serious contender for the title one day. He came in way overweight at 260 lbs. against Klitschko, proving to me he was a lazy slob, and fittingly got knocked out in the sixth. Klitschko immediately started crying for a rematch with Lewis, who retired the next month, and never fought again.
102. Vladmir Klitschko vs. Lamon Brewster. April 10, 2004. As I tuned in to watch this one from the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, I had serious doubts about Klitschko because of his soft chin. This one only proved me right, because after winning the first four rounds, two left hooks dropped Vladmir in the fifth. He got up, but hit the canvas again as round closed, forcing the referee to call it off. Klitschko had a great physique and punch, but had no chin. You can’t be a real champion with no chin, and time would prove me right.
103. Vitali Klitschko vs. Corrie Sanders. April 24, 2004. Corrie Sanders had shocked everyone when he knocked out Vitali’s younger brother Vladmir, so this bout from the Staples Center in Los Angeles was a chance for him to exact his revenge. There was plenty of action, with both men trading big shots, but by the eighth, Sanders was bleeding and ready to go. Vitali landed a fuselage of punches, forcing the referee to halt the action, and the revenge was complete.
104. Roy Jones Jr. vs. Glen Johnson. September 25, 2004. My brother and I watched this one from the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee, certain that Roy would get back on track after his KO defeat to Antonio Tarver on May 15. I stared in amazement as Jones sat on the ropes, refusing to engage in any action, letting Johnson attack him round after round. Jim Lampley and Larry Merchant both wondered what Jones was doing, and if he even wanted to fight anymore. In the ninth, a long right hand followed by a left hook, dropped Jones and knocked him out cold. He laid on the canvas for 30 minutes, before he got up with assistance. When I saw Roy knocked out by Tarver, I called it the ‘Death of a King.’ This was indescribable, and I sat and looked at my TV with no words at all, just speechless.
105. Lamon Brewster vs. Andrew Golota. May 21, 2005. This one was short and sweet from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The ‘Polish Dumbell’ was knocked with three left hooks in the first round, and was counted out just 53 seconds in. After this pathetic effort, I never wanted to waste my time to watch this idiot again.
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