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On the undercard of Goosen – Tutor’s Sam Soliman – Raul Munoz fight card last night from Pechanga Resort and Casino inTemecula, California, former heavyweight world title challenger Kirk Johnson met with Los Angeles area prospect Javier Mora. It was a big step up for Mora but Johnson, of Nova Scotia, Canada was continuing his comeback from a loss to Viatli Klitschko over two years ago.
Round one: The first round in this heavyweight clash starts with Johnson circling Mora from the outskirts of the ring popping the jab. Johnson lands his first big punch of the fight with a lead left uppercut that lands under the jaw of Mora. Johnson follows that up with a jab straight combo that once again connects. Mora recovers though but that isn’t stopping Johnson from landing at will, mostly with his straight right hand. With about a minute left in the round Mora lands a left hook that connects flush to Johnson’s jaw. Johnson looks unaffected however and continues circling the ring popping the jab. Johnson closes the round with a big straight right hand that lands.
Round two: Johnson looks more out of shape this fight then he has in any of his previous fights, including the Vitali Klitschko fight. Mora might be trying to take advantage of this by stalking Johnson and making him circle the ring jabbing, which is what he has been doing the first minute and a half of the fight. Johnson lands with an uppercut to the body halfway through the round, and then goes on to continue circling the ring and jabbing for the remainder of the round. He dominated that round with his jab.
Round three: The round starts with Mora charging out of his corner and landing an overhand right almost immediately. Johnson answers with an overhand right that dazed Mora. Mora recovers on the ropes and continues ti try to get inside and past the hard jab of Johnson. He is having more success doing so this round but 2 minutes through the round he has still been unable to land on the inside. Johnson lands a straight right hand that wobbles Mora, Mora is in big trouble as Johnson is teeing off on Mora with a barrage of straight right ! hands. This looks like it might be the end of Mora if he can’t hold on for the last 20 seconds of the round. Mora presses himself against the ropes and throws a loopy right hook that is countered with another straight right hand. Mora is definitely hurt but he survived this round.
Round four: Kirk Johnson comes out of his corner and immediately lands another straight hand as Mora still looks hurt. Mora presses forward though and has slightly stunted the Johnson onslaught by firing right hands and left hooks of his own. Johnson really looks like he isn’t going for the kill in this round, instead choosing to counterpunch and use the jab. Both fighters looked like they are taking this round to catch their breath. As the round closes Mora fires an overhand right that connects to the top of Johnson’s head.
Round f! ive: The round starts with the two meeting on the ropes and John son landing a quick counter right hand as he circles back towards center ring. However, Mora keeps coming straight ahead and walks into a big left hook that was partially blocked by Mora. Mora doesn’t look hurt though and lands a left hook to Johnson’s jaw with his back to the ropes. Johnson doesn’t look so accurate this round and with 30 seconds left in the round is hit with a massive straight right hand that sends Kirk stumbling all the way across the ring. Mora swarms him and lands again with a straight right hand. Kirk is definitely hurt. Mora catches him yet another time with a straight right hand while Johnson was backing straight out of the Mora onslaught. Mora survives the scare but is on wobbly legs.
Round six: Mora charges Johnson right from the bell and Johnson immediately tries to clinch after getting hit with yet another straight right hand. Johnson is really plodding! this round and is getting hit with an amazingly high frequency by Mora’s power shots. With a minute left in the round Mora lands a left hook that sends Johnson’s hands to his sides and stumbling forward. He looks out of it but he is managing to clinch and buy time. As another horrendous round for Johnson closes, he lands a left hook that gets him out of trouble on the ropes.
Round seven: Johnson comes out of this round slipping and sliding on the mats, and motions for the ref to do something. Johnson is staying out of trouble early and actually lands the first two power shots of the round, a straight right hand followed by right hook. Johnson slips yet again on the mat and falls down this time and his knee comes completely out of place. Johnson is on the floor screaming in pain and for good reason, his knee is completely out of socket. The fight comes to an end because Johnson is unable t! o continue.
Javier Mora improves to 20-2-1 (18) while Kirk Johnson falls to 36-3-1 (26).
