Carl Johannesson v Ricky Burns RBR - British Super Featherweight belt

OK, so another cold Friday night, and as I shiver at my keyboard, I still manage to focus enough to type this stuff out! Here's the roundup:

Carl Johanneson (25-2, 18KOs) - Since winning his belt in a dominant performance against Billy Corcoran last July, Johanneson has been angling for the Alex Arthur fight he's been demanding for years. In November he finished game Bradford fighter Femi Fehintola in 6 in what I thought was an impressively disciplined performance from the Leeds man. He's clearly got the KO capability as he's shown in his past two fights, and he will be looking for another big win tonight against Alex Arthur victim Burns to prove that he is worth a shot at a world belt as much as Arthur is. I expect his combination of calm, accurate powerful punching to be a little too much for Ricky Burns.

Ricky Burns (15-1, 3KOs) - Without doubt Burns' biggest fight to date was his 'Braveheart' battle of scotland with Alex Arthur back in February of last year, where he put up a very good fight but was eventually outclassed over the 12. The concern is that since then Burns has taken two easy bouts against journeymen, whereas before the fight he had points wins over to-be world challenger Graham Earl and against the unbeaten Colin Bain. His power is certainly questionable from the record, but I expect Burns to be durable, but to eventually crumple under the force of Johanneson.

Start Time : 10pm UK time, 5pm EST

Okay, so its off to Leeds Town Hall for fight time. Should only be a few minutes now, they're putting up the previews and unsurprisingly, Carl Johanneson isn't really saying too much. Fair play to ITV, they got a full sentence out of him. Carl also looks very hard in training. Burns has already said: "We'll see how he likes not being able to hit me". Already looks like Burns will have his running shoes on.

Ricky Burns getting the traditional leeds welcome of a chorus of boos. Johanneson always seems to look a little sheepish, but he's getting a great round of applause, and he will be as calm as ever im sure.

Round 1:

Johanneso with a high guard and long jabs catching Burns, and Burns looking for the clinches. Burns swinging and finding the guard. Good left hook catches Johanneson's guard dipping. Two good body shots from Johansson, Burns not throwing much so far. Swinging right from miles away misses Burns, but a pair of hooks to the body do. Nice uppercuts on the inside from Johanneson, but Burns with a hook. Burns is holding his guard up on the inside, and is outworking and outpunching Burns so far.

Good round for Johanneson.
10-9

Round 2:

Johan openning up with good jabsm and then hooks on the inside wearing down Burns. Burns comes back with some gentle jabs and a hook. Johan looking great on the indide with hooks and more of those vicious uppercuts straight up the middle. Burns looking to hang on when Johanneson gets near, and his face is alwready reddened. Nice straight right from Johan. Burnswith a pair of hooks to the body. Mre body hooks from Burns, although he is looking to hold when Johan comes near, and then loose his hands when Johan breaks the clinch.

Johanneson again for me.
20-18.

Round 3:

Johanneson starts fast with more jabs, and hooking to the body. Big rights from Johanneson, burns coming back with a few straight shots but Johanneson walking straight through. Good uppercut from Johanneson. Two body shots and a hook to the head from Burns as Johanneson covers up for a rest. Lots more hooks from Johan, and a nice uppercut. They seem to be covering up when the opposition starts swinging, but Johan getting the better of it. Burns starting to slide to each side now.

Anohter Johannseon round, but Burns cominginto it a little.

30-27

Round 4:

Johanneson taking a few shots from Burns early on, Burns looking to dodge a few more. Nice body shot from Johanneson. Burns connects with two choppy uppercuts but Johan unfazed. Burns clings to Jojan as he connects to the body time and again. Big left hook from Johanneson. Burns replies with a right hook. Nice straight right from Johan. Burns still looking to cling, ut is warned by the ref for pushing his oppositions arms down with elbws.

Another Johanneson round, and its already looking bleak for Burns

40-36

Round 5:

Some nice jabs from Burns keep Johanneson at distance, but he's soon back on the inside with his head down and ripping body shots. Nice uppercut on the inside from Burns, but no reaction from Johan. Johan's punches on the inside starting to look tired, and a couple more hooks from Burns is a bit better for him. Weak right on the way in doesn't hurt Johan as more body shots. Burns swings some rights and Johan looks to clinch for the first time, but comes back with some good hooks. Burns' nose bloodied and his face looks very red.

Johanneson takes it on sheer workrate and will.

50-45

Round 6:

Burns opens up with some nice swinging hooks to start. Johanneson looks to come inside, and is spoken to by the ref. Nice uppercut by Johanneson. Nice right from Johanneson, and Burns starting to look to back off even more. Burns with a high guard on the ropes, as Johanneson loosens off 5 or 6 hooks to the body. Nice hook to the head from Johanneson, although he is using his shoulders a fair bit pushing Burns back. Burns comes out of another Johanneson flurry with some hooks, but Johanneson is simply putting the higher workrate in, though his accuracy is not up there with his last performance.

Johanneson goes 6 rounds up.

60-54

Round 7:

Nice straight right from Johanneson, body shots follow up. Burns throws some decent shots, but Johanneson doesn't seem to feel them. Hooks on the inside, but a uppercut missed by Johanneson let Burns in with a hook. Big left hook as Burns backtracks puts him down, takes an 8 count then springs back up. Johanneson encouraged, big hooks to the body. Burns cvomes back with five big hooks. Johanneson swinging huge hooks to the body and knocks Burns back, 10 unanswered, then a single hook saves Burns from the ref IMO. More body shots, but Burns throws another 3 or 4 hooks, Johanneson surges forward again.

Burns did well to survive.

70-62

CC 307 Rhun. Not much interest in this one other then the fact that I have Johanneson in the prediction contest ;D

Round 8:

Some hooks from Burns, and he swings some good body shots. Johanneson not throwing quite as much on the inside, but those hooks to the body are winning the fight. Johanneson caught on the way in with a left hook, but Johanneson keeping up the workrate, and blood still streaming from Burns' nose. Johan misses with two big uppercuts. Burns swings with 6 big body hooks, but Johan comes back with the work on the inside, They're both looking tired now, but Johan recovers and swings back, but caught again by a Burns hook.

Burns recovering well, but ill give him a tied round from my generosity.

80-72

Quote:

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Originally Posted by amat

CC 307 Rhun. Not much interest in this one other then the fact that I have Johanneson in the prediction contest ;D

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Johanneson don't talk too much, and isn't the most charismatic of boxers, so I think that may count against him.

Round 9:

Burns loosing off a few hooks again, but is caught with a very nice left hook by Johanneson. Burns covers up and backpedals. Anoher good shot puts burns on his knees again with a huge left hook to the body. another 8 count, and Johan comes in with body shots to try and finish. Johan has to cover up as burns throws some big shots trying to come back and uinload, ut he doesn't have the power.. Uppercut on the inside by Burns. Johan throws some jabs for the first time since round 3. More body shots on the bell from Johanneson.

90-80

cc#309 superheavy for the rd by rd..... 8)

Sounds to me like Johan. is dominating the fight....

Sounds like hes been really busy.... Hope his stamina can hold up....

This is a 12 rounder so theres still a few rds. there.... Come on Johan.... :)