Last nite’s ESPN FNF delivered unbeaten American heavyweight strangers in its feature attraction - the Joey Tessitore opening pitch, supported in part by color commentator Teddy “tutor” Atlas, saw something special in Kevin Johnson vs. Devin Vargas. 

Special that is, in both being Yankee Doodle heavies in a world of foreign dominates with surnames Klitschko, Chagaev, Povetkin, Valuev, Ibragimov, Dimitrenko, among others - thus the winner would step closer to serious recognition, while the loser would remain anonymous. 

Johnson enters at 21-0-1, 8 KO’s - Vargas at 17-0, 7KO’s - both tall at 6’3 and scaling in over 220 pounds - we’re told Vargas a late sub - but much being made over his amateur career of over 200 fights and being past Olympian. 

Then the bell and Vargas the quicker out of the gate - tossing wild left and right hands targeting both body and head - some landed, others blocked by a defensive minded Johnson. 

It must also be said, those Vargas offerings that found the target resulted in zero damage - and more amateur in delivery than classic combinations. Come stanza three it would be the one carrying the sobriquet “Kingpin” on the offense. 

Johnson working off the jab and backed with text book combinations and Vargas is down - survives the stanza but it was clear the night would belong to Johnson - a round five barrage and Vargas again is dropped to the canvas. 

The signs were evident to all viewers that this one would not go the distance - the Toledo based Vargas body language was telling the rest of the story - gestures that his left ear no longer had feeling, coupled with a look the kid was searching for a fire exit pretty much summed it up. 

Then numero six - a cool, calm, collected Johnson would close the show with the Vargas corner tossing in the towel - referee Earl Morton comes to the rescue with a no-mas at 2:23 mark of the round.   

Post Scripts:

• Kevin “Kingpin” Johnson (22-0-1, 9 KO) ~ age 29 - nice skills and traditional orthodox in technique. Counter puncher in style. Not all that impressed with the power in the mittens - both early knockdowns hinted Vargas helped by willingly testing the canvas for soft landings. Johnson a solid club fight performer - guess here when stepping up to better quality the “Kingpin” will arrive as underdog. Jury not as yet selected. But stay tuned.

• Devin Vargas ( 17-1, 7 KO) ~ age 27 - think the short notice spanking translates to no future. Too many amateur fights make it next to impossible to upgrade the shortage of skills. Toss in the negative reaction to heavy incoming punctuates a lack of promise. Being dropped is one thing - been there done that - but the behavior shouted an old cliché - to paraphrase, “It’s not the size of the dog - but the size of the heart in the dog.”

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GEL