“Have Gloves Will Travel” might be the best way to describe Heavyweight prospect Kevin “Kingpin” Johnson (19-0-1, 6 KO’s). With an undefeated record, seven of his wins in opponents' hometowns and many goals to be fulfilled, Johnson does not shy away about his feelings regarding the politics in the sport. He is willing to do whatever it takes to make his mark.

Johnson’s most recent victory came over rugged Terry Smith on ESPN Friday Night Fights one month ago. With the Heavyweight division so wide open right now, Johnson is slowly moving up the ranks and he is more than willing to take on anyone to make a name for himself. Candid and confident, he held nothing back during our conversation. The single father of a young daughter hasn’t lost focus of the importance of family life coupled with a promising ring career. I would like to thank Kevin Johnson for speaking with BRC, as well as his brother and manager Brian Johnson, and Star Boxing for making this interview possible.  

LUDWIG/BRC: First off, congratulations on your recent victory over Terry Smith. Did the fight go the way you thought it would? 

JOHNSON: Oh yea, I knew for a fact fighting Terry Smith, he’s nothing really. He’s not a boxer and he’s not a fighter or going to fight for a title, so I knew he wasn’t going to beat me. I just picked my shots, let my hands go and had a high connect percentage. I’ve seen a few guys in scary situations with him before and I wanted to fight smart.

LUDWIG/BRC: Did you agree with the scorecards when the decision was announced?  

JOHNSON: Boxing is based on punches and aggression. Smith threw over six hundred punches and hardly landed any of them. I don’t know what fight the judges were looking at but I thought the cards were closer than they should have been.  

LUDWIG/BRC: Any added pressure fighting on a nationally televised main event? 

JOHNSON: Not at all, my sixth pro fight I was fighting a main event on television against Robert Wiggins. I liked that fight and it answered a lot questions in my head as to whether I deserve or belong in this sport. Two fights before that I fought Timor Ibragimov to a draw. That was highway robbery but I ain’t mad at him. That’s what protection and politics in boxing is about.     

LUDWIG/BRC: Any idea what is next for you? 

JOHNSON: I have no choice but to go up, up and up but as you know it’s kind of hard when a lot of fighters are hiding behind money and politics. It’s not like it used to be, one title, one champion. Nowadays it’s just Sam Peter defending against Andrew Golota. These guys here lose four or five fights, then win one, and get a title shot. The politics in boxing are screwed. You have a nice bunch of undefeated guys who have been on a winning streak for years, that have fought quality fighters -mind you not always in the top ten- but at least they are winning. If every Heavyweight fought opponents according to the rankings then that would be boxing and I bet you a lot of people would quit because there is no promoter to hide behind.

LUDWIG/BRC: One guy who is getting a lot of attention is David Haye, your thoughts? 

JOHNSON: He did well at Cruiserweight but Heavyweight is a whole different ballpark. It’s like taking a shark out of salt water and putting him in fresh water. How is he going to adapt to it? I’m sure open and available to challenge him but I don’t think he deserves a title shot right away until he fights someone worthy. Why doesn’t Haye meet me half way? The winner would be one step closer to a title shot but just don’t come in and say you deserve a title shot. Your mouth doesn’t get you a shot so fight me and if you beat me then go for it.

LUDWIG/BRC: Some word association, tell me what comes to your mind with the following guys. First off, Alonzo Butler? 

JOHNSON: I don’t know anything about Alonzo Butler.

LUDWIG/BRC: Alexander Povetkin? 

JOHNSON: Povetkin, politics brought him real far. Not the people he fought got him to where he is, but politics. At 14-0 he hasn’t fought anyone close to what I fought and look where he is right now. His team did a wonderful job bringing him up. Povetkin isn’t a great boxer or fighter.

LUDWIG/BRC: Tye Fields? 

JOHNSON: Tye Fields doesn’t impress me at all. He’s not a boxer. He’s an in-shape fighter and that’s it and that won’t win him championships. Boxers win championships. 95% of the Heavyweight division is nothing, probably Alonzo Butler too. I don’t even know him but if I don’t know him I’m sure he’s nothing.

LUDWIG/BRC: Sam Peter?

JOHNSON: Sam Peter is nothing as well, just a big power puncher. Me fighting Sam Peter would be just like Muhammad Ali vs. George Foreman. I ain’t worried about that. A lot of people just can’t get past the guy’s power. Jameel McCline exposed him, dropped him three times. Peter went ten rounds with Robert Hawkins, I went ten rounds with him and hands down beat him easy, 100-91 across the board and Peter struggled against him.

LUDWIG/BRC: Do you see the European fighters as a dominant force today? 

JOHNSON: No, not dominant; it’s just that a lot of the American fighters have gotten lazy and are not hungry anymore. There is a new era of young guys that could lay the Europeans flat on their back including myself. There is not one European that can beat me. Look at the days of Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes, and the great boxers that once were, they never lost to Europeans. They were not dominant twenty years ago and they are not now. They have their share of talent right now and they can have it.

LUDWIG/BRC: Many of the overseas fighters have had outstanding amateur careers and the funding as well. Does that make a difference in what we are seeing today? 

JOHNSON: Nah, it’s the politics and people behind them. Amateur means nothing when you hit the pro ranks.

LUDWIG/BRC: You touched on this a bit earlier, the Heavyweight division as it stands today? 

JOHNSON: We have some of the worst fighters right now. We have more fighters than boxers. Right now it’s promoters sticking anyone in the ring and trying to get what they can out of them. One day we will be as exciting as the Welterweight and Middleweight divisions are today.

LUDWIG/BRC: Toughest fight to date? 

JOHNSON: None. Twenty fights and I haven’t been hit yet. I’m in the gym Monday through Sunday. After each fight I take four days off to let my body rest and back to the gym I go.

LUDWIG/BRC: When did you realize you wanted to go pro? 

JOHNSON: When I came back from the Nationals in '02 or '03, I can’t remember exactly, but then I realized I wanted to make the jump. When I came back I met up with my old friend Darryl Dawkins and he used to tell me that he was going to take me out to meet Larry Holmes and show me how it’s done. Larry got me my three first pro fights. We were looking to do more work together but we had distractions with a middle man and Larry is a businessman not a chaos man and I just had something to take care of with the middle man which was not able to get resolved with him. Larry and I are still good friends and I still call him and visit when I am in Easton. Larry gave me the best insight and I still work out with his brothers Floyd and Mark. They trained me as an amateur and it was beautiful; working with Larry let me know when I was in the pro division that this isn’t working with Buddy McGirt and Roger Mayweather. I’ve got an NBA superstar to my right and Heavyweight champion to my left so coming in I was well grounded, so I knew I was going to be successful. I love everyone down there, Four Corners Promotions. They all took care of me real good.

LUDWIG/BRC: Your favorite boxers of all time? 

JOHNSON: I can’t say one but it’s Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes. I try and use their strong points and subtract any weak points and incorporate that into my style.

LUDWIG/BRC: How is your working relationship with your brother Brian? 

JOHNSON: It’s beautiful. Blood is more protective then anything. I have no worries and he takes care of everything. Nothing better like working with family.

LUDWIG/BRC: Do you follow the UFC? 

JOHNSON: I don’t watch it but sometimes I’ll try to catch Tito Ortiz as we have worked out together but it’s not a sport for me. I’d rather watch Serena and Venus Williams play tennis.

LUDWIG/BRC: Favorite TV shows? 

JOHNSON: Animal Planet

LUDWIG/BRC: Favorite movies? 

JOHNSON: Mo’ Money with the lovely Stacey Dash. If I ever get married that’s what I want my wife to be like. Coming To America is my other favorite movie.

LUDWIG/BRC: Favorite music? 

JOHNSON: R&B

LUDWIG/BRC: What do you do during your downtime? 

JOHNSON: I’m a fulltime father so it’s all about her. All day and everyday. Weekdays she’s in school and I train and weekends she wants to do this and that. I have to take care of laundry, clothing and feeding and providing for her. My downtime is all about my daughter.

LUDWIG/BRC: Any closing comments? 

JOHNSON: Well you know me, I just want a shot against a nice, notable Heavyweight. Everybody wants to see Kevin Johnson tested and that’s the one question I always hear since I have been a pro. I’d say I had about eleven tests out of my twenty fights thus far. I would like to give the fans and everyone what they want to see so I’d like to get in there with a top guy and I’m not going to speak on a title right now because it will make me sound like the rest of the Heavyweights. If I could fight three guys in the top ten I’d be happy. I am learning, so I want to prepare myself. I’d fight anybody, especially someone undefeated with twenty five plus fights. I’m getting turned down from every direction and it’s because they are asking so much we have to say no. Championship money for championship fights is what I’m working towards.

LUDWIG/BRC: Thank you for your time and speaking with BRC. 

JOHNSON: You bet and I’ll call you back and we can do it again. Thank you and take care.

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5-16-2008