Kevin Johnson will challenge Vitali Klitschko on December 12 in Switzerland. The unbeaten American has high hopes. (Photo via Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing)

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A Star Boxing press release featuring unbeaten heavyweight contender Kevin Johnson paints the next challenger to Vitali Klitschko as a confident but respectful young fighter heading into his December 12 shot at glory.

"Since the Europeans took over the heavyweight division, boxing lost some of its appeal. The average American walking down the street couldn't tell you who the champ is. When I think of great fighters I think of Jack Johnson, Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, Larry Holmes and Mike Tyson. When these guys were champs, they were icons in this great nation. The Klitschkos are a temporary mistake and I'm going to fix that mistake for good."

Despite that brash statement, he also considers Vitali the only true heavyweight "champion" out there, and points to his willingness to defend against young, undefeated fighters:

"I give Vitali a lot of respect for giving me this opportunity. He is a true champion that doesn't duck anybody. Of all the champions he is the only one who has stepped up and given us young guys, such as Chris Arreola and myself a chance to fight for his championship."

Johnson also says he won't fight the way the lumbering Samuel Peter or the overmatched Arreola did:

"If he wants to fight, I'll go toe-to-toe with him and use my speed to knock him out. I want to make things clear for everyone; I'm not Cristobal Arreola, or Sam Peter. If he stands in front of me with his hands down, I'll hit him ten times before he can land once. It's going to be a short night for him if he tries that amateur stuff with me."

Johnson is counting on his youth, speed and technique to make a difference, saying nobody besides Lennox Lewis has ever brought that sort of complete skillset against Vitali.

I'll say this. A year or two ago, I wasn't too high on "Kingpin," but the more I've watched him mature, the more I like him, and I think he has an actual shot at upsetting Vitali on December 12. I'm not picking him to win the fight, nor do I think it's anywhere near likely, but a Johnson decision win would not completely flatten me with shock or anything. And he's right: Vitali deserves some genuine respect for fighting guys like Arreola and Johnson instead of the Oleg Maskaevs of the world.

HBO will air Klitschko-Johnson on tape delay in the United States as part of a triple-header, paired with the Diaz-Malignaggi rematch and Victor Ortiz's return from Chicago.

The December 12 fight between Vitali Klitschko and Kevin Johnson could be headed to HBO. (KAP Photo/Keystone/Peter Schneider)

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Dan Rafael reports in this week's notebook at ESPN.com that two fights in December could be coming to American TV.

One was expected. The December 12 WBC heavyweight title fight between Vitali Klitschko and Kevin Johnson looks like it's headed to HBO, which will air it on same-day tape alongside the two fights live from Chicago the network has that night. Klitschko-Johnson, Juan Diaz-Paulie Malignaggi II and Victor Ortiz-Antonio Diaz is a pretty nice little triple-header, wouldn't you say?

It's no surprise because as has been reported and touted frequently, the September 26 fight between Klitschko and Cristobal Arreola did HBO's highest ratings of the year. They were no doubt helped by the Mayweather-Marquez replay leading them in, but they also retained those viewers, which is a big deal.

On December 11, Jean Pascal and Adrian Diaconu will rematch for the light heavyweight title that Pascal won from Diaconu this summer. It was a hell of a good fight, picked up by the Versus Network, who are likely spending any budget they have left on their Hopkins-Ornelas and Green-Jones double-header on December 2.

Instead of Versus getting the rematch or one of the two tapped major networks grabbing it, ESPN looks like they're going to step in and air the bout on ESPN Classic and ESPN360.com. ESPN has nabbed a few fights for Classic in the recent past, including Vitali Klitschko-Juan Carlos Gomez, Wladimir Klitschko-Ruslan Chagaev and O'Neil Bell-Tomasz Adamek. Hopefully this trend keeps up. There are a lot of good fights out there that won't cost the network an arm and a leg to gain U.S. rights for, and there are plenty of boxing fans that will tune in.

Unbeaten American Kevin Johnson will take a crack at WBC heavyweight titlist Vitali Klitschko. The two meet in Bern, Switzerland on December 12. (Photo via www.boxnews.com.ua)

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It's official: WBC heavyweight titlist Vitali Klitschko will make a pretty quick return to the ring following his September 26 demolition of Chris Arreola. Klitschko faces another unbeaten American contender, as he'll take on Kevin "Kingpin" Johnson on December 12 in Bern, Switzerland.

"I feel top fit, had super preparations in Los Angeles and really enjoyed the fight against Arreola," said Klitschko, whose win cemented his place alongside younger brother Wladimir at the top of the heavyweight ranks.

"I can barely wait to climb into the ring again," the Ukrainian fighter added. "Kevin Johnson is very dangerous. He has already had 23 professional fights, is undefeated and has significantly better technique than my last opponent."

...

"I will not underestimate Johnson and as always will prepare myself meticulously for my opponent," Klitschko said.

Klitschko (38-2, 37 KO) barely broke a sweat in routing and eventually stopping Arreola on September 26, and the talk of a December return started almost immediately. Johnson (22-0-1, 9 KO) will be taking a great leap up in competition, as Arreola did. You can't blame him though; it's by far the most money he's going to get to fight, and if he loses, everyone just kind of goes, "Oh well, he lost to one of the Klitschkos. Everyone does." We've elevated the Klitschkos so far above their peers -- and rightfully so -- that a loss to one of them isn't really that big of a deal, and it's no great blow to any fighter's career. Arreola risked his unbeaten record for a shot at the big upset and plenty of cash, and Johnson will do the same.

Johnson is an intriguing enough opponent, though. Like Vitali says, he's far more technically proficient than Arreola, and Johnson will probably try to jab with the jabber. Klitschko is about 6'8", and was way taller than the supposedly 6'4" Arreola. Johnson is listed at 6'3", but has a big 82" reach, two inches longer than Klitschko's and five inches longer than Arreola's. Arreola could never get inside and was unable to do anything from a distance. Johnson may not have any more luck really getting inside than Arreola did, but he has the length to work from distance and maybe open things up that way. Sort of roundabout to the conventional thoughts on beating one of the Klitschko brothers (get inside and work, work, work) but nobody trying to bull their way in has been successful in years now.

Of course, nobody trying to do anything has been successful in years.

No American TV has been named, but this feels like one that someone will pick up, if not HBO or Showtime. ESPN has televised recent Klitschko brothers fights (Wladimir v. Ruslan Chagaev, Vitali v. Juan Carlos Gomez) on ESPN Classic, a channel that never has anything on that can't be bumped for boxing, and Vitali's fight with Arreola did HBO's best ratings of 2009. And if ESPN didn't pick it up, they could always hook up with Integrated Sports and put on a $25 pay-per-view.

Vitali Klitschko looks likely to fight Kevin Johnson on December 12. Switzerland is the leading candidate for the site. (Photo via seattletimes.nwsource.com)

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BoxingScene.com reports that sources close to the situation have told them that WBC heavyweight titlist Vitali Klitschko looks likely to face American prospect/contender Kevin Johnson on December 12, with Switzerland the leading candidate for the site of the bout.

Klitschko (38-2, 37 KO) easily defeated Chris Arreola on September 26, and immediately turned his attention to a December return. It also seems likely that 2010 will be the final year in boxing for the 38-year old titleholder.

Johnson (22-0-1, 9 KO) recently pulled out of an October 10 fight with Odlanier Solis on a Top Rank pay-per-view, and has fought just once this year, a May win over Devin Vargas. He has faced no one even near Klitschko's level.

In all honesty, I can't say I think Johnson has any real shot against Klitschko whatsoever. He has a big reach (82"), but not the style, the power, the height, the speed, the defensive skill. I'm not saying he's not a talented fighter; he is. But it feels like this is a cash-in, given that this fight would give him a lot more money than anything else that he's going to be able to land right now.

And it's not the worst idea, either. Say he loses to Klitschko, and even say he's blown out like most. It's not a big deal, because the Klitschkos have obviously established themselves as the cream of the modern heavyweight crop, and really nobody's going to expect Johnson to win, anyway. So what's he lose? There remains the slight chance he pulls the massive upset, and if he doesn't, he was such an underdog that he doesn't really lose any face unless he's knocked out in the first round, and that's not likely, either.