[kenyan_cheena]

The Philadelphia Inquirer

SUNDAY 17 DECEMBER 2006

JOHNSON AND KESHI GO
THE DISTANCE IN VEGAS

Story by Lenny Hayes

With the Mike McCallum-Jose Napoles junior-middleweight showdown receiving all the headlines and most of the boxing public's attention one could have been forgiven for thinking it was the only big fight on last night. That was not the case, with the MGM Grand in Las Vegas playing host to a world championship bout that for sheer drama and excitement exceeded the efforts of the two Caribbean fighters. It was the International Boxing League's World Light-Heavyweight Championship tournament final between "Philadelphia's Champion" Harold Johnson and Nigeria's Taribo Keshi. In a classic confrontation Johnson was victorious by a close unanimous decision verdict (143-142, 144-141, 143-142), the bout being the first of the IBL's world title fights to last the scheduled fifteen-round duration. Johnson claimed his second championship belt, adding the IBL title to the WBA strap he had relinquished before signing with the league back in March.

Johnson had defeated New York's Jimmy Slade by majority decision to qualify for the tournament final while Keshi's berth had been sealed with an upset TKO win over his compatriot and good friend Dick Tiger in the semi-finals. There were many who believed the 6th seed was capable of repeating the dose against Johnson and capturing his first world championship. But despite an outstanding effort Keshi fell just short. Recognised as the best light-heavyweight in the sport today Johnson brought an impressive 36-1-2(26) record into the evening, Keshi's 23-2(18). The Nigerian started strong, controlling the first two minutes of round one before Johnson responded well in the final sixty seconds, piercing a right cross and a couple of straight rights through Keshi's defenses. Johnson continued his good work into the 2nd, taking it behind a snappy jab.

Johnson controlled round three and then punished Keshi in the 4th. A booming left hook early was followed by a pair of uppercuts and a number of flush blows during a spirited exchange at the midpoint. Johnson kept his workrate high through the bottom half of the frame and by its end there was some swelling showing under Keshi's left eye. Keshi opened round five with promise, landing a hard left hook and a stinging combination. But Johnson cancelled out his good work, that potent jab once again putting Keshi on the backfoot before some damaging bodywork and a jolting uppercut had Keshi shaking his head in frustration as he returned to his corner. However Keshi finally won a round convincingly when he took the 6th behind a trio of damaging blows: an uppercut and a left hook in quick succession midway through and then another booming uppercut just before the bell.

The 6th seed maintained control through the early stages of round seven, catching Johnson with a right cross and a three-punch flurry before Johnson rallied brilliantly, swinging the stanza his way until Keshi stunned him late with another blistering combo. The fight's fierce, competitive nature did not let up in the 8th, both men having their moments with Keshi overcoming a slow start to balance the ledger. He then had his best three minutes of the fight to that point with a dominant round nine, Johnson hurt on seperate occasions by an uppercut, a left hook and a crunching right cross. However, disaster struck for Keshi in the 10th as he was deducted a point for a low blow in a round that he also lost on two judge's cards. With the closeness of the final scorecards it turned out to be a costly error for Keshi.

The action slowed noticeably during the 11th before Johnson roared back from being hurt early in round twelve to take the frame with a fantastic last two minutes. Despite his corner's best efforts the swelling on Keshi's face had worsened with some worrying distension showing. Keshi shrugged it off and got himself back into the contest by winning the 13th with surprising ease, Johnson absorbing a series of punishing body shots and a flush right cross. After such a strong effort it was understandable that Keshi eased off in the 14th, which Johnson won without doing anything spectacular. Keshi then dug deep to produce an outstanding, dominant finish. He had Johnson in serious trouble through that final round and with a little bit of luck could have sent him to the canvas. As it was he connected with about four or five flush power shots, left hooks and right crosses forcing Johnson to clinch his way through the round.

(article to be continued)