Mark "Too Sharp" Johnson vs. Johnny Tapia @115

This was one of the many fights that should have happened but it never did. It would have been a classic fight in the lower weight class.
Might have to pick Too Sharp by decision in an excellent scrap. Tapia sometimes fought on an emotional level when the fight got in deep, which would not bode well with someone like Too Sharp. Tapia also didn’t have the power to keep him honest and even in a brawl I would favor Too Sharp due to his power and hand speed.

 

I second this. That’s a much more even match IMO.

 

I just think it's more compelling given there's a chance of a stoppage either way.

Johnson-Tapia is guaranteed as a distance affair. Tapia didn't have the pop to stop Johnson, and Johnson wouldn't stop Tapia given Johnny's granite chin.

 

I agree. Even though Tapia might have the edge in the footwork department he was never a defensive fighter because he always wanted to make it a brawl, which would be unwise against Johnson who also liked to mix it up.

Arbachakov vs Too Sharp is too close to call. Arbachakov was the more textbook fighter with straighter, more accurate punches while Too Sharp was the more athletically gifted and faster fighter. Arbachakov could be outworked by Johnson due to his more patient conventional style while Johnson's willingness to let his hands go could lead him to possibly getting consistently hit by Arbachakov's laser right hands and counterpunching.

 

Johnson was on the radio here plenty of times saying he wanted to fight arbachakov and was willing to go to japan for the fight.

 

Yeah, I dont get the feeling it was Johnson's fault. He didn't seem scared of Yuri.

 

Johnson fought out of his “comfort zone” just as often as Tapia, honestly. Hard to even call it that, in fact. I can easily name more brawls and bang ups he was involved in than I can masterful boxing performances. More driven by ego than raw emotion, though, I’d say.

That’s the fight I’d like to see. If it turned into Tapia from the Konadu fight against Johnson from the Vorapin fight I’d be pissed.

 

I think it would be a combination of chessmatch and tear up.