EDITOR Claude Abrams gives us his view in this week's magazine but here, the rest of the BN team weigh up this Saturday's (December 12) big fight in Berne, Switzerland.

Nick Bond

Johnson's one of the best young American heavies around – but that's not saying much. He impressed beating – then, fellow unbeaten – compatriot Devin Vargas, but facing Vitali is a huge step up in class.

I have a feeling that Johnson could become quite a handy fighter at world level, but I'm sure he's not ready (if he ever will be) for the division's best in Vitali.

Look for Klitschko to pick him apart and hand out a systematic beating for the 12-round distance.

Danny Flexen

Vitali's current run reminds me of when Lennox Lewis cleared up the heavyweight pretenders after beating Evander Holyfield in 1999. Michael Grant, Francois Botha and David Tua were vanquished easily as Lennox showed the huge chasm in levels that existed between him and his challenges.

The main difference is that Klitschko was not tested in his title-winning effort either. For Grant, Botha and Tua, read Sam Peter, Chris Arreola and now Kevin Johnson. All talented and game challengers at a certain level but seemingly miles behind a champion in his prime.

Johnson has not fought anyone even close to Klitschko's class and solid skills and excellent jab aside, there are so many unanswered questions. Can he get inside a much taller man's reach? Can he come through a dog-fight? Can he take Vitali's power? If the answer to all of these is yes then he has a good chance but I'd wager he will fall short in at least one area and be pounded – an eye nearly closed, cut perhaps – into defeat by around the ninth.

Daniel Herbert

Johnson has been talking a good fight, but his only real chance of victory is if Klitschko 'gets old' and suffers some sort of injury (knee, shoulder etc). Otherwise, it's hard to see how he can get to Vitali's chin often enough to win on points.

More likely is that Vitali will use his size intelligently to pile up the points and gradually break Johnson's heart for a stoppage some time during the fight's last third.

Tris Dixon

Kevin Johnson needs to be able to back up his boasts this weekend and there is a good chance he will try his best, like umpteen US heavyweights who have tried to snap the Klitschko brothers’ stranglehold on the division.

The thing is, like Chris Arreola, Calvin Brock, Tony Thompson and others he is being rushed as America desperately attempts to gain a slice of the splintered titles.

He is not seasoned enough to mix with either Klitschko and does not hit hard enough to hurt iron man Vitali.

Johnson talks like a US version of David Haye and shoots from the hip. But Haye backs up his boasts with explosive power whereas Johnson reinforces his talk with a stiff, useful jab and little else. He impressed against Devin Vargas last time out to ‘earn’ the shot but fighting a prospect like Vargas and a seasoned champ like WBC king Vitali is like night and day.

Johnson’s movement might pose the champ some early teasers and his jab might even mark up the elder Klitschko brother. But I feel it is just too early for Johnson and can see him being hammered into defeat sometime around round seven.