‘Flash’ Johnson Wins by Knockout, Sets Up Title Fight

Angelo Dundee has been asking for some time which Johnson is the better fighter in the flyweight division, “Flash” or “Too Sharp.” Now it appears Dundee’s curiosity will be satisfied.

Dundee and a lively crowd of 3,021 at the Pond watched Monday night as Arthur “Flash” Johnson set up a world title fight against champion Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson with an 11th-round knockout of previously undefeated Ilido Julio of Turbo, Colombia.

Johnson (17-3, 10 knockouts) led by two points on one scorecard and was even on two others when he knocked Julio down with a short left hand that was followed by a sharp right. Julio staggered to his feet at the count of seven, but fell back into the ropes. Referee Lou Filippo quickly stopped the bout.

“What a great fight,” said Dundee, who is serving as Johnson’s manager. “This was nip and tuck and Arthur had to take it to him. He started timing him like a pitcher and then he unloaded. It was beautiful.”

Julio crowded Johnson in the early rounds and threw punches from all angles.

“He was a tough guy to figure out,” Johnson said. “He gave me a hellacious fight. My hat’s off to him.”

In the middle rounds, Johnson began to back up and put some distance between himself and Julio.

“As I got more room, it was a lot easier to hit the guy,” Johnson said. “I knocked him out with a straight right hand. I hit him on the end of the punch and that’s where I had to catch him.”

Johnson, the No. 9 rated contender by the IBF, will move into the No. 1 spot. Johnson is hoping to meet IBF champ Mark Johnson early next year, but Dundee sounded a bit skeptical.

“We hope it’ll happen, but we don’t want to wait around,” he said. “We want to keep busy. It’s boxing, so you never know what’s going to happen.”