Johnson Endures For Boxing Win Heavyweight Remains Undefeated With Decision Over Billups In Worley

History told undefeated heavyweight Kirk Johnson that he wasn’t going to knock out Levi Billups.

So Johnson braced himself to go the distance Thursday - something he hadn’t done in 2-1/2 years.

“This guy went 12 rounds with Lennox Lewis,” said Johnson, who recorded a 10-round unanimous decision over Billups before a crowd of 2,000 at the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Bingo/Casino.

One judge scored it 100-91 and other two judges had it 99-91. Essentially, Johnson won nine of 10 rounds and lost the eighth when a point was deducted for a low punch.

“I’d seen films of this guy and I noticed he didn’t get cut very easily, so I figured if I didn’t stop him on a cut, he’s more than likely going to know how to survive and go the distance,” said Johnson, who raised his record to 26-0.

Youth topped age. Johnson, 26, 12 years younger than Billups (24-15-1), easily out-quicked the Los Angeles native.

Billups left largely unimpressed by a fighter hailed potentially as a big-name boxer. Johnson is ranked No. 5 by the WBA.

“To be honest with you, he did nothing well, he was just in better shape,” said Billups. “The only thing he beat me with was speed. He hit like a little girl. The second round, he hit with a good shot, and I said ‘Is that it?’ He just outspeeded me.”

Johnson won the first seven rounds by jabbing and ducking away from Billups. It became obvious that Billups’ lone hope was hitting a home run.

But Billups couldn’t land the big punch.

In the co-main event, heavyweight Josh Dempsey of Torrance, Calif., knocked out Anthony “T-Bone” Green at 1:32 of the second round.

Dempsey, in much better shape than the plump T-Bone, landed several punches early as Green of Brooklyn, N.Y., offered little defense.

In the first bout, junior middleweight Jason Perillo looked every bit a rookie in the first round. Chris Huntwork worked Perillo over in the opening round, knocking him down at the 35-second mark.

Huntwork continued to punish Perillo, drawing blood from his mouth and nose, but Perillo regained composure.

It was all Perillo after that. Perillo scored a technical knockout at 1:31 of the third round of the scheduled four-round bout. Perillo put Huntwork on the canvas twice for 10-counts before the referee intervened.

Local female standout Sara Schmedding ended up with a bout after her scheduled opponent backed out the day before.

Unfortunately, the new fighter looked as if she was picked out of the casino crowd. Rizelyn Clark of San Diego was making her pro debut.

Schmedding’s experience showed immediately as she never relented as the aggressor in the welterweight bout.

Schmedding picked up her fourth win in five tries, her first by knockout, as she stopped Clark by TKO at 1:47 in the second round.