ESPN Boxing

BERN, Switzerland -- Vitali Klitschko believes Kevin Johnson has all the makings of a champion, even predicting that the American will eventually win a world title.

He just doesn't believe it will happen Dec. 12.

Klitschko will make his third defense this year against the unbeaten Johnson in the Swiss capital of Bern, a major opportunity for a fighter who had planned to be on a small pay-per-view show in New York until learning he'd have the chance to fight for the WBC belt.

"You will be world champion -- in the future," Klitschko told Johnson Friday, during a news conference at PostFinance Arena. "I saw your eyes and I know you trust yourself. I trust myself. Let us see who is better."

Asked if the 30-year-old Johnson (22-0-1, 9 KOs) could defeat him, Klitschko said: "Yes, he can. It will not be easy for me. I am more than sure that it will be a real battle."

Klitschko (38-2, 37 KOs) stopped Cris Arreola in the 10th round in Los Angeles last month for the American's first loss. The fight was a brutal example of how far Klitschko and his brother Wladimir are above just about every other heavyweight.

Johnson, ranked No. 6 by the WBA and WBC, earned his title shot by stopping Devin Vargas in May in Atlantic City, N.J. He said Friday he made a "a hell of a promise" by telling his 10-year-old daughter, Fatimah, he will beat the 38-year-old Klitschko.

"I told my daughter this: I will become the heavyweight champion of the world this year," said Johnson, who raises her as a single father in Atlanta. "I do everything in my life for my daughter. We walk hand in hand, she's like an angel."

Although Johnson has won the majority of his fights on points decisions, he has stopped his past three opponents inside the distance.

None of them has presented the kind of problems that Klitschko will, from the incredible size difference -- Johnson is 6-foot-3 and is dwarfed by the 6-7 Ukrainian -- to the fact that he's been in the ring with some of the best heavyweights of his era.

Klitschko, a three-time champion, is undefeated since losing by TKO to Lennox Lewis in 2003, when a cut opened over his left eye and the fight was stopped after six rounds. After a retirement caused by injuries and political ambitions, he returned to claim the WBC title a year ago by stopping Samuel Peter in the ninth round.

Klitschko's younger brother, Wladimir, owns the IBF and WBO titles, while Nikolay Valuev of Russia is the WBA champion. Valuev is scheduled to defend his belt against David Haye of Britain on Nov. 7 in Nuremberg, Germany.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press