Johnson is 42 and fought most of the 12 rounds from behind the dubious safety of a high guard and at a slow and calculating pace.
But his more relaxed, languid style began to find gaps in Estrada's high guard as he established a 3-1 lead by the end of the second.
Collazo for most of the fight had whinged to the referee, Vic Drakuvich, and his corner, frustrated by Khan's high guard and his grabbing in the clinches.
Fighters can shelter behind a high guard, safe in the knowledge that they cannot be scored upon and it makes for very boring viewing.
He was piercing through Abraham's high guard and the tough guy from Berlin was feeling the effect of these prodding punches that were piling up the points for the Nottingham man.
Ward drifted almost listlessly into the ropes towards Gatti's corner and paused, desperately trying to balance an urge to look OK with a need to suck in oxygen every time he peered through his high guard.
By contrast, ardent Liverpool fan Price was afforded a spine-tingling reception to the strains of You'll Never Walk Alone The two giant combatants initially came cautiously to the middle of the ring, Harrison stalking behind a high guard.
Having, as promised, come out fast at the opening bell, Haye found himself backing up Chisora, the heavier man by 37lbs and a stalking menace behind his trademark high guard.
While my generalizations meter was on high guard as I read the piece, I was charmed.
Eventually, the high guard would have drooped, the telescopic jab would have become slower to extend, and an opportunity would have appeared.
