Boxing Quotes: Chad Dawson vs. Antonio Tarver

© Tom Casino / Showtime Boxing

World Champion Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver, 27-4 (19), and undefeated “Bad” Chad Dawson, 26-0 (17), will face off in a battle of light heavyweight kingpins on Saturday, October 11, live on Showtime Championship Boxing at 9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast, from The Pearl Theatre at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

The Showtime telecast will open with arguably the most significant world heavyweight championship fight in years. Active WBC Heavyweight Champion Sam Peter, 30-1 (23), will defend his title against WBC Champion Emeritus Vitali Klitschko, 35-2 (34), who will make his dramatic return to the ring after a nearly four year absence, on a same-day tape delay from the O2 World Arena in Berlin, Germany.

Tarver-Dawson will be promoted by AT Entertainment and Gary Shaw Productions in association with Palms Casino Resort Las Vegas. Peter-Klitschko will be co-promoted by Duva Boxing, K2 Promotions and Don King Productions.

Antonio Tarver:

“Dawson had to go through steps to get to the top. He had to crawl before he walked. Now, he is at the mountain top. He wasn’t ready. Now, he has a win over a legitimate fighter and warrior in Glen Johnson.

“I am always confident and have never been shy on how I felt about my abilities. Dawson may be the future, but I am glad that we don’t live in the future. I am the now. I live in the present. The time isn’t now. The future isn’t now. Right now, I am the guy.

“It is going to be a very exciting fight while it lasts. As soon as I land a punch, it is going to be over. Dawson has a lot of power and tools, but he is missing one ingredient – a good chin. We both can box, have talent and skill, but the question is: ‘Can he take my punch?

“I am the best and will be in rare form. I am the best and will be in rare form. Don’t miss the ‘Magic Man’ on Oct. 11. When you believe in yourself and follow your dreams, the sky is the limit.

“I have been here before. I am in the best condition, mentally and physically. I want to go out on top. I don’t want anyone to deny my greatness and what I have brought to the fight game.

“All I have done is to be successful and I don’t get any respect. Have you seen the odds for this fight? On Oct. 11, I will be one step closer to my goal of being the best 175-pound fighter out there.

“This will be an opportunity to show what separates me from other fighters. Dawson is an aggressive fighter who takes risks. I don’t think I will have to chase him around the ring.

“I think the fight will end in a devastating knockout. It will be great while it lasts. One thing that I have that Dawson doesn’t is a devastating knockout punch. I’ve been at this game for a long time. When I came up, I had to fight the best. There were no soft fights. I’m prepared for this. I’m proven.

“Dawson had to step up and fight for life or death against Glen Johnson. I ran over Glen Johnson. I’m just going to let my record speak for itself. You still have to get up for every fight because you can’t take anything for granted. I’m working harder now than I ever have. I push it to the limit no matter what the opponent brings to the table.

“I’m going to be an illusive target and an accurate puncher. This may be my best performance yet. The ingredients are there for an incredible night of boxing. I’m treating this like my last hurrah. I’m ready.”

“Roy Jones, Jr. doesn’t deserve the Joe Calzaghe fight. Calzaghe just wants to fight him because it’s an easy win and a big payday. I want to fight the best so I can continue to prove that I am the best. It’s a slap in my face that I continue to get ignored. When I heard the odds, it was just another motivation to get in the gym so I can work to knock Dawson out. It will be a competitive fight, but it will end in a flash because I’m going to knock him out.

“It’s a shame that I have to be in this to prove anything. My game is so subtle that the critics have a hard time understanding it. The sophistication of my game is off the charts. For some reason, I never got any love from the boxing world. I’ve run it my way and played by my rules, and I guess that’s why.

“There is one man that I fought and lost to and that was Bernard Hopkins. Everyone knows that it was an off-night for me. I’m the Marvin Hagler of this era. I don’t get any respect. If Calzaghe will step up and fight and I beat him, then maybe I’ll get the respect I deserve.

“As long as I have the power in my hands, that’s my judge and my jury. Dawson can’t stop me. No one can stop me. I’ve done everything I had to prove. I’m not looking back. I’m looking forward. When I step away from the game, I just want to be a bona fide Hall of Famer. That’s it.”

Chad Dawson:

“This is a fight I have been looking forward to for the past two years. I will show everyone that I am the best light heavyweight in the world. I made a statement in my last fight against Glen Johnson. It was a tough fight and I give him all the credit in the world.

“I am the light heavyweight division right now. I will be the last man standing in the ring when I fight Tarver. I just have to be in shape and be on my ‘A’ game to defeat Tarver.

“There is a big difference between Chad Dawson and Antonio Tarver. He is the past and I am the future. I think the future is going to go on when I fight Tarver. I have been patient. The time is finally here. Tarver knows what he is in for on Oct. 11.

“I have been doing this since I was a little kid and have enough experience to defeat a veteran like Tarver. Tarver is a snobby dude. I can’t tell if he respects me or not. I will find out after the fight.

“Johnson was my toughest pro fight. He brought out the best in me. I tested myself and I passed it. There is a question about my chin. I am going to show everyone in the boxing world and television that I can take a punch.

“Tarver is not an aggressive fighter. He is going to sit back and wait to do what I do. He won’t punch when I punch. I want to prove to everyone that I deserve to be where I am at and I have paid my dues. How many other light heavyweights would have fought Johnson?

“The state of boxing right now is not about belts. It is about money. I care about the zero on my record and being the best light heavyweight in the world. I don’t care abouot belts. The only experience that I lack I make up for with my trainer. He knows what it takes.

“Tarver called me a wounded duck. I am not a wounded duck. I gained experience and I learned from the Johnson fight. Tarver is a defensive fighter. As long as I am throwing punches and landing, he won’t know how to handle my pressure. If I hadn’t signed with Gary Shaw, I would still be fighting on the east coast.”

Gary Shaw, Promoter:

“I want to thank Ken Hershman of Showtime, who believes in both Dawson and Tarver. Tarver has fought the best and beaten the best in the world. Dawson is a young fighter making a name for himself and fighting in the biggest fight of the year.

“Dawson was willing to give up a championship belt to fight the biggest fight in his career. I give all the credit in the world to him. I want to thank the Palms Casino Resort for stepping up to the plate to host this fight. I am positive that the Palms will be thanking us at the end of the night on Oct. 11.”

“The winner of this fight will be the undisputed king of the light heavyweights, whether or not he has all of the belts. Right now, boxing is making up weight classes. It makes no sense.

“Dawson did not hesitate for a second to give up his world title belt to make this fight. Why keep a belt to fight someone that no one knows when he can take center stage and fight a guy like Tarver? If Dawson wins this fight, he is the man. There is no question about it.

“Tarver can’t press the fight better than Johnson did. Dawson has lightning speed for 175 pounds. I don’t know if Tarver has seen that hand speed in a really long time. Dawson is soft spoken and has no ‘hangers on.’ He fights and goes home to his family. I have never seen someone more devoted to his kids.”

Gary Lewis, Promoter, AT Entertainment:

“Tarver is the best in the light heavyweight division. This is just another step in Tarver’s plan and the time has now arrived. The best man will stand at the end of the fight on Oct. 11, and that will be Antonio Tarver.”

Jimmy Williams, Tarver’s trainer:

“I am not a trainer. I am a teacher. I come from a different generation. I know that skill will defeat will. Tarver is in the best condition of his life. I have never seen him work harder. This is going to be a mismatch.”