Boxing News Boxing News
Bad” Chad Dawson has pulled out all the stops in training for his upcoming defense of the IBF/IBO light heavyweight title belts he proudly wears courtesy the unanimous decision victory he earned over the previous champion Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver on October 11.
Dawson, the undefeated two-time light heavyweight champion, will meet Tarver in a world championship rematch this Saturday May 9, in The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
The fight will be televised live nationally on HBO, beginning at 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT, along with the replay of the Manny Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton junior welterweight title fight.
“I already know I’m the best in the division because no other champion will fight me, which is why I give Tarver so much credit for stepping up again,” said Dawson. “Our last fight was a good one and Tarver has always won the rematch after a loss which has inspired me to train harder than ever.
“I’m not going to be another rematch victory notch on his belt like Roy Jones, Jr., Glen Johnson and Eric Harding. I’m out to prove that I’m not just the king of the light heavyweight division, but also the best, pound for pound, and if it means giving Tarver a20 pound for pounding, then so be it. No mercy.”
Dawson, 27-0 (17), from New Haven, CT, began his second reign as a light heavyweight world champion by dethroning the defending IBF/IBO champion Tarver in a hard-fought battle in Las Vegas on October 11, 2008.
For Dawson, it was a victory that proved he was one of boxing’s elite and a Top-10 pound-for pound fighter. Dawson’s resume proves he’s the man to beat. In fact, three of his last five victories have been against defending or former world champions who had a combined record of 105-15-2 (76), a winning percentage of 86% and a victory by knockout ratio of 72%.
Dawson, 26, captured his first world title on February 3, 2007 by dethroning previously undefeated WBC light heavyweight champion Tomasz Adamek. It remains the only loss on the new IBF cruiserweight champion’s resume.
Dawson successfully defended his title three times over the next 14 months, the third against former world champion and 2004 Fighter of the Year Glen Johnson before vacating the title to challenge Tarver.
Tarver, 27-5 (19), from Tampa, FL, is the only man to hang two losses on the legendary Roy Jones, Jr. and the first to ever knock him out. Tarver also boasts victories over world champions Glen Johnson, Montell Griffin and Reggie Johnson.
A true renaissance man, Tarver heads up his own promotional company, AT Entertainment, his own charitable foundation, The Antonio Tarver Foundation, a not-for-profit organization established to fund, create and provide opportunities for young people to achieve their dreams, and he co-starred with Sylvester Stallone in the 2006 hit motion picture “Rocky Balboa.”
Promoted by Gary Shaw Productions and AT Entertainment, remaining tickets to Dawson-Tarver II are priced at $250, $175, $150, $75, $50 and $35 can be purchased at www.hardrockhotel.com, www.Ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster outlets.
