Boxing Profile: The Sun Shines On “Bad” Chad Dawson
By Simon Jackson
When you’re hot you’re hot and Dan Birmingham, boxing’s trainer of the year, is hot. And it is not just the East Coast sun which beats on Birmingham’s St Petersburg, Florida gym roof that is hotting things up for this two-time winner of the Futch-Condon award.
Fortune smiles on the talented as it does the brave and Birmingham’s stable strength has been bolstered with the emergence of highly regarded, Connecticut born up and comer “Bad” Chad Dawson. After a string of highly impressive victories, the Sunshine State’s lofty expectations for this unbeaten fighter are rising all the time.
In recent months, Birmingham, trainer of the top flight duo Ronald “Winky” Wright and Jeff Lacy, could not have been blamed for anticipating storm clouds following Wright drawing a bitterly contested bout with WBO and WBC Middleweight Champion Jermain Taylor.
A disappointment that was, of course, preceded by Jeff Lacy’s Manchester defeat by Joe Calzaghe for the IBF and WBO Super Middleweight titles. Following the bout, Birmingham intimated his fighter did not adhere to the agreed fight plan when suffering his first defeat in 23 contests.
Twenty four year old Dawson, 23-0 (15), however, has ensured Birmingham’s sunny days continue by taking another significant step towards a world title when beating the experienced Eric Harding over twelve hard fought rounds on 2 June.
Dawson showed tremendous character from the start of the contest at California’s Chumash Casino Resort, having been knocked down in the first when caught off balance. He calmly took the eight count and immediately proceeded to justify his lofty reputation by putting Harding under intense pressure which he maintained throughout.
It seemed that tough guy Harding realised early that victory was unlikely to be his, but validated his hard man reputation by showing real grit to withstand Dawson’s ferocious onslaught, boxing well until the final bell.
By defeating Harding, Dawson took possession of the NABF Light Heavyweight title, and tellingly became the sole non world champion to have claimed victory over the highly rated 33 year old.
Champions Roy Jones, Glen Johnson and Antonio Tarver were the only fighters to have returned victorious after entering the ring with Harding, the self confessed Philadelphia “bad boy” and it is Tarver where Dawson’s future interests lie.
Although Tarver was beaten on 10 June by the now retired Bernard Hopkins in a contest for the IBO and NBA Light Heavyweight titles, he has scored victories over top flight operators Jones and Johnson and is considered an ideal opponent for southpaw Dawson.
“Tarver’s still one of the best in the division” Dawson added.
Dawson is thriving on his step up to the 175 lb light heavyweight division and seems to have increased confidence following ten months fighting at super middleweight. Having made it clear that he is relishing the prospect of performing as a fully fledged light heavyweight, former construction boss Birmingham must already be stocking up on the suntan lotion.
In a recent interview the trainer enthused: “Chad Dawson is a kid who has unlimited capabilities and someday soon he is going to dominate the light heavyweight division.
“We are not going to rush him into anything yet, we are going to see what develops in the future.
“Chad can punch, he is a gentleman and he is as tough as nails. He is the whole package.”
Clearly these bouts of sunshine are expected to last.
Courtesy www.frankmaloney.com