Dawson, Tarver Rematch For Light Heavy Boxing Supremacy

ByBoxing Press

Undefeated IBF/IBO light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson and three-time world champion Antonio Tarver will meet in a rematch of their world title fight, Saturday, May 9, in The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas.

Dawson, 27-0 (17), from New Haven, CT, began his second reign as a light heavyweight world champion by dethroning the defending 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.

“Winning my first world title was a career highlight, but beating Tarver last year was a personal joy, one I look forward to repeating on May 9, “said Dawson. “I’ve beaten the best in my division. I am the king of the light heavyweights.”

Tarver, 27-5 (19), from Tampa, FL., is one of his era’s greatest champions. 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.”

“Dawson’s a young lion and he had a high work rate during our first fight,” said Tarver. “I missed a few times with my power shot but that’s what it is, it’s a game of inches. But I always learn from my losses, and as Roy Jones, Glen Johnson, and Eric Harding will tell you, I never lose twice to the same man. Dawson will learn that lesson too on May 9.”

The fight will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing, beginning at 10:30 p.m. EDT / 7:30 p.m. PDT.

Promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, LLC and AT Entertainment, Dawson-Tarver II tickets, priced at $250, $175, $150, $75, $50 and $35, go on sale Tuesday, March 17, and can be purchased at www.hardrockhotel.com, www.Ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster outlets.