IN A perfect world, Chad Dawson would rather fight Bernard Hopkins or Joe Calzaghe tonight in Las Vegas. But he plans to make the most of his rematch with Antonio Tarver when the two tangle for the second time in seven months in a scheduled 12-rounder for Dawson’s IBF/IBO light heavyweight titles.
Dawson, of New Haven, Conn., earned a one-sided decision over Tarver in October and hoped the victory would propel him to a big-money fight against Hopkins or Calzaghe, the two biggest names in his division. But Calzaghe retired, and Hopkins wants a king’s ransom to fight again. It’s left Dawson (27-0, 17 KOs) with little choice but to accept a rematch with Tarver (27-5, 19 KOs).
“I was a little disappointed initially,” Dawson said. “But he had a rematch clause, so it’s a good thing to go ahead and get it out of the way so I can move on to bigger and better things.”
What does excite Dawson, 26, is this will be his first fight on HBO. The telecast begins at 9:30 p.m. and will be shown along with a replay of Manny Pacquiao’s second-round knockout of Ricky Hatton.
“This is a dream come true,” Dawson said. “Now that I have the opportunity, I’m going to go out and impress HBO, impress the fans and impress myself.”
Though he soundly was beaten in the first fight, Tarver, 40, is banking on his record in rematches to give him renewed confidence against Dawson. He won rematches against Roy Jones, Glen Johnson and Eric Harding and plans to do the same against Dawson.
“When I’m determined, I’m definitely a hard guy to beat,” Tarver said. “I’m focused and determined. I’m going to let my hands go. I’m not going to wait. My offense will be my defense.”
Dawson, a 6-foot-3 southpaw, said he isn’t rattled by Tarver’s success in rematches.
“Those guys weren’t Chad Dawson,” he said. “I have every advantage. I’m a younger, I’m faster and I’m stronger. Everyone will be able to see that.”
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It has been suggested in circles that Floyd Mayweather Sr. looks like a fool after talking so much trash about how Hatton was going to destroy Pacquiao on May 2 only to see the Pacman flatten the Hitman inside two rounds. From my view, Mayweather is genius for getting much of the public to believe it was going to be a competitive fight.
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Hatton remains unsure about his boxing future, but it sounds like he’s ready to become in England what Oscar De La Hoya has become in America — a full-time promoter. Hatton Promotions already has been established and a gym is under construction in Hatton’s hometown of Manchester.
“I’ve been a great world champion, I’ve been the best in the world, and I think I can be the best promoter in the world, and I think that is the avenue I want to go down,” Hatton told the Manchester Evening News.
Anyone who saw Hatton get dropped by Pacquaio should hope Hatton has fought for the last time.