By Jim Dower: An interesting light heavyweight clash between former light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson (29-1, 17 KO’s) and IBF light heavyweight champion Tavoris Cloud (21-0, 18 KO’s) is a good possibility for early 2011 in February or March, according to boxing news from Dan Rafael of ESPN. Rafael says that Dawson’s promoter Gary Shaw said that he’s in contact with HBO and promoter Don King about a fight between Dawson and Cloud in February or March of next year.

Dawson, who was beaten by WBC light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal in August, has a rematch clause with him. However, both Pascal and Dawson are permitted an interim fight in between their rematch. This is where a fight with Cloud would come in for Dawson. In the meantime, Pascal is fighting 45-year-old Bernard Hopkins in December before he faces Dawson next year. For Dawson, facing Cloud would seem like a much riskier bout than Pascal’s fight against the fading Hopkins. Cloud has an excellent punching power and a high punch output style offense.

Cloud is the exact type of fighter that Dawson has struggled against in his career. Dawson does well against fighters that fight at a slow pace and let him pick and chose when he’s going to open up with his offense. This allows Dawson frequent rest breaks to recoup in between small flurries. Cloud won’t be giving Dawson any rest breaks, and we could be seeing Dawson get beat again. Dawson has the physical tools to beat Cloud, but his fighting strategy is all wrong. Dawson spends too much time holding back with his punches and looking to peck away with jabs.

When Dawson does let his hands go, he stops over a small flurry to admire his work without staying on top of his opponents. If Dawson could fight in a sustained way like Cloud, he would be a ferocious fighter because of his speed and power. However, Dawson seems to be too timid to fight like that and it’s unclear whether he has the physical stamina needed to fight hard for three minutes of every round without constant rest breaks.