By Jim Dower: Much to everyone’s relief, the mouthwatering fight between former two-time light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson (29-1, 17 KO’s) and Romanian Adrian Diaconu (27-2, 15 KO’s) will go ahead for May 21st on the undercard of the Bernard Hopkins vs. Jean Pascal bout at the Bell Centre, in Montreal, Canada. The fight negotiations between Dawson and Diaconu have been successfully completed and the fight is ready to go ahead.
Adrian Diaconu
Dawson vs. Diaconu on Hopkins-Pascal undercard on 5/21
By Eric Thomas: Former two-time light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson (29-1, 17 KO’s) will be facing 32-year-old Romanian slugger Adrian Diaconu (27-2, 15 KO’s) on the undercard of the light heavyweight clash between champion Jean Pascal and 46-year-old challenger Bernard Hopkins on May 21st. Dan Rafael is reporting that Dawson and Diaconu’s promoters have made a deal for the fight.
Pascal decisions Diaconu, Lemieux and Lucas win – Boxing Results
By Jim Dower: World Boxing Council light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal (25-1, 16 KO’s) defeated former WBC light heavyweight champion Adrian Diaconu (26-2, 15 KO’s) tonight by a 12 round decision at the Bell Centre, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The final judges’ scores were 117-111, 117-111 and 118-110. Pascal was too fast and much more skilled than the slower Diaconu.
Pascal Defeats Diaconu, Wins WBC Light Heavyweight Crown
By Jim Dower: Making his first fight at light heavyweight, Jean Pascal (23-1, 15 KO’s) dominated World Boxing Council (WBC) light heavyweight champion Adrian Diaconu (26-1, 15 KO’s) on Friday night, handing Diaconu his first loss of his career at the bell Centre, in Montreal, Canada. Pascal, 26, knocked Diaconu down with a huge left hook in the 5th round. Later in the same round, Pascal was stunned by a big looping right hand from Diaconu that had Pascal holding on for the remainder of the round. Both fighters traded big shots for most of the fight as they traded rounds fairly regularly.
Boxing News – Diaconu vs. Pascal on Friday; Chavez Jr., Gamboa and Antillon Fighting on July 25th
By Jason Kim: This Friday night, World Boxing Council (WBC) light heavyweight champion Adrian Diaconu (26-0, 15 KO’s) will be defending his title against number #5 ranked challenger Jean Pascal (22-1, 15 KO’s) at the Bell Centre, in Montreal, Canada. This will be the first defense for the 31-year-old Romanian transplant champion Diaconu, who now lives and fights out of Canada.
News – De La Hoya Picks Hatton to Beat Pacquiao; Pascal vs. Diaconu on June 19th
By Manuel Perez: Former six division champion Oscar De La Hoya (39-6, 30 KOs) is choosing Ricky Hatton (45-1, 32 KOs) to defeat Manny Pacquiao (48-3-2, 36 KOs) by knockout this Saturday night at MGM Grand, in Las Vegas, Nevada. You would think with De La Hoya getting savagely beaten in an 8th round stoppage loss to Pacquiao in December that De La Hoya would naturally side with Pacquiao in beating Hatton.
Diaconu Defeats Whittom, Fails to Impress
By William Mackay: In a non-title bout, undefeated World Boxing Council (WBC) light heavyweight champion Adrian Diaconu (26-0, 15 KOs) defeated Canadian journeyman David Whittom (10-8-1, 6 KOs) by an eight-round unanimous decision tonight at the Bell Centre, in Montreal, Canada.
Bradley-Holt, Andrade-Tsypko & Diaconu-Whittom Fight Predictions
By Dave Lahr: Perhaps the two best light welterweights in the World fight tomorrow night when World Boxing Council light welterweight champion Timothy Bradley (23-0, 11 KOs) fights World Boxing Organization light welterweight champion Kendall Holt (25-2, 13 KOs) at the Bell Centre, in Montreal, Canada. Also on the card will be Librado Andrade (27-2, 21 KOs) facing Vitali Tsypko (22-2, 12 KOs) in a International Boxing Federation super middleweight title eliminator match.
Dawson Must Defend WBC Title Against Diaconu
By Nate Anderson: Undefeated WBC light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson (26-0, 17 KOs) has only 90 days to defend his title against the undefeated interim champion Adrian “The Shark” Diaconu (25-0, 15 KOs) or risk being stripped of his title. Dawson, however, most defend his title in Diaconu’s native Romania, because Ganker Promotions, who happens to be the promoter for Diaconu, won the rights to promote the fight with a purse bid to $1,813,000, outbidding Dawson’s promoter Gary Shaw, who bid $1,301,033. Having to travel all the way to Romania to defend his title in front of what will likely be a hostile crowd, Dawson, 25, has his work cut out for him.
Diaconu, 30, who represented Romania in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, is a power puncher with little hand speed, defeated Chris Henry in his last fight in April to win the WBC interim title. Originally from Romania, Diaconu now lives and fights out of Canada.
Diaconu Decisions Henry
By Nate Anderson: Undefeated Romanian light heavyweight contender Adrian Diaconu (25-0, 15 KOs) defeated American Chris Henry (21-1, 17 KOs) by a 12-round unanimous decision tonight to win the WBC light heavyweight interim title at the Sala Polivalenta, in Bucharest, Romania. Diaconu, 29, ranked #1 in the WBC, appeared to land the cleaner punches all fight long and rarely had trouble with Henry. The final judges scores were 115-113, 115-113 and 116-113.