By Adam Lialo: Stepping up from safe and mediocre territory into a world class zone is a massive gap to bridge. But it’s also a very fine line between the two. Fighters on the outskirts of the top level, through choice, poor management or lack of pulling power or in some cases all three, have to make the decision whether they’re happy with what they’ve achieved or have the hunger and drive to be greater. These are the five fighters that should be believing that this is their year.
Chad Dawson
Hopkins Still Wants Calzaghe Rematch: Why Not Dawson?
By William Mackay: Possibly still smarting from his 12-round split decision loss to Joe Calzaghe (46-0, 32 KOs) in April 2008, Bernard Hopkins (49-5-1, 32 KOs) reportedly wants a rematch with Calzaghe to try and clear up the close loss between the two fighters. Unfortunately for Hopkins, Calzaghe closed up shop and decided to retire from the sport rather than give Hopkins his much needed chance for revenge. It doesn’t appear at this point that Calzaghe is going to be coming back now or ever, no matter how much money is offered to him.
Johnson Defeats Judah, Wants Dawson Now; Ortiz vs. Arnaoutis – News
Friday night at the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida, former world light heavyweight champion Glen “The Road Warrior” Johnson finally got his chance to put his controversial 2003 draw with Daniel Judah to rest, and he made the most of his opportunity, scoring a near shutout ten round decision over his opponent in the main event of ESPN2 Friday Night Fights.
When Is Kessler Going To Step It Up?
By Scott Gilfoid: After 11 years of fighting as a pro, super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler (41-1, 31 KOs) has fought frighteningly mediocre competition consisting of a whole slew of fighters that I’ve frankly never heard of in my life. I had hopes that Kessler would start stepping it up after his fighting with Joe Calzaghe in 2007, but since then Kessler has continued fighting soft opponents and failed to step it up against a quality fighter like IBF light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson.
Calzaghe Still Making Excuses For Not Fighting Dawson
By Scott Gilfoid: Well, what else is new? In an interview with the TimesOnline, Joe Calzaghe said that he felt that Chad Dawson was “on his way up,” explaining why reasoning for not fighting him. I wonder what his reasoning was for fighting a washed up 40-year-old Roy Jones Jr. If Dawson, who is the best light heavyweight in the division, isn’t ready to take on Calzaghe, then pray tell how is a faded Jones more ready than Dawson? Jones was easily defeated twice by Antonio Tarver in the past four years, while Dawson recently blanked Tarver in an embarrassingly one-sided fight.
Why Won’t Hopkins Fight Dawson?
By Dan Ambrose: Bernard Hopkins (49-5-1, 32 KOs) has accomplished a lot in his career, holding the middleweight title for 11 long years before losing it to Jermain Taylor in 2005. Hopkins then, after losing another time against Taylor in a rematch December 2005, moved up to the light heavyweight division where he defeated Antonio Tarver and Winky Wright before losing once again, this time to Joe Calzaghe.
Dawson Fractures Hand, Fight With Tarver Off
By Jim Dower: According to Fightnews.com, International Boxing Federation light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson (27-0, 17 KOs) suffered a hairline fracture of his right hand in training, and will be unable to fight former IBF light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver (27-5, 19 KOs) for their previously scheduled rematch on March 14th. As of now, there’s no information about a date for the rescheduling of the fight but, more news will be coming shortly.
Will Calzaghe Come Out Of Retirement To Fight Woods?
By Chris Williams: Dennis Hobson, the promoter of former IBF/WBC light heavyweight champion Clinton Woods, is interested in getting Joe Calzaghe out of retirement for a bout against the top rated Woods according to The Star. Woods recently trounced Elvir Muriqi on Saturday night in the IBF light heavyweight title eliminator match, giving Woods a future shot at the winner of Antonio Tarver and Chad Dawson fight.
Did Calzaghe Retire To Avoid Having To Fight Dawson?
By Scott Gilfoid: When former WBO super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe retired a week ago, he chose a time in his career when he just happened to be facing one of the biggest threats of his career in IBF light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson who was very interested in fighting him. Not only was Dawson interested in mixing it up with Calzaghe, many boxing fans from around the world wanted to see Dawson and Calzaghe fight.
Calzaghe vs. Dawson – Dream Fight
By Scott Gilfoid: Since Joe Calzaghe (46-0, 32 KOs) chose to quit rather than fight the talented unbeaten light heavyweight Chad Dawson (27-0, 17 KOs), I felt it was up to me to use my in depth knowledge of both fighters to give a breakdown of what would likely have happened if the two had met in the ring. Dawson, 26, had been counting on Calzaghe to fight him before retiring from boxing, but instead Calzaghe chose to retire with a big money fight over the badly washed up Roy Jones Jr. on November 8th, 2008, and not surprisingly, Joe defeated the faded Roy by a 12-round decision.