Chad Dawson Set To Go On Saturday

27.09.07 – By Matthew Hurley: Unfortunately for World Boxing Council light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson his bout against Epifanio Mendoza arrives on the same night that middleweight champion Jermain Taylor squares off against number one contender Kelly Pavlik. Dawson, one of the toughest fighters out there deserves better. But his bout, to be aired on the Showtime network, remains intriguing to die hard fans simply because Dawson is a boxer who deserves some exposure..

Dawson was scheduled to fight contender Adrian Diaconu but because of a wrist injury to Diaconu Mendoza was brought in as a late replacement. Late replacements usually lead to less than compelling bouts but sometimes a replacement opponent fights way over his head. The biggest surprise that immediately comes to this writer’s mind is when Stevie Cruz stepped in as a last week replacement for Fernando Sosa in a 1986 title bid against Ireland’s Barry McGuigan.

McGuigan was being groomed as a potential break out star and found himself on the under card of the Thomas Hearns – Mark Medal, Roberto Duran – Robbie Sims double header. That under card bout turned into the fight of the year and the unheralded Cruz ruined McGuigan (along with the desert son) and took a 15 round decision after clinching it with two knockdowns in the final stanza. Boxing, perhaps more than any other sport, can provide fans with unexpected moments.

The good thing about this bout is that Showtime is providing it for free. The network is running a free preview weekend and Dawson is hoping that this exposure will further his cause.

“I’m not looking past this guy,” he says. “He got the call so I know he’s going to come at me with his best. I’m in great shape and my game plan hasn’t changed despite Diaconu pulling out. I’m prepared and ready to go.”

The biggest upshot for Dawson is Showtime’s decision to broadcast the bout for free. Many people will be switching back and forth from Showtime and HBO on fight night – that’s how good Dawson is.

Dawson’s promoter Gary Shaw summed it up when he said, “This is big for him. This is like being on a network station because it doesn’t cost anything. Chad has a chance to be seen by a ton of people.”

Still Dawson is in a transitional period. He recently fired his trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. According to Dawson the two simply didn’t get along and knowing the combative Mayweather’s temperament that sounds more than plausible. “We just didn’t get on with one another and I think it’s important for a trainer and a fighter to get along. I had to make the change.” He has since taken on former light heavyweight champion Eddie Mustafa Muhammad as his chief trainer and the two seem to be a comfortable fit.

Muhammad recently opined that, “I predict that a year from now, Chad Dawson will be the best fighter in the world. He punches so hard and has so many tools.”

All that remains to be seen, but the twenty-five year old Dawson seems to have all the necessary skills to stake a claim for himself in the pound for pound rankings in the years to come.