The below was sent to BoxingScene.com by the WBC, Dawson has officially vacated his title. As reported last night, Dawson is slated to face Antonio Tarver for the IBF light heavyweight title on October 11 on Showtime.
Chad Dawson contacted the WBC to inform that he will not fight Adrian Diaconu for the undisputed light heavyweight championship and therefore is relinquishing the title, even though representatives of both fighters had participated in a purse offer that was won by the Romanian promotor Gangkor Promotions.
The WBC feels very disillusioned with Dawson’s decision, as he was going to make the highest purse of his career against Diaconu. The WBC has always supported Dawson since he won the WBC Continental Americas title in 2003. He later asked for the permission of the organization not to fight Adrian Diaconu in a final elimination bout, but to be allowed to directly fight Tomasz Adamek for the title in a voluntary defense, which the WBC accepted and Dawson became WBC champion of the world in 2007. The WBC once again supported Dawson in allowing him to make a voluntary defense against Glen Johnson, for which Dawson signed a letter agreeing to fight Diaconu next.
It happens that he found the way not to fight Diaconu again.
Apparently the reason that Dawson did not comply with the WBC Rules is because of a commitment that he has with a television network, which it seems is interfering with the rights and infrastructure of the WBC, which must be addressed in the near future.