By Rick Reeno
On Saturday night at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Antonio Tarver (27-4, 19 KOs) defends the IBF light heavyweight title against undefeated Chad Dawson, (26-0, 17 KOs). A fight built up by nearly two-years of hype will finally happen in classic battle of "old lion vs. young lion."
The staff of BoxingScene.com comes together to voice their opinions, strategies and predictions for the big fight.
CompuBox/Bob Canobbio - Chad Dawson by twleve-round decision over Antonio Tarver. Youth will prevail.
Jake Donovan - Chad Dawson by twelve-round split decision over Tarver
An early firefight gets sloppier as the night goes on. Dawson most likely forced to climb off the canvas to take a close decision that won't sit well with the Tarver camp.
Robert Morales - Chad Dawson by decision. He is too young and too hungry.
TK Stewart - If you go by each man's last performance then the clear edge has to go to Antonio Tarver. I thought Tarver was absolutely splendid against Clinton Woods whereas Chad Dawson was lucky to get the decision versus Glen Johnson. The clear edge in experience and the mind-set to handle a high pressure fight goes to Tarver. I just have a feeling that Tarver will find a way to win. Tarver has more nuance to his game and he knows his limits. On the other hand I think Dawson is still learning and still getting to know his own limits. From a comparison standpoint this reminds me a bit of Calzaghe vs. Kessler. I like Tarver by close decision.
Cliff Rold - Tarver and Dawson fight to a draw. I can see this fight going lots of ways without feeling good about any of them. It's the sort of fight where one guy could win more rounds and but get off the deck a couple times or the sort of fight where attitudes could flare for some point deductions. Dawson is younger, stronger and faster; Tarver remains wily and mean. I can't figure who wins, and I think it goes the full route, so I pick a draw.
Lyle Fitzsimmons - Tarver hasn't looked good against a live opponent since, well... landing a fluky left hook with his eyes closed several years back. Dawson, meanwhile, bravely gutted it out against a durable Glen Johnson in April and has shown more than enough atheticism and skill along the way to establish himself as the best 175-pounder not named Calzaghe. Dawson by decision in twelve.
Patrick Kehoe - Chad Dawson has the youth and dynamism and punch variety to fight the kind of fight that should beat the almost 40 year-old Tarver over 12 rounds. Dawson thinks Tarver is old and slow and ready to go. And Tarver thinks the kid is not in his league and if Johnson can buzz him, he'll knock him out. Over all, it's hard to pick against a talented 25 year-old with a chip on his shoulder against a 40 year-old legend of the division because 15 years is 2 life times in boxing.
John Hively - Antonio Tarver and Chad Dawson should be a close fight. Dawson is supposed to be the up and coming future of the light heavyweight division; but given that Glen Johnson spanked him in his last bout, and Chad got an awfully stinky decision, I have my doubts. So I'm going to pick Tarver via decision.
Ernest Gabion - Tarver by knockout in seven-rounds. Dawson will be insanely good early on, but Tarver will weather the storm and catch a tired Dawson.
James Blears - Chad Dawson looked BAD againt Glen Johnson, but dug deep for a unanimous nod. The fact that he's yet to reach thirty, and Antonio Tarver is flirting close to forty, is a cutting edge advantage he must use to win this fight, especially in the later rounds, when older legs get tired and betray elderly fighters. Chad will win a unanimous decision, but ONLY if he forces Tarver out of his coasting comfort zone. To achieve this he's going to have to push himself a lot harder than he's accostomed to.
Ryan Songalia - Dawson is coming off a very damaging fight with Glen Johnson and that could affect him mentally. I can think of better states to be in when entering a fight with Tarver. Luckily for Dawson this an older version of Tarver with old legs. If Dawson can keep the fight in the middle of the ring he can outhustle Tarver. Tarver is an old dog who knows a lot of tricks, and he's going to need every one of them to sucker Dawson in. He's the bigger man here but I'll still go with Dawson by decision.
Amy Green - I'm going with Dawson, in hopes a newer, fresher, younger and stronger face will wear the light heavy crown. Tarver needs to work a little more magic than he has in his outings since Hopkins and back up all the pre fight hype he's been spewing. Dawson is in an ultimate give and take situation with this fight- he gave up a belt to take a chance on a defining fight, which may prove Tarver has aged past his prime and Dawson is indeed the true champion.
Mark Vester - Antonio Tarver by knockout in ten-rounds.
Alphonso Costello - Antonio Tarver has the confidence and experience to successfully defend his version of the light heavyweight title on Saturday night. However, much like a certain presidential candidate, Tarver’s experience and brash talking style will not be enough to defeat the young light heavyweight elitist Chad Dawson.
In a battle of southpaws, Chad Dawson will weather some rough spots and defeat Antonio Tarver by split decision.
Larry Tornambe - I see Dawson squeaking out a tight decision win over Tarver.
Troy Ondrizek - This is the battle between the biggest mouth of the light heavyweights versus the biggest question in the division. Tarver has great skills in the ring and pairs those beautifully with his sharp tongue and quick wit. Often (as in the case with Woods) Antonio is able to partially or completely defeat his foe before either man enters the ring. In this fight Dawson won't be swayed by Tarver's verbal assaults and will only focus on the physical ones.
With this fight relying solely on the fighting styles of the two combatants, Tarver has all the tricks and skill to counter and turn "Bad" Chad all over the place. Look for Tarver to load up early on the big shots and put some good body work in in hopes to deter Dawson from coming forward as the fight progresses. However, while Dawson will walk into some shots by Tarver, Antonio won't have time to load up on those blows. Chad will come early and often and keep coming as the fight gets deep. Chad isn't as fast as Roy Jones Jr., but he is fast enough and busy enough to keep Tarver from thinking his way through this fight. Not to mention that Tarver throws wide form, from time to time, while Chad helps his natural speed with straight shots. Dawson by UD in a fight that will have less controversy and action than his last go round with Glen Johnson.
Ronnie Nathanielsz - For some reason Antonio Tarver never really excited me as a fight fan. That being said I still believe that Chad Dawson will be a little out of his depth against Tarver who should win, probably by stoppage considering the quality of the fighters he has met compared to those Dawson has traded punches with.
Brent Matteo Alderson - Everybody says that Tarver looked bad against Clinton Woods, but Woods is a good fighter and I thought Tarver looked like his old self in that fight. He’s old at 39 years old, but he was 27 years old when he fought at the 1996 Olympics so in boxing terms he’s young and I think he has finally re-acclimated himself to 175 pounds. I thought Johnson won the fight with Dawson and felt sorry for the road warrior. I like Tarver in the fight. I’ve never been too impressed with Dawson.
Shawn Krest - When the Magic Man stopped Roy Jones Jr., then cruised past him in the rubber match of their trilogy, a lot of credit was given to his extra cornerman, Father Time, who finally managed to run down Jones. Except that Tarver is two months older than Junior. Father Time is switching corners on Saturday, and has the power to make things ugly. Look for a late stoppage by Dawson.
Michael Doss - Tarver will make this battle of lefties interesting early but as he had done before, Dawson will yet again come out of a tough fight doing just a little bit more and winning a decision, this time no doubt.
Michael Campbell - Chad Dawson over Tarver by unanimous decision, 118 to 110. Dawson is the class of the division and Tarver has never been as good as Dawson is right now. Also Dawson is strong mentally and doesn't show the elder Tarver respect, so Tarver's psychological ploys will not have any effect.
Rick Reeno - I'm still bothered at how much trouble Dawson had with Glen Johnson. He was hurt several times and at one point there was some doubt as to whether or not he would make it to the final bell. The winner will be the fighter who dictates the pace. If Tarver sits back like he did against Hopkins, then Dawson will win an easy decision. If Tarver rushes Dawson in the same manner as Johnson, he should win by knockout.
