Dawson-Diaconu Close, Johnson and Tarver on The Hunt

By Dave Sholler

With Chad Dawson reportedly set to defend his WBC crown against Adrian Diaconu in the fall, two veteran light heavyweight fighters are now left to explore other options.
Former champions Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson, both considered to be potential opponents for Dawson, must now consider other bouts.

After nearly defeating Dawson in April, the 39-year-old Johnson (47-12-2, 32 KOs) is wasting no time getting back in the title picture. According to manager Henry Foster, Johnson is tentatively scheduled to fight number-two ranked Silvio Branco (57-9-2, 34 KOs) of Italy in a title eliminator bout on the undercard of Dawson-Diaconu.  Foster said that Johnson would have preferred an immediate rematch with Dawson, but has no qualms about fighting Branco.

“It was such a grueling fight for Dawson that I fully expected him to turn down a rematch,” Foster said, adding that he was pleased when the WBC elevated Johnson from the number six contender to number one following the Dawson bout.  “It’s no sour grapes (with Dawson). It is what it is. It hurts more as we get older because we have fewer and fewer opportunities. But we’ll get another bite at the apple.”

Both the Dawson-Diaconu and Johnson-Branco bouts have to be contractually finalized, Foster said. He expects the deals to be formally agreed upon in the weeks to come.

Tarver, fresh off a decisive victory over Clinton Woods in April, had expressed lukewarm interest in a bout with Dawson in recent months. However, with “Bad” Chad obligated to fight Diaconu in Romania in the fall, the IBF/IBO champion is now looking into other opportunities.

Reached by email last week, Tarver co-promoter Gary Shaw confirmed that the 39-year-old Florida native was interested in fighting again in the fall, but was noncommittal in offering potential opponents. Jeff Lacy and Joe Calzaghe were two fighters Tarver had expressed interest in facing earlier this year. Neither appears to be a candidate as Tarver’s next opponent.