By T.K. Stewart
Renowned trainer and former world champ Eddie Mustafa Muhammad likes what he sees in his young titlist, "Bad" Chad Dawson. Muhammad thinks that Dawson has only scratched the surface of what his potential can be and that the sky is the limit for the newly minted, undefeated IBF titlist who previously held the WBC belt.
"My whole situation is to make Chad Dawson the best fighter in the world," said Muhammad. "He came to me with great tools, tools that I built on, and I'm still building. The victory over Antonio Tarver was nothing and I'm not taking anything away from Antonio Tarver."
Dawson had been trained in the past by the likes of John Scully and Floyd Mayweather, Sr. and at only 26 years old with a record of 27-0 (17)KO's, his future, as far as Muhammad can see, looks wonderful.
"Chad, I'm not finished developing him yet," said Muhammad. "He can just be a great, great fighter. He's already a two-time champion and you know, believe me, at the end of the day he's going to be the last man standing in this era."
While many may perceive Muhammad's words as nothing more than talk, don't forget that Floyd Mayweather, Jr., once the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world himself, went on record in a post-fight television interview after Dawson beat Tarver and said that Chad was now, in his opinion, the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet.
Dawson has much to be proud of this year, with the close win over Glen Johnson as well as the convincing victory over Tarver. This past Saturday night, after Joe Calzaghe beat Roy Jones, Jr., for The Ring Magazine 175-pound title, Dawson released the following statement through publicist Fred Sternburg:
"Joe has lot to be proud of and I for one am very impressed," stated Dawson. "If Joe wants to have his grand farewell in Wales, I am ready to accommodate. My passport and world title belts are ready to travel across the pond. I'm ready to give Joe the opportunity to draw the curtain on his great career in front of his family and friends and 70,000 fans. It's the best fight in the light heavyweight division between two undefeated champions."
Certainly Dawson has plenty of available challengers at 175 pounds with names such as Calzaghe and Hopkins as well as #1 contender Tavoris Cloud or even a rematch with the still dangerous Glen Johnson.
Muhammad likes Dawson's chances in all of those fights. And as much as Muhammad likes Dawson's ring skills, he likes his attitude even more.
"Chad is a very humble fighter," said Muhammad. "He's not braggadocios. I mean listen, the bottom line is his fists does the talking. When that bell rings brother, Chad makes guys remember what they say to him."
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