By Lee Collier
When Tony Dodson enters the ring in March next year, it will be exactly 12 months since he was stopped brutally in the 12th round by fellow Scouser Tony Quigley in a fight for the vacant British super-middleweight title.
Dodson now gets the chance to win the British title when he faces Paul Smith in a derby fight at the same arena that Quigley stopped him in. Dodson has twice held the British belt but never made a successful defence.
The first time was back in 2003 when he had to vacate the title he won in a fight against Allan Foster after he was involved in a serious car crash that nearly ended his career and kept him away from the sport for almost two years. Dodson showed remarkable dedication when he beat Jamie Hearn in his fourth fight back only to be defeated by Carl Froch in his first defence.
Having held the belt twice, Dodson is keen to win back the title he feels he deserves. “It’s something that I have always pursued since I had to give the title up after the car accident I had,” explained Dodson.
“I am very lucky to have had 4 chances to fight for the British title and their aren’t many fighters that can say that. It’s not because I’m favoured or lucky, it’s because every fight I’ve lost I’ve been winning.”
Dodson looks back to the Quigley fight as an example of this. “Look at the Quigley fight. I absolutely dominated him from start to finish, he got lucky and the shot he put me down with in the 2nd round was on the back of the head, it was an illegal knock down and it shouldn’t have counted,” claimed Dodson.
He continued: “It meant I had to chase the fight then as I lost the second round 10-8 due to the knock down. Fair play to Tony though, he took everything I give him and come back and I can’t knock him for that. But when you look at how I dominated Tony and what Tony did to Paul it should make things interesting.”
Dodson isn’t taking anything from his own fight with Quigley or from Smith’s fight with Quigley insisting that it all comes down to what happens on the night. “I don’t take anything form the Smith-Quigley fight,” declared Dodson.
“I don’t look at Smith’s last fight, I look at what he will do in my fight. I know Smith will be at his best and will rise to the occasion and so will I. Styles make fights and when you fight a better opponent you raise you game and I’m ready for Paul.”
Dodson is taking a gamble after such a heavy defeat in stepping back into a big fight. The fighter known as ‘The Warrior’ dismisses the fact he should have taken an easier first fight back.
He said: “It will work in my favour. After the war I had with Quigley you need a rest, and the scars need to rest and I’ve had enough time now. I have stayed in the gym and had numerous fights dangled in front of me and I’ll be fresh on the night and am looking forward to it.”
Dodson feels that this fight will surpass the previous two Liverpool title derby fights for atmosphere and attendance. “It doesn’t get any better than fighting for a title in Liverpool,” beamed an excited Dodson.
“It’s the pinnacle for us. It doesn’t get any better and this will sell better than Quigley-Smith and there’ll be 10,000 in the Echo arena. I’ll be a superstar after this and I’ll take his number four world ranking off him.”
Dodson is fighting in his second consecutive all-Liverpool title affair and would happily take a fight with Carl Dilks, or a chance to avenge the loss to Quigley is a path he may want to take.
“Tony is moving to down in weight but I’d love to have a rematch as I felt justice didn’t prevail as I should have been champion that night but that’s the way life is. In regards to Carl, he only got the Commonwealth shot as I knocked it back,” stated Dodson.
“Quite simply, I turned it down as the Smith fight is more important to me. If I would have got cut or injured then the Smith fight would have been off and this fight is too important to me. I don’t know Carl personally but I hope he wins against Adamu [Editor’s note: Dilks lost on points] and I fully support him, I am not the jealous type who doesn’t want lads from Liverpool to do well and steal the limelight. I want all the Scouse fighters to do well so good luck to him.”
Dodson wants to wait until after the Smith fight and is going to let Frank Warren and Dean Powell decide what path to take. “I’ll just leave it to Dean and Frank after I’ve beaten Paul to decide what direction I’ll go,” Said Dodson.
“You have to hand it to Frank, he’s the number 1 in boxing and always produces the champions and he always puts on the best show so I’ll trust him. I can’t wait until the 12th of March.”
