The Chad Dawson Dilemma

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

By Steve Kim - Showtime is billing their doubleheader this weekend in Tampa, Florida - which has the WBC light heavyweight title bout between Chad Dawson and Glen Johnson and the clash between Clinton Woods and Antonio Tarver for the IBF light heavyweight belt - as featuring, 'the four best light heavyweights in the world.' And it certainly features a quartet of the very elite at 175-pounds.

Many pundits (including this one) agree with Dawson, who said on a recent conference call with the media, "Come April 12th, I'm going to show everybody I'm not just the future of the division, I am the division and I'm the best light heavyweight in the world."

But there's one small problem, Bernard Hopkins holds the distinction of being the 'real' (as Max Kellerman would say) champion at 175-pounds by virtue of his victory over Tarver in June of 2006. Hopkins, since winning that crown, has made one title defense versus a blown up jr. middleweight (at a catch-weight of 170 pounds), and then on April 19th he will face Joe Calzaghe, a career super middleweight. [details]

[warp1432]

Blown up Jr.Middleweight huh?

I guess Boxing Writers don't know any difference from most fans on here do they now?

As for the article, Shaw needs to stop crying and sit down. How unfair is it that Hopkins has the belt? He earned it way before The Ring is even owned by Golden Boy.

Golden Boy really needs to do something about this though. Or The Ring should I say. They are losing a lot of support fast. Sadly everyone's full of ****. It's not like the champions are defending against bums like Zslot Erdei is.

Still they need to reinsure everyone fast.

[AntonTheMeh]

never thought i'd say this but steve kim is right on the money.

[MANGLER]

I think the Ring belt is the most meaningful belt of the 5 that are out there but I agree having it don't automatically mean you're the best fighter in the division, just the number 1 man by official rank. The winner of Hopkins-Joe C should fight the winner of one of the LHW title fights next if those winners don't fight each other. As I've said before, Dawson should be in control of the 175 lb division in a year or 2 if he stays there, but right now he's more vulnerable to get beaten than a lot of people want to acknowledge.

[FLY TY]

I think the Ring belt is the most meaningful belt of the 5 that are out there but I agree having it don't automatically mean you're the best fighter in the division, just the number 1 man by official rank. The winner of Hopkins-Joe C should fight the winner of one of the LHW title fights next if those winners don't fight each other. As I've said before, Dawson should be in control of the 175 lb division in a year or 2 if he stays there, but right now he's more vulnerable to get beaten than a lot of people want to acknowledge.

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yea, a hopkins-calzaghe fight makes no sense at all! LOL

get the f--- outta here! first of all, the ring belt has more cred than any other guy, and shaw lost me when he said, the belts governed by 'sanctioning bodies' are what he sees as credible. bottom line is, dawson has to beat someone b4 he can even be thought of as 'the man,' and glen johnson is a start at least. but truthfully a win over zag would mean more for hops at this point than a win over the 'young' dawson, b/c he'd be thought of as a 'jeff lacy' type if he were to lose.

also, just b/c someone is the 'ring champ' doesn't mean they are given a free pass, sooner or later they will have to 'put up or shut up' as in the case of casamayor-campbell situation. if he continues to fight guys undeserving, like diaz, casamayor will lose credibility, not necessarily the ring belt itself. everyone needs to stop crying, and give boxing fans more credit, we recognize the who's who in boxing whether the sanctioning bodies do or not..........

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

Blown up Jr.Middleweight huh?

I guess Boxing Writers don't know any difference from most fans on here do they now?

As for the article, Shaw needs to stop crying and sit down. How unfair is it that Hopkins has the belt? He earned it way before The Ring is even owned by Golden Boy.

Golden Boy really needs to do something about this though. Or The Ring should I say. They are losing a lot of support fast. Sadly everyone's full of ****. It's not like the champions are defending against bums like Zslot Erdei is.

Still they need to reinsure everyone fast.

Hopkins retired after he won the Ring belt and was never stripped of the Ring belt when he retired, violating their magazine's guidelines. Hopkins has not faced a single "light heavyweight" ranked by Ring Magazine. Mayweather has not faced a single ranked welterweight by The Ring of the WBC. The last welterweight Floyd beat was in 2006 when he won the title from Baldomir. He wont fight one in 08 and 09 appears to be a Hatton rematch.

As far as the blow up junior middleweight, Wright refused to fight any higher than 170 because it was too much weight for him and blames the loss to Hopkins on fighting way too high.

[FLY TY]

Hopkins retired after he won the Ring belt and was never stripped of the Ring belt when he retired, violating their magazine's guidelines. Hopkins has not faced a single "light heavyweight" ranked by Ring Magazine. Mayweather has not faced a single ranked welterweight by The Ring of the WBC. The last welterweight Floyd beat was in 2006 when he won the title from Baldomir. He wont fight one in 08 and 09 appears to be a Hatton rematch.

As far as the blow up junior middleweight, Wright refused to fight any higher than 170 because it was too much weight for him and blames the loss to Hopkins on fighting way too high.

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yea, but fighters need to just fight, promoters just promote. everything will work itself out, thie is ridiculous. i'm sure when hops retires after the fight, dawson will be recognized if he wins, or the winner of one fight will fight the winner of the other for the 'ring' belt. no point in writing this article........

and as far as the mayweather thing, its clear no other welterweight can beat him so that's why he's the 'ring' champ. but like the other guy said, its not like these ring champs are fighting "bums," they're fighting great fighters, just from other divsions. what would've meant more for mayweather, a win over DLH, or a win over mosely?

[Scott9945]

never thought i'd say this but steve kim is right on the money.

IMO Steve Kim is one of the best writers around now. I think this site is lucky to have him.

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

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yea, but fighters need to just fight, promoters just promote. everything will work itself out, thie is ridiculous. i'm sure when hops retires after the fight, dawson will be recognized if he wins, or the winner of one fight will fight the winner of the other for the 'ring' belt. no point in writing this article........

and as far as the mayweather thing, its clear no other welterweight can beat him so that's why he's the 'ring' champ. but like the other guy said, its not like these ring champs are fighting "bums," they're fighting great fighters, just from other divsions. what would've meant more for mayweather, a win over DLH, or a win over mosely?

Why does De La Hoya mean more than Mosley (other than money value)? Mosley beat De La Hoya twice and was Mayweather's mandatory at the time. De La Hoya is old. He is far from his prime.

Best fighters? Mayweather has mapped out two fights, both rematches, against people he already beat, De La Hoya and Hatton.

How is anything clear that he can beat anyone at welterweight? He beat Sharmba Mitchell, Judah and Baldomir. Floyd's only welterweight fights. Cotto beat Mosley, stopped Quintana, stopped Judah, stopped Urkal. All at welterweight. Actually, Cotto has a much better resume at 140 than Mayweather. I'm still wondering why Ring still has him as the welterweight champ is he is not fighting WELTERWEIGHTS.

[2501]

I'm still wondering why Ring still has him as the welterweight champ is he is not fighting WELTERWEIGHTS.

because the owner of the magazine is fighting him. and why Mayweather fanatics CONTINUE to view De La Hoya as a bigger accomplishment than Mosley is beyond comprehension when Mosley beat DLH 2 times. "Mosley was washed up and De La Hoya was still dangerous. No WW could have ever beat De La Hoya that night except Mayweather."

they automatically forget mosley already did.