Second Dawson Walkover Provides Listless TV Debut

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

By Lyle Fitzsimmons - I’d like to issue a formal apology to my new big-screen television.

After weeks in the showroom of a local warehouse club showing loops of Major League Baseball and National Football League highlights, I plucked its 40 inches off the shelf, loaded it across the backseat of the old Chevy Malibu and brought it home to the new living room.

Logistics prevented me from getting it for the Pacquiao-Hatton show last weekend, so I instead bided my time, checked the sports calendar and figured Saturday’s night’s HBO show from Las Vegas would serve as a credible debut for its satellite HD prowess.

I was wrong.

In spite of a record of mayhem on Antonio Tarver’s rematch resume and promises of a more impressive and violent encore from first go-round winner Chad Dawson, their re-do wound up a dreary 36 minutes in which one man had too little and the other did too little.

Sure, Dawson’s capture of eight or nine rounds on every ringside scorecard let him walk out with the IBF and IBO light heavyweight belts he walked in with, but it did precious little to make anyone believe he’s actually earned the pound-for-pound status he covets. [details]

[MANGLER]

Dude needs to fight Glen again. He owes him a rematch and Glen brought out the best in him. It was an excitin fight. Do it Chad.

[Izrock]

Dude needs to fight Glen again. He owes him a rematch and Glen brought out the best in him. It was an excitin fight. Do it Chad.

I agree, a rematch would be intriguing. Get it done Chad!

[Kevin Jesus]

Johnson Vs Dawson II is the fight that everyone wants to see. He should take all of these 40 year olds out of the picture and then challenge Kessler or Froch to come up and fight him, or go down to 168 to fight Williams or Taylor.

[Clegg]

Good article

I agree with your comments towards the end. Dawson seems like a really nice guy, but it'd benefit him to try and stir things up a bit in his interviews. If he'd said "Hopkins is scared of me, Calzaghe retired in order to avoid me" he would've had a lot of people talking, and maybe those two might've responded.

[DonTaseMeBrah]

very thoughtful article mr. fitzsimmons.

[ShalafiV.2]

What a dreadful, boring, and painful fight to watch. I am such a sick person for having sat and watched the whole 30+ minutes of this bore fest. Dawson might have skills but he's gotta be one of the most boring fighters to ever lace them up, even old ass Tarver on the other hand although a much less polished and less skillful boxer in my opinion was at times more exciting than Dawson when he would occasionally land a shot, so that says it all. I will never ever watch another of his fights, I hope neither HBO or Showtime put this guy on a televised fight, what a boring fighter this guy is.

[mr incredible]

ok.....for the uninformed....its very difficult to look spectacular against a definsive fighter with a decent chin. With that being said.....please, reflect on that, lets step outside of our extra critical body and analyze this....Tarver, who doesn't have a poor resume, put up the best fight he has in years, perhaps his best ever, given his opponent. Although we would like to see dawson fight johnson again, does he have to? Not at all. There was no room for dispute despite what jealous, critical, cynics may write in their respective blogs. Dawson clearly controlled the fight, while johnson never relented, it was clear who won it decisively. As for the tarver/dawson 2 fight being boring, thats both right and wrong. In terms of style, very boring, but this has nothing to do with chad dawson, this only speaks of how well tarver was able to stick to his plan. Very similar to that of Bernard Hopkins. Hopkins style can be boring to some, but at the same time we consider him a genius. I personally had absolutely no respect for the loud mouth tarver until after the second dawson fight. He showed will, determination, and actually a little skill to go with it. Cong**** Antonio, retire now, but cong****. Guys, please forget about a Johnson rematch, there is no need for one, it will be identical to the first if not more decisive for Dawson. Pick on Joe Calzaghe. This guy fought tomato cans his entire career, then fought two greats that are outside of their prime. Now this guy walks around with his chest poked out as if he is king. Yo Joe...you aren't the ring magazine champion, you are the most eligible champion to get battered by an unknown pedestrian, a homeless veteran, or a teenager. Guys, Dawson is the best out there, be honest in your assessments. Give Dawson some comp and you will see him perform well.

[-----------]

Johnson Vs Dawson II is the fight that everyone wants to see. He should take all of these 40 year olds out of the picture and then challenge Kessler or Froch to come up and fight him, or go down to 168 to fight Williams or Taylor???.

**** seeing that, Taylor just got KTFO AGAIN.

I for one couldn't be bothered to see that.

[Joe2608]

It was indeed a terrible fight. Just like the first one. Light Heavy isn't too loaded at the moment, only fights i want to see really are Dawson Vs Johnson II and Dawson Vs. Hopkins.