Who is the boss at 175 now?

Posted at boxingcapital.com
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A breath of fresh hope for the light-heavyweight division was seen by the world of boxing last night in Nevada as Chad Dawson (27-0, 17 KOs) outworked, out-sped, out-jabbed and out-pointed Antonio Tarver (27-5, 19 KOs) for the IBF and IBO belts in a fight that could be summed-up by one word: speed. Though it is logical to conclude that the fight has not produced a king yet for the division that has been debased by senior fighters who loved to fight at an invented sub-division of catch-weight, there is no argument that we have witnessed (one of) the division’s future, who could lay strong claim to the throne in the near future.

While the light heavyweight division could not lay claim to being the most seeded, as such distinction belongs to either the welterweight or the lightweight divisions, it is a home to many great and borderline great names that could each make a case for them as being the leader of the division.
Joe Calzaghe (45-0, 32 KOs), Roy Jones Jr. (52-4, 38 KOs) and Bernard Hopkins (48-5, 32 KOs) —the veteran blood at 175lbs are always there ready to take on anybody who dare claim the mythical title. Adrian Diaconu (25-0, 15 KOs) and Kelly Pavlik (34-0, 30 KOs) — the fresh blood at 175lbs are also poised to claim the kingship after they are through with their forthcoming respective bouts. Of course Glen Johnson (47-12, 32), the guy who unofficially defeated Dawson, will always blot Dawson’s résumé until rematch is given. Tarver is out of the picture for now.

There will always be the case for Calzaghe who was ranked number one by the Ring Magazine after his successful first outing at light heavyweight. Calzaghe is fighting Jones next month in what will be his second fight at light heavyweight and reports that the Welsh southpaw is planning to retire after the Jones fight has only left a big question as to his supposed status as top dog. There are a lot of young good guys in the division who are aching to be given the chance for a career-defining fight.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. (39-0, 25 KOs), who was interviewed while watching the Tarver-Dawson bout at ringside, could make an argument about it all day and shout to the world that ‘Bad’ Chad is the current number one fighter in the mythical pound for pound rankings, but until some issues and unfinished business is settled, the division will remain what is it — a free-for-all division; and Mayweather, a retired loudmouth who should stay retired.

We are now looking forward for some good light heavyweight rumblings next year. In order for him to strengthen his standing at the light heavyweight ranking, Dawson should give Johnson a rematch and settle not only the issue about his chin, but more than that, the issue who really the better fighter is. He could also choose to fight first the winner of the upcoming Pavlik-Hopkins match next week and then share the ring once more with Johnson. Either way, it will be a tall line-up for the speedy boxer and a great treat for the boxing loving people.

It will be very hard for any knowledgeable boxing fans to take Dawson seriously knowing that Johnson has given him the worst beating he had in all his fight. There were several times in their fight where Dawson looked spent and ready to go. But how the judges scored the fight a big UD for him is a matter of mystery. Dawson simply has to settle the score.

Dawson could easily be the best overall fighter in the division today, but other top fighters in the division could give him some stylistic nightmares, given that he doesn’t have the power to deliver a stoppage or even just bother any of them with his light punches. Both Calzaghe and Roy Jones have the skills and reflex to cut his way off and tie him behind the ropes; Pavlik and Johnson are great swarmers; while the unbeaten dangerous puncher Diaconu could match him in a game of busy-punching and out-match him in a game of banging. A win against two of these guys would certainly solidify his status at light heavyweight. Especially if those wins were against Johnson and Pavlik. It is only then that we could take Mayweather’s pronouncement a little bit more serious and exclaim “we have a leader!”