Sport

Tarver dismisses Dawson threat
by Mark Doyle, 08 October 2008

Tarver: confident

Antonio Tarver does not believe that Chad Dawson is on the same level as some of the other fighters he has taken on during his illustrious career.

IBF and IBO light-heavyweight champion Tarver has shared a ring with men of the calibre of Roy Jones Jr. and Bernard Hopkins and does not believe that Dawson, whom he meets in Las Vegas on Saturday night, measures up.

Tarver v Dawson is live on Setanta and Setanta By Broadband from 10pm on Saturday.

Not only that, Tarver believes that he is poised to produce a career-best performance as he attempts to take a significant step towards re-establishing himself as the number one fighter in the world at 175lbs.

"We are ready,” he declared after his media workout on Tuesday. "We have been working in training camp long and hard for this fight. My team really came together for this fight.

"Dawson will bring out the best in me and trust me, no one has seen the best in me yet!

"Dawson is not on the level of the guys I have already fought... Roy Jones, Glen Johnson, Bernard Hopkins. He's like every other opponent I have faced. They always have a Master Gameplan... until I hit them in the mouth.

"Chad will not be safe on October 11th. His handlers made a big mistake rushing him into a fight with me. He has decent power when he's hitting someone standing in front of him. Let's see how he does with a moving target.

"This is a big fight for me. A big money fight for me. I came from nothing. This is big money to me. Believe me, I know how big this fight is. It's my chance to prove that I'm still the best.”

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Comments

Greg2 - 10 October 2008 00:39: I'm not impressed with Tarver on his last showing, he looked mediocre! On the performances by both Tarver and Dawson on Setanta last time out, I'd pick Tarver to win a hard fought and competitive decision! They are both very poor champions compared to the former great light-heavyweights of the 70's and 80's - these two guys wouldn't have lived in those eras, in fact they are not proper Light-heavyweights, they are straved Cruiserweights!!!! In fact, they should go back to making Boxers weigh-in closer to fight time and then we get much better fights!; Report this to a moderator

Bill - 09 October 2008 19:40: Hopefully Dawson will knock this big mouth out, i remeber watching Tarver when he was coming up on tuesday night fights, thought he might have been a little more humble when he got close to the top considering it took him so long to get there, but hes a big mouth who discredits everyone he fights, hes only a legend in his own mind. Dawson is a good fighter, but in all fairness he needs to give Glen Johnson a rematch after this, the guy a true gentleman and warrior and the first fight was entertaining and close.; Report this to a moderator

Justin - 09 October 2008 13:45: If Dawson could survive 12 rounds of constant pressure in combinations from Johnson, he can stay on his feet and out work Tarver. Mick, I don't know what pish means, but I don't think Dawson is it. I'm assuming you've only seen his fight against Johnson?? BTW, which was a test, in my opinion, and whether you think he won or lost the 12 rounds, I believe he passed the overall test, and will be a better fighter because of it.; Report this to a moderator

sheff4steel - 08 October 2008 20:28: YEAH PHATFARM..I travel all over to watch boxing spending thousands just to sit there with my eye's closed.; Report this to a moderator

Sweet P - 08 October 2008 20:08: roy jones battered tarver in their first fight but tarver gave him a good run for the 12 rounds after coming back down from heavyweight jones chin was gone and his reflexes slowed too thats what got him knocked in out in second fight i hoping against hope that jones has recovered from that to give a vintage performance against calzaghe but i doubt it. dawson isnt the same calibre of jones or hopkins but thats a pretty high standard and both of them beat tarver expecting a dawson win he is the best Lheavy in the world now; Report this to a moderator

Paulie - 08 October 2008 18:56: i cant believe tarver is 39! 40 next month..does not look it.; Report this to a moderator

Phatfarm1980 - 08 October 2008 18:28: Anybody who thinks glen johnson beat chad dawson must have been watching the fight blind folded. Yeah, glen johson had a go and nearly knocked dawson out. But, dawson won more round and thats what count. No doubt a younger johnson would have ko'd dawson. Also, tarver looked rubbish against woods. He had no pop in his punches, looked slow and was flat footed. Maybe he just wasn't very motivated for that fight i don't know. But, he is going to have to improve 100% to beat dawson. Btw i can't believe tarver is 40.; Report this to a moderator

Mick - 08 October 2008 18:12: Celtic to win the league, traver to knock out dawson who is pish.; Report this to a moderator

lolwut - 08 October 2008 14:38: All bigheaded because of Clinton Woods, are we? We'll see...; Report this to a moderator

sheff4steel - 08 October 2008 13:58: QUICK...Woods was world champ so was a top LHW.Not much between the top 8 in the division and most nearing the end of their careers.I was at the the double-header in Tampa and about 10yards from the action.Woods poor performance and Glencoffe was the winner v Dawson.Most Americans around me thought the same.I was also surprised how much Tarver was hated in his home state.; Report this to a moderator

uppercut - 08 October 2008 13:55: i cringed when he beat jones jr,if jones wasnt weight drained he woulda whupped his ass no probs; Report this to a moderator

Mikey B - 08 October 2008 11:33: Dont think either man is nowhere near as good as they think they are & are over hyped too! Johnson, in my eyes beat Dawson fairly comfortably & wobbled him several times also! Reckon Dawson on points in a close(ish) fight, (116 to 112)!; Report this to a moderator

Mack Mack, Luton - 08 October 2008 11:09: I had Glen Johnson winning the Dawson fight on my scorecard. Never been a big Tarver fan, Dawson is the strong favourite but haven't been convinced by the pair of them, just fancy Tarver to nick it on points using experience and cunning.; Report this to a moderator

steven - 08 October 2008 08:32: i really do hate Tarver and seriously think Chad will retire him; Report this to a moderator

quick - 08 October 2008 08:31: tarver dint look that good against clinton woods who is not a top light heavyweight and he only beat roy jones because of ones bein weight strained dawson will beat tarver and retire him dawson do us all a facor and knock this loud mouth jackass out; Report this to a moderator

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