Is Dawson proven?

That's the question...I think he can with the likes of Bhop...he did survive and do well in spots with Johnson...and he completely dominated Tarver, but agree...bhop is anther level as is Joe. But as you know...every young great fighter has to start somewhere and Chad is going down the right path...progressivley moveing in the right direction taking on harder challenges and preforming better each time out. Mentally he has to be prepared for the craftiness that both Joe and Hopkins have in their arsenal....but in terms of ABILITY......CHAD Has plenty and can compete with the very best. However...Ability and talent alone won't win against guys like Joe and Nard.

 

Nice post, sir. Especially that last part. Pavlik could have stayed still in MW and make who knows how many successful defenses, keeping the oh so precious "0" intact. But the man had the balls to try to be great. Didn't work out, but he went for it.

 

Somebody said that the fight with Diaconu would have been staged somewhere in Transylvania. I don't know if that is true or not, but maybe Dawson is scared of vampires? :huh

First he performs poorly against Johnson gets a lucky decision then claims he had it all planned! Who believes that? Refusing the rematch with Johnson and ducking a mandatory tells me that either he or his handlers are lacking in confidence. Remember when Adamek knocked him on his ass? After that he spent more time running than fighting. Maybe there is a reason for this lack of confidence.

 

Sure he does...it's filled with "?" but he definiltey has a strong legacy. He's been a champion over 11 yrs....undefeated and has RECENTLY been stepping up, which is where the "?" begin to pop up even more intensely when discussing how great Joe is or is not.

JOe's ablilty are unquestioned but it's the substance or lack there of on his resume that has people like you questioning his lecacy and greatness. Beating Roy and Nard were very good wins...NOT GREAT! But he built his legacy fighting legends...and also a very strong, young and promising champion in Kessler.

I agree his legacy isnt what it should be given how great Joe's talent and abilities are, but he did finallly step up albiet late in his boxing career....I just wish we would have saw a Young Joe take on prime greats. His legacy would have been far better, but you can't deny his legacy is a very, very good one....just not on the level of nard or Roy or other guys who have been testing and challenging themselves in their primes and against prime greats.

 

It's possible, but Showtime only had 1 Dawson fight left under their contract, and they wanted that fight to be Dawson-Tarver. They weren't going to approve any other fight (without Dawson extending his contract anyway, which would have had even greater financial consequences).

 

He was the mandatory though.

 

I seriously doubt that a contract with Showtime would require Dawson to relinquish a title. The title gives Dawson a claim to fame.

 

proven or not there is no time to prove anything as calzaghe is about to retire and needs to fight soon and the only two options (with out a rematch) are dawson or johnson.
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