Woods vs. Muriqi in IBF title eliminator on 1/31/09?

I read a report somewhere that Woods has been drinking like a fish lately.

 

It most be an eliminator for the no.2 spot because Tavoris Cloud is already the mandatory challenger.

I guess the winner of that fight will end up fighting Tavoris Cloud for the vacant title.

The IBF won't hesitate to strip Dawson if he doesn't fight his mandatory challenger.

 

I'd have to favor Cloud over either of them at this point, and it looks like Chad's going to vacate unless something changes. As you've said, the IBF won't hesitate stripping a champ if they don't fight mandatories and I don't think Cloud's even on Dawson's radar at this point.

As an aside, it's a shame unifying doesn't have much appeal for Chad right now. It's a golden opportunity for him in what's going to be a completely wide open division, and this will have been the second belt he vacates. Had he just fought Diaconu, he still could've had the fight with Tarver upcoming (would've been bigger since it'd have been a unification fight, as well) and would be in a stronger position for either a Hopkins or a Calzaghe by having 2 belts to his name.

 

It's a shame unifying, or even defending a title doesn't have much appeal to him. I made this point at the time when people were arguing over whether he should fight Diaconu or Tarver. He could have gone to Romania, picked up a career high payday and won the fight, it would have been an excellent learning experience for him also, having to deal with things outside his comfort zone that he hadn't had to deal with before. Then he could have unified against Tarver, it's not like Tarver had anywhere else to go.

Then, as you say, he'd be in a much stronger position now, and be a better fighter for it as well.

 

If Woods can still fight to his best abilities he could grind out a pts win. He looked so bad against Tarver almost zombie like. If he loses he must retire.

 

Who is Chad Dawson?

 

If Woods fights like he's capable of he can win this...if it's the overawed and clueless version against Tarver, Muriqi takes it.

 

Oh come on you remember Chad Dawson. He was far superior to both Wogan and Savage on Blankety Blank.

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:think Thank **** for that. I saw Clinton on a local news program a couple of weeks ago and was quite shocked. He looked completely out of it and was slurring his words, I honestly thought that he had had one to many to the head.

 

Clinton lacked passion and any kind of fury against Tarver.

17 lagers before a fight might be just the ticket for him.