After a big fight weekend the week before (afterword now available), things, comparably, mellowed out for the Chad Dawson - Antonio Tarver rematch on a lighter weekend of boxing action.
:Fri.05.08.09:
Ishe Smith UD(6) Chris Gray (Light Middleweight)
--Originally slated to fight Brian Mihtar, but Gray stepped in as a last-minute replacement...
:Sat.05.09.09:
[C] IBF, IBO Light Heavyweight Champion Chad Dawson UD Antonio Tarver
--A little more exciting than the first outing, but not totally enthralling, either. The 40-year-old Tarver looked old in the first portion but was more active and fought better down the stretch, yet Dawson proved again to be the younger, more physical pugilist in the ring as he went to work on him for much of the fight. The commentators criticized him for not taking Tarver down, and in impressive fashion, and for not concentrating in the latter rounds, but I differ in opinion. Dawson may be a good fighter with talent, but he simply seems unable physically to go that extra step, finish someone as aged as Tarver, and become a great fighter.
Too much muscle mass may be an issue, but perhaps his body just can't sustain outputting that kind of energy in either applying a good deal of power and pressure over a few consecutive rounds or in knocking out someone who's vulnerable. His lethargy towards the end of fights may be an indicator of stamina deficiencies. If that's the case, he'll need to rework his fight plans around it and perhaps get leaner and lose some of the muscle. Also, the light heavyweight division is, well, light on big fight potential and competitors (besides another rough date with Glen Johnson), and a move up in weight would most likely not be the best for him based on his aforementioned problems. Going a weight class below might be more beneficial for him on all fronts. Tarver, however, has little other options awaiting him, besides hanging up the gloves on a successful career.
[NIXED] [C] WBA Super Featherweight Champion Jorge Linares vs Josafat Perez
--Moved to June 13...
[NIXED] [c] (Vacant WBO Africa Middleweight Championship) Sam Soliman vs Osumanu Adama
Not Previously Mentioned
:Fri.05.08.09: Craig McEwan UD(10) Brian Vera (Middleweight) [ESPN2]
:Sat.05.09.09: Hector Camacho D Luis Ramon Campas
:Sat.05.09.09: [c] EBU-EE Light Middleweight Champion Alexander Abraham TKO4 Magomed Abdurekhmanov
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