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06/20/2008 Archived Entry: "'Bad' Chad Dawson Phone Interview Transcript"
'Bad' Chad Dawson Phone Interview Transcript
Conducted by Chris Guzman
Courtesy of bolopunchboxinghour.com
June 19, 2008
Photo by Emily Harney
GUZMAN: This is Chris Guzman, Bolo Punch Boxing Hour. I’ve got on the phone right now the WBC Lightheavyweight Champion of the Planet, Mr. “Bad” Chad Dawson. Chad , how are you doing tonight?
DAWSON : I’m feeling good. . . how’re you doing?
GUZMAN: Real good. Now, I’ve been following your career for a couple of years now, but I only recently was able to shake your hand. That was at the Night of the Rising Stars at the Boxing Hall of Fame in New York . What was it like hanging around at the Hall of Fame with all of these champions walking around all day?
DAWSON : It was beautiful. The weather was good. All the champions were there. Like I said before, I got the chance to meet one of my favorite fighters of all time, Marvin Hagler. You know, and guys like Pernell Whitaker. It was really great.
GUZMAN: So when you were a little guy, through the amateurs and the early part of the pros, Hagler was one of the guys who inspired you?
DAWSON : Yeah, my father loved Hagler, and he’d watch him with me. He used to tape them or catch them on reruns and just let us watch them. I remember that for Hagler, it was tough for him to get a title shot because he was so good.
GUZMAN: Yeah, they used to say that he had three things against him. He was left-handed, he was black, and he was good!
DAWSON : Yeah, exactly. That’s how good a fighter he was. To have a reputation like that, he had to be one hell of a fighter.
GUZMAN: Very much so. Now, as far as your professional career goes, your big day, the day you won the WBC Lightheavyweight title, was against Tomasz Adamek. Since Bolo Punch is based out of Chicago , we’ve been privileged enough to be able to see Adamek fight a couple times in this area over the years. What was it like fighting him? All the press leading up to it, and obviously your victory over him?
DAWSON : I trained like I was going into the fight of my life. I got the call to fight for the world title. Anybody gets a call like that, you want to train like crazy and be in shape. Adamek was a great fighter. . . I watched him in his wars with Paul Briggs (both in Chicago ) and I knew he was a good fighter. But I believed in my skill and my talent, you know? I went in there, and I dominated the fight. I came out with the victory.
GUZMAN: You most definitely did. You’ve defended your title three times so far, most recently against Glen Johnson, who we all know just knocked out Roy Jones a little bit ago. Talk about the Glen Johnson fight, if you would, Chad.
DAWSON : That was easily my toughest fight so far. I knew what I was getting myself into with that fight. But I also knew there were a lot of people who questioned my ability, my chin. I had to show those people what I was capable of. I knew it was going to be one hell of a fight, so I had to go in there with an attitude, and I was proud to come out with the victory. A lot of people thought it was a closer fight than how the judges had it, but I’ve watched the fight several times, and I see it the same way the judges saw it.
GUZMAN: I had you ahead by two points. The judges had you ahead by a little more, but the right man won. You can’t go on slicing up points when it comes to which man won. You were the better man that night, there’s no doubt about it. You were saying your chin was tested, and I’d definitely have to agree. Glen Johnson shows up to fight every time.
DAWSON : I knew that going into the fight. I knew that. Every time I did an interview, they asked me that. I never thought I’d knock Johnson out. His name is what he is. “The Road Warrior”. I took that fight very seriously. Like the commentators said during that fight, I had to pull out everything in my repertoire, and I knew I’d have to.
GUZMAN: You did a great job that night.
DAWSON : Thank you.
GUZMAN: All of the headlines, all over the internet the last couple of days, have read the following: If Dawson wants to keep his WBC 175-pound title, he'll have to defend it within 90 days in Romania, home country of interim beltholder Adrian "The Shark" Diaconu. I have to hear from the champ, himself. Are you going to fight in Romania against Diaconu, or is there maybe a Tarver fight in your future?
DAWSON : I’m definitely looking forward to the Tarver fight. The Diaconu fight, as far as me going to Romania , were there’s no TV, no money, for me that’s like going backwards. I mean, the money’s not good. I’m a champion. I’ve got a lot to look forward to. I’m not going to Romania to fight for the money they’re offering. I’m the champion. Why should I have to go to Romania ? There are other opportunities out there. They’re still calling Bernard Hopkins the lightheavyweight champion when he never even held the title. So, the belts really don’t mean much.
GUZMAN: So what you’re telling me, without really saying it. . . .you know they’re going to strip you if you don’t fight Diaconu.
DAWSON : Yes, I know that. I’m well aware of the fact that they’ll take my belt if I don’t fight my mandatory. I don’t want to give my title up. But how boxing is right now, the title doesn’t really mean much. This is about making the fights that the fans want to see. Who do they want to see Chad Dawson fight? They don’t care whether he has the title or not. They want to see good fights! Rather than take a backwards step in Romania , I think I’ll take my chances with the Tarver fight.
GUZMAN: You and Diaconu were supposed to fight back in September. Due to a hand injury, he had to pull out.
DAWSON : I definitely agree that it was a made-up hand injury. I saw him about two weeks before the fight, and I shook his hand. It seemed okay to me. We had a press conference in Sacramento . I couldn’t believe how small he was, though. He was 196 pounds at the 30-day weigh-in, so he could have had weight problems, too.
GUZMAN: Talk about a possible fight with Tarver.
DAWSON : He brings respect, popularity, and bigger paydays. Tarver talks his way into title fights. All he does is talk and talk. He’s disrespected me enough. I understand that he feels I’ve disrespected him, that my camp was disrespectful to his family. I’m looking forward to this fight. It’s a great fight for me, and for Tarver. We’ll both make some big money.
GUZMAN: I agree. Big money can be made on both ends. Last question, I’ve got to ask. Being in Chicagoland, there is a lightheavyweight who is tearing up the ranks. His name is Tavoris Cloud. You’ve heard his name, right?
DAWSON : Yeah, I’ve heard his name before. If he’s as good as everyone says, maybe we’ll meet pretty soon. I haven’t had the chance to see him fight yet, but it just shows that there’s even more excitement in the lightheavyweight division. I just love that I get to be at the top of the best division in the sport right now.
GUZMAN: Bolo Punch Boxing Hour thanks you, Chad . We’ll talk again real soon.
DAWSON : Thanks for having me. Talk to you later.
***Chris Guzman has hosted The Bolo Punch Boxing Hour since 2002.
