Oct
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Audio: Tarver vs Dawson Interview
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click here to listen to Dawson-Tarver interview
World Champion Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver (27-4, 19 KOs) and undefeated “Bad” Chad Dawson (26-0, 17 KOs) will face off in a battle of light heavyweight kingpins on Saturday, Oct. 11, live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast) from The Pearl Theatre at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The 12-round championship bout will be for Tarver’s International Boxing Federation (IBF) light heavyweight belt.
Tarver-Dawson will be promoted by AT Entertainment and Gary Shaw Productions in association with Palms Casino Resort Las Vegas. Peter-Klitschko will be co-promoted by Duva Boxing, K2 Promotions and Don King Productions.
Chris DeBlasio: Good afternoon, everyone. Thanks for being on. Looking forward to a very exciting night, probably our biggest Championship Boxing double?header of the year. SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING will present, live from the Palms Casino in Las Vegas, Antonio Tarver versus Chad Dawson for the IBF light heavyweight title. That show begins with a taped delay of another exciting fight, World Championship fight between Samuel Peter, a heavyweight, versus Vitali Klitschko who is coming out of retirement to challenge for his Emeritus title. The night begins at 9:00 p.m. on SHOWTIME on October 11th. We’re thrilled to have both Chad Dawson, Antonio Tarver, promoter Gary Shaw, manager Mike Criscio and all of us here on the call. On behalf of the promotion, we thank you for being a part of it and for your support. We’ll start with opening comments from Gary Shaw.
Gary Shaw: Thank you very much, Chris. Thank you SHOWTIME. Obviously, thank you to the Palms and the Maloofs, and it’s going to be a great night at The Pearl Theatre. This is all about Antonio Tarver and Chad Dawson, so I’m going to let them get on right away and make their opening comments.
First to the IBF World Championship Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver.
Tarver: Thanks, Gary. Appreciate it. Just like to just to thank AT Entertainment as well as Gary Shaw Promotions and The Palms, Al Haymon Entertainment for just bringing this great fight together. I’m eagerly anticipating a showdown. Once again I’m in a position to prove all my naysayers wrong once again. And I’m thrilled to death. I mean, this is what we fight for, opportunities like this, to cement my legacy as one of the greatest light heavyweights of all time. I have a young lion?like warrior in the likes of Chad Dawson. A fighter that I think will bring out the best in me as I once again defend my championship. I look forward to taking on many more challenges like this after October 11th.
Gary Shaw: Thank you very much, Antonio. Now to Chad Dawson, the former WBC Light Heavyweight Champion. At least deserves credit for doing the right thing when he had the opportunity that Antonio Tarver is giving him. He gave up his belt for the opportunity. Chad Dawson. Chad?
Dawson: How you doing everybody? I’m just thrilled to be in this fight. You know, by far the biggest fight of my career. I got a big opportunity to make a big statement on October 11th. My management team, my training team, my promotion team who is Gary Shaw, I mean, it’s been a great year for me. Last two years have been a great year for me. Just happy to be here and happy to accept the challenge on October 11th. The best man will be left standing.
Gary Shaw: Okay we can go right to the questions.
Chris DeBlasio: While we wait for the first question, Chad, you just mentioned this is by far the biggest fight of your career. Can you just give us a little bit of insight. You know, I have my understanding as to why that is, but I’d like to hear from you. Why is this the biggest fight of your career on October 11th?
Dawson: Like I said, I can make a statement. It’s going to be a big statement for me. Everybody wants to see what I got; am I ready to be the big man in the light heavyweight division. I got a lot of things to prove, you know. I’m going to prove them.
Chris DeBlasio: Antonio, I’d ask the same question to you. Where does this rank as far as, you know, big fights in your career? I mean this is as important as any I guess since coming off the Rocky movie really right?
Tarver: I mean I’ve been at this game a long time. Every fight has been a big fight for me ever since I encountered guys like Reggie Johnson, Chris Johnson, you know, Eric Harding; the list goes on. You know, I’ve been in major fights with everything to lose before. I mean, so this is just another one of those fights. You know, what I mean. I’m geared up for it. I’m not underestimating Chad. I mean, unfortunately, it seems as if, you know, they think they’re going to have a walk in the park come October 11th by the things that I’ve been hearing and the statements they’ve been making. You know, I think that is a first in my whole career?? I’ve never been underestimated in my whole career. But the way this guy talks as if, you know, because he’s younger than me he is just going to come and take something that I have. And it’s big mistake on their part. But I understand the philosophy behind all that. Because, you know, some guys you have to really truly motivate them, you know. And, as far as I’m concerned, it seems as if he’s sipping on that juice. Because, I mean, they got to blow his head up to the point where he can have the confidence that he’s going to think he’s going to need to come in here and fight the fight that they feel that he is going to need to fight to beat me. But you know everybody has a game plan until they get hit in the mouth. My whole thing is this: They talk about Clinton Woods. You think Clinton Woods came all the way this far to America to look as bad as I made him look? No. But it’s easy on the outside looking in. But when you are in the lion’s den, it’s whole new ball game. Like I said, I got a lot of Chad Dawsons on my resume. He don’t have not one Antonio Tarver. So I’m taking him into unchartered waters, into places he’s never been before, and he thinks it’s all about fighting. But he is going to get a crash course of what it really feels like to be in there with a legendary fighter. A great fighter. He ain’t fought a great fighter yet until October 11th.
Chris DeBlasio: Great thank you very much.
Q. Antonio, a lot of people have been saying that Chad Dawson is the future of the heavyweight division, the light heavyweight division rather, and something that you might even agree with. Tell us why you don’t think that the future for him is now on October 11th?
Tarver: Because I’m at my best. I mean, I’ve shown these people man time and time again that they cannot handicap me. You understand me? They can’t handicap me before a fight and say just because a guy is younger than me he is going to come in here and beat me. That’s just crazy for me to think that. Anyone for that matter. Do my history, man. How many times I have to be successful? How many times do I have to beat it in their head that I’m the truth before they come out and recognize it and admit it? They’ve been denying me and doubting me my whole career. I was too old before I started; remember? I mean, so I’ve always proved them wrong, and I’ll prove them wrong once again. And I love it when I have something to prove; this is when I’m at my best. The stage is set for me to quiet all my naysayers, and for them once again to bow down and eat crow, and to announce to the world that I am the best light heavyweight today, yesterday, and moving forward tomorrow.
Q. Chad, can you comment on that also; why you think for you the future is now; and October 11th do you think you are going to win?
Dawson: I mean, it’s not about the future, it’s about who is going to be the better fighter. It’s about, you know, everybody wants to be the man in the division. There’s only room for one champion. One guy is going to be standing on October 11th, and that is going to be the best man, and that’s going to be me. I don’t need anybody to supe me up and tell me I’m going to beat this guy. I don’t need that. I know what’s going happen October 11th. I know what’s going to happen, and he knows what’s going to happen.
Q. Can you guys tell us why you each think you’re going to win? Obviously Antonio has the experience advantage; Chad is younger. But you’re both very confident you are going to triumph October 11th?
Dawson: Look, he goes on about he doesn’t get hit. He lost to Eric Harding. Took him two tries to beat him. Took me one. Took me one shot to beat (inaudible); took him two. Look at the resume. Anybody talking about the experience he has. I have just as much experience as he has. Just as much.
Q. Antonio, anything on that?
Tarver: Well my whole thing is this, man. Eric Harding in 2001 would annihilate Chad Dawson. Period. Okay? You think he was the same fighter after I knocked him out? Of course not. I ruin fighters. They’re never the same once they go 12 rounds with me; they’re damaged goods. You understand me? You know, it’s the disease running through the light heavyweight division called the post?Tarver syndrome. And you are going to get a taste of it October 11. Trust me.
Dawson: I hope you’re going to repeat those words after the fight. I hope you show up to the post?fight conference.
Tarver: Have I ever been scared anything?
Dawson: I’m going to put it on you trust me.
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Vitali Klitschko vs Sam Peter, Who Wins?
- Klitschko by KO (53%, 78 Votes)
- Peter by KO (29%, 43 Votes)
- Klitschko dec. (10%, 14 Votes)
- Peter dec. (5%, 7 Votes)
- Draw (3%, 5 Votes)
Total Voters: 147
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