Chad Dawson this past Saturday night inside of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada (Photo: Chris Robinson – www.HustleBoss.com)
By Chris Robinson
As I had noted recently, former champion Jean Pascal made his second visit to Las Vegas this year in an ongoing effort to continue sharpening his skills as he enters the veteran stage of his career.
While the 30-year-old Pascal was originally slated for a May 25th HBO-televised rematch against Chad Dawson in his adopted hometown of Quebec, Canada, news later hit that former IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute may instead be next in line.
Catching up with Dawson recently, the sport’s reigning WBC light heavyweight champion spoke on the possibility of seeing a second encounter with Pascal, the first man to defeat him, slip away.
“My thoughts, honestly, we were scheduled to fight a rematch the first time and we took the opportunity to fight Bernard [Hopkins] two times in a row,” Dawson explained.
“Honestly, Pascal doesn’t want to fight me,” Dawson would add. “I understand he [could take] a fight with a bigger payday. I would do the same thing. More power to him. I’m not upset at all. I’ll be back in the ring and I’ll be back on top soon.”
Dawson is back to training in Las Vegas, having teamed up with his former trainer Eddie Mustafa Muhammad. And despite not having an official fight lined up, you can sense how eager he is to get back in the ring.
“Supposedly I still have the HBO date for May 25th,” Dawson stated. “I’ve been in the gym working. I’m hungry, ready to get back into the ring.”
Dawson ventured down in weight this past September to challenge Andre Ward for his WBA super middleweight crown in a losing effort. Dawson had no answer for Ward’s pinpoint punches and rugged style on the inside, ultimately suffering a 10th round TKO after being dropped three times.
Claiming to have been weight-drained against Ward, Dawson is reenergized with his return to 175 pounds and is keeping his eye on all action in the weight class, including the March 9th bout between IBF champion Tavoris Cloud and the legendary Hopkins.
And despite giving Hopkins a great shot to prevail, it is Cloud who Dawson seems to have a vested interest in.
“I’m looking forward to a fight with Tavoris Cloud,” said Dawson. “Somebody of that stature who could bring out the best in me.”
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Chris Robinson can be reached at Trimond@aol.com and www.HustleBoss.com