Well I just wrote about the doubleheader on HBO, now it is time to talk about the Light Heavyweight doubleheader on Showtime. This is one of those nights of boxing where I wish I had two flat screens side to side so I could simultaneously see all the action. However I have not reached that financial plateau yet, so I will flip between HBO and Showtime constantly. In this doubleheader we have undefeated WBC Light Heavyweight Champion Chad Dawson defending against the always dangerous Road Warrior Glen Johnson. In the main event we have Clinton Woods coming to the US to defend his IBF Light Heavyweight Title against Antonio Tarver. The idea is the winners of each fight will eventually fight each other in the fall. We will see how that plan works, but for now we have a doubleheader on Saturday. Lets start with the co-main event.DAWSON-JOHNSON:
This fight in my opinion is a pick em. Chad Dawson is a young slick southpaw who can cause problems for any fighter. Then there is Glen Johnson, the Road Warrior, who is always there and will not go anywhere. You can look at this as young versus old, white collar versus blue collar, or youth versus experience. It really does not matter. In order for Chad Dawson to win he is going to have to make Johnson work those 39 year old legs. He will need to come out in his southpaw stance and establish the jab. Dawson appears to have the longer reach and he needs to use every inch of his reach to keep Johnson on the outside. Johnson is a strong fighter and can take a punch, so I do not see Dawson KOing Johnson. So Dawson needs to keep Johnson on the outside and not let him get inside where he can work the body. Once Dawson keeps Johnson occupied with the right jab, he can shoot his straight left hand right down the middle. However in order for Dawson to land that punch he has to establish a strong jab. Johnson will follow Dawson because Johnson loves to fight. However if Dawson sticks and moves and avoids clinches, Johnson will tire down. Stay out of the corners and keep his hands up and Dawson could have a nice UD victory. Now for Glen Johnson to win, he is going to have to fight. The Road Warrior is a little old, but he has not gotten the memo about it yet. Johnson is going to have to establish his jab but get on the inside to break Dawson down. Dawnson is younger, but body punches can break anyone down. Johnson will need to move his head to avoid Dawson's jab and get inside and work the body. As Johnson works the body, he will then open Dawson up for other punches such as a right hook or an uppercut. Dawson has been knocked down, so Johnson has to keep the pressure on Dawson shake his fight game. As far as a pick for this fight, I do not know. I like Dawson because he is young and fresh, but Johnson is just a hard worker who comes to fight. I like Glen Johnson because he does not make excuses or have stipulations about who to fight. He will climb in the ring and give it his all. This is a fight I am just excited to see no matter who wins. However I do lean a little towards Dawson winning on a narrow decision.
Woods-Tarver:
Clinton Woods is coming back to the US to fight for the first time since being TKOd by Roy Jones Jr. back in 2002. Antonio Tarver is finally fighting a deserving fighter since his loss to Bernard Hopkins. Well lets keep it real, I am no Tarver fan but I will give an unbias preview here. The Antonio Tarver I have seen the past 3 fights will lose. I am not sure if age is catching up with Tarver or maybe he did not step up to the competition. I am not sure but the Tarver I have seen in the last 3 fights has been somewhat lazy. In order for Tarver to win, he is going to have to snap out of the trance he has been in and establish his strong jab. We all know he has a hard left that is a straight KO punch when connected properly. Tarver is going to have to stay on his toes and sit down on his punches when the opening appears. He cannot be shy about throwing his punches in this fight because Clinton Woods is coming to fight. Tarver is going to want to keep Woods on the outside at a good range to avoid smothering his punches. Tarver is most effective boxing from the outside and this fight should be no different. It all starts with the right jab. He cannot let Woods come inside or tie him up. This will waste time for Tarver who needs to be on the outside. Now for Woods to win, he is going to have to take away the distance from Tarver. Make Tarver uncomfortable and land some hard right hands on the inside. After watching the Hopkins-Tarver fight, it is clear that Tarver is not the best inside fighter. So Woods needs to rough Tarver up on the inside. He needs to mix it up though, use a jab and follow with a straight right but then also work inside. Once on the inside, do not be afraid to hold a little to throw Tarver's rhythm off. This is another hard fight for me to pick. I am going to be rooting for Clinton Woods because I am not a Tarver fan. I really hope Woods can figure out how to KO Tarver so he can shut up. However Tarver is not some punk he can just be KOd at ease. I see a tough technical fight but who wins is not clear to me yet. The advantages seem to aim towards Tarver since the fight is in Tampa which is the backyard of Tarver. Woods is only fighting in the US for the 2nd time and the first time was not pleasant. I don't know, someone ring the bell I am ready for the fight.
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