You could make a strong case that this Saturday’s Showtime Championship Boxing doubleheader (9 p.m. ET/PT) is the best attraction of the fall season. Kudos to the folks at Showtime who put together a pair of must see matches and pulled it off without going the pay per view route.
First up on the show is the taped delayed heavyweight title bout between Samuel Peter and Vitali Klitschko from the O2 World Arena in Berlin, Germany. Following that bout light heavyweights Chad Dawson and Antonio Tarver finally meet, live from the Palms Casino in Las Vegas.
Both bouts promise to be compelling viewing with solid arguments to be made competitively for all four participants. Add to that some interesting subplots, a dash of verbal hype, and the importance of both fights in their respective divisions and you have a sure fire recipe for an action packed, dramatic evening of boxing.
The 37 year old Vitali, 35-2 (34), is returning after nearly four years in a quest to reclaim the WBC title that he relinquished when he “retired” after a series of injuries. Peter is in his prime and has fought 10 times since Klitschko the Elder last graced the ring. Yet, inexplicably Vitali is a 2-1 favorite.
I would have bet on odds that he wouldn’t make it to fight night without injury.
Granted the fight is being waged on Klitschko’s home turf, where American fighters have to knock out their opponents to get a draw, but good grief, how many 37 year olds return after a four year layoff to dethrone an incumbent titlist?
When King Vitali was quietly retired and minding his own business in politics, the WBC in its infinite wisdom decided to grant him Champion Emeritus status, incredible when you consider that after winning the vacant title in a fight with Corrie Sanders, he made just one miserable defense against the grossly overrated Danny Williams. That doesn’t exactly put him on a par with Joe Louis and his 25 defenses, but like it or not it was his ticket to a title shot when he decided to return last year.
Apparently the WBC and Vitali thought that “emeritus” meant “until death do we part,” and came with a lifetime guarantee. He wanted an immediate shot at then champion Oleg Maskaev, but the suits were called in and the matter was squelched in arbitration. So bottom line, Peter, after winning two eliminators over James Toney, would get his rightful shot at Maskaev. Naturally everyone wanted to face Oleg first; aside from Hasim Rahman everyone would be favored against Maskaev.
Vitali then set up a tune up bout with Jameel McCline, so take a wild guess at what happens. Vitali gets injured. Not only that but as fate would have it, Maskaev was injured too, perhaps an attempt to extend his reign just a little bit more. McCline, who suddenly had time on his hands stepped in as a last minute substitute to face Peter, just over a year ago.
Peter, 30-1 (23), has created a nagging doubt with his recent performances. As interim champ, he was decked three times in the first three rounds by McCline before gathering himself and winning a decision. Then in the title bout with Maskaev last March Peter appeared somewhat sluggish before coming on strong to stop Oleg in six.
Anyway, it’s beginning to look as if Vitali is actually going to fight, about a year and a half after his return. I’m backing Peter the underdog to win by late stoppage, maybe on cuts. Hopefully Sam will then move on to Klitschko brother Wladimir in a rematch. If Vitali wins, everything stops. He won’t fight his brother in any type of unification and who has another four years to spare anyway?
In the live main event, 26 year old “Bad” Chad Dawson, 26-0 (17), faces Antonio “The Magic Man” Tarver, 27-4 (19), in one of the most highly anticipated light heavyweight confrontations of recent times. Tarver, who turns 40 in November, holds the IBF and IBO titles after his victory over a rather accommodating Clinton Woods last April. On the same card Dawson won a thrilling slugfest over the hard hitting former belt holder Glen Johnson to defend his WBC belt.
Dawson was forced to relinquish his title to fight Tarver due to the inane politics of sanctioning bodies that attempt to dictate what fights we want to see.
After all, who do they think they are –HBO?
Both men have engaged in a long standing war of words, although some quotes appear to be ghost written by a clever publicist I know. It’s all part of the show folks.
Currently Dawson is running at about a 5-2 favorite to defeat Tarver. Opinions on the fight depend on whose spin you’re reading.
Johnson is a premier fighter, one who is ducked nearly as much as Dawson. On the other hand, he is 1-1-1 against Woods who looked mighty ordinary against Tarver.
Dawson and Johnson engaged in scorching two way action with Johnson seemingly able to land the right hand at will in their April fight. Dawson was wobbled in the third and appeared to be out on his feet in the 10th. In the end, Dawson’s boxing skills, hand speed and sturdier than thought chin was enough to capture the decision for Chad.
After the fight Tarver opined, “Chad Dawson would be easy pickings now. He’s not the fighter he was before this fight. He’s a wounded duck.”
While Tarver performed well against Woods, many believe that his skills have eroded at age 39, and he has struggled in some recent outings. The crowd began to boo at the relative inactivity as early as the fourth round after viewing the brilliant Dawson-Johnson clash.
“I think he’s a shot fighter,” Dawson said. “Look at his last three opponents who are just slow guys that make him look good so he can feel good about himself.”
It’s a compelling matchup of on many levels of two southpaws, young and uh, experienced. I’d give Chad the advantage in youth, athleticism, and above all, in speed. He has the better jab and has the ability to control the fight. Antonio has a ton of pride, won’t quit, has the experience in big fights and he’s the craftier technician. Give Tarver a tiny edge in power, but Dawson throws the better combinations at this point.
I’m going with Dawson to win by a shocking late round TKO, making this the breakout fight he’s been waiting to have. The only problem for Chad is that the fighters who have been ducking him probably won’t be answering their phones.