Light Heavyweight Showdown

By Arvin Nundloll

This Saturday in Tampa, Florida will the night of the Light Heavyweight showdown when  the man of steel Clinton Woods takes on arguably one of his biggest challenges to date against the Magic Man Antonio Tarver for the IBF/IBO belts.  Also on the card is the WBC Light heavyweight battle between Chad Dawson and Glen Johnson.

Woods has been looking for a unification fight for some time now and has expressed his delight at finally being able to gain the recognition he feels he deserves and that his fans provide the extra ammunition he needs to dispose of Tarver
"I had 18,000 people screaming at me when I fought Roy Jones Junior. It actually spurred me on.  Some of Jones' crowd were calling me all sorts and I quite enjoyed it.   All the fuss disappears when I am in the ring. I'm in my own zone then. It will be just me and him and that's it.  At that point the pressure will all be on Tarver, who will have to produce for his home crowd.  Tarver will have more supporters than me but mine will probably make more noise!"

Tarver on the other hand knows he has to avenge his loss to Bernard Hopkins.

"I learned that after a long lay-off, no matter how great I think I am, I have to be smart about my decisions," he said.
"When you look at the long lay-off, the Rocky movie, Hollywood and everything I had to overcome, not to mention - and I would never say this - for the Rocky role I got up to 235lbs.
"To have to lose that amount of weight I left it in the gym, I left it on the road. I still felt that I was confident that I would be able to persevere but it wasn't to be. So I learned to keep my butt in shape, stay on the cusp of being in condition and not to let myself go.
"But I took a role that was very significant in my life. Long after my days of boxing are over my kids and my kids' kids will be able to find that DVD and say 'my father did something great'. So I would never change a thing."
"And so bless the old man and hopefully he can do what he has to do against Joe Calzaghe (on April 19). He's made a lot of money off my name but if the opportunity ever presents itself for us to fight again then, like I always have in my career, I will right the wrong.
"That's all I can look forward to but I'm not going to lose sleep over that, I'm not chasing Bernard Hopkins, or Joe Calzaghe, I'm not chasing anybody. The bottom line is after the 12th, they know if they are in the light-heavyweight division, who they have got to come to the table with. And that's me.

Meanwhile  WBC champion Chad Dawson is already gearing up for his showdown with Clinton Woods after he wipes the floor with Glen Johnson
"After I chow down on Glen Johnson next week, it's on to Clinton Woods and his titles for dessert," said Dawson (25-0, 17 KOs), from Hartford, Conn.  "There is no way Antonio Tarver survives his fight with Woods.  Woods is going to make hash out of 'The Magic Spam;, er Man."

Glen Johnson was also in a bullish mood and also reflected on his loss to Clinton Woods.

"It's been a slow comeback," said Johnson, who lost the rematch to Tarver in 2005 as well as a split decision in his third fight with Woods in 2006. "The guys on top are getting the opportunity to ride the wave. They're not taking on the real challengers out there."
"I've been on the road. I've fought against pretty much everybody from middleweight to light heavyweight," Johnson said. "The names I've been in the ring with - that shows that I'm not afraid to fight."
"This fight was the closest, but clearly I was the winner all three times," Johnson said. "Once you see a split decision in a foreign country, you know the guy visiting won the bout."

"I've seen films. He's a talented fighter," Johnson said of his young opponent. "I'm looking forward to challenging him. I definitely see myself victorious. It could be a knockout, it could be a decision, but either way I see myself victorious."
The main outcome of this excellent boxing event from Gary Shaw Promotions and Fight Academy ensures that there will only be two men left to compete for the title of the undisputed Light Heavyweight champion.  Dawson is the younger more active fighter who will go all or nothing on the road warrior Johnson, however Johnson being one of the most experienced fighters in boxing today, hardly ever hits the canvas and will be more than happy to outpoint Dawson, whose fight experience is still limited.

Tarver is at the cross road of his boxing life cycle.  One more defeat by the hands off Woods and he will have to look at his career and see if there is anything to pick up.  This in return makes it even more dangerous for Woods, who may underestimate the power that Tarver holds.   
Clinton Woods has not been as active as Tarver but has convincing wins against Julio Gonzalez, who many American fighters wouldn’t touch due to his awkward style of fighting and spirit that would give many fighters problems.  Woods has been in Florida for two weeks  and has adjusted to the climate and time zone well so should provide no excuses. 
Another outcome of this fight is the winner of their bouts will also get the chance to take on the winner of Bernard Hopkins and Joe Calzaghe, however that seems to be whether that bout can provide a clear winner and a reason as to why any of the Light Heavyweight champions deserve to give them a shot.

My opinion is that the old road warrior Glen Johnson will outdo Chad Dawson over 12 rounds and walk away with the belt and put him in line with a possible rematch with Woods. Johnson knows how to handle th epace that Dawson will bring and will remian in contorl throughout th efight which will frustrate Dawson and thus make him prone to errors and the counter punches from Johnson

Clinton Woods will knockout Tarver, who I feel at 40 just cannot keep fighting at this level.   Tarver’s last two fights has inspired no confidence in anyone looking to back him and his lack of credible opposition since Hopkins will be his own demise. Woods has the ability to finish off opponents and must be alert to the threat Tarver can create from nothing. Look out for a full post match analysis and the chance to prove me wrong!