HOMETOWN FLAVOR LOST IN 2009 FIGHT WORLD
San Francisco, CA– A fortnight ago during a rant on “Ring Talk Worldwide,” the longest running fight show in history, 25 + years, I spoke of “fixing boxing.” One problem with the fight game is casinos! While they throw down a substantial chunk of coins for fights, they are, more often than not, hurting the fight game. If you want to boxing to mean “something,” than HBO has to stop buying fights that nobody gives a s*it about!
WHY HBO KEEPS WASTING THEIR BOXING MONEY?
That being said, let’s take a look at the Chad Dawson-Glen Johnson rematch that HBO (yawn) aired from Connecticut recently. The fight, a rematch necessitated by inadequate judging (what’s new?) that gave Dawson a decision win in a match where “Bad Chad” got his tail kicked by Johnson 19 months ago. In the rematch, the now 40-year old Johnson was simply outclassed by the still unbeaten Dawson.
IF NOBODY GIVES A “S*IT,” WHY SHOULD BOXING FANS?
When the HBO cameras showed up, there was no story to highlight here. So the producers found good eats and drink and settled in for one of the most uneventful boxing telecasts HBO has put forth in a while. Dawson fighting in New haven, CT, which is about 30 miles from his hometown of Hartford, is a non entity with the state’s sports fans. The fact that the arena was a sea of green seats makes that obviously clear.
COULDN’T DRAW WITH A PEN?
If Chad could draw with anything other than with a writing utensil, and have a following, there would be a story to tell. I think Dawson is of the “Mayweather” mindset, electing to go the “yawner’ route instead of a willingness to “gamble” on greatness. That’s why Floyd doesn’t deserve a fight with Manny Pacquiao, he’s done nothing but talk.
WHY HOLD A FIGHT WHEN IT DOESN’T MATTER?
Unbeaten at 27 years of age, Dawson is not a bad fighter. At the same time, he’s not a man that will ever have a following. To be blunt, he’s a not that exciting black guy that can’t draw fans or garner decent ratings for HBO. Why HBO would waste a World Championship Boxing date on Dawson is perplexing. If he can’t draw and people are not enamored with his style or persona, why should Chad Dawson even be on HBO in the first place?
MAKE FIGHTS “SOMEONE” CARES ABOUT!
HBO shouldn’t have made this fight a main event anywhere, especially in Connecticut. This was an undercard bout at best. Talk about a waste of time and money, HBO spent better than $2 million to put this show on. Seeing Dawson can’t draw, he should be forced to fight in another guy’s hometown, where somebody gives a s*it about the match. Stop gifting HBO dates to fighters that people couldn’t care less about, all because they’re with people that connected.
Pedro Fernandez