By Eric Roman Sr: April 6th, 1987: the date we got to see two of the greatest fighters of all time come together for a historical event that boxing fans around the globe still argue about day in and day out. Sugar Ray Leonard came out of retirement to face the defending Middleweight Champion of the world, Marvelous Marvin Hagler. The outcome of that bout has been debated in barber shops and boxing gyms for over two decades; come September 8th 2012, HBO will grace us with a “super” match up between two of the sports most outstanding talents, at a weight division only eight pounds heavier then 1987’s original “Super Fight”.
WBC Light Heavyweight World Champion “Bad” Chad Dawson will come down in weight to face the smaller Undisputed Super Middleweight World Champion Andre”S.O.G” Ward. Although these two combatants may not be at the popularity level that Leonard and Hagler were at that time, there are many eerie similarities to point out that make this one just as important as the one the Hall of Famers gave us a quarter of a century ago. Dawson, the bigger fighter and a southpaw like Hagler, didn’t have a prestigious amateur background, he got his recognition as a pro, fighting big names and winning big fights. Also, like “the Marvelous One”, Chad Dawson grew up in New England with a chip on his shoulder, which gives him the sense of being the meaner of the two. Ward on the other hand is a pure bred natural talent. His speed and focus got him a Gold Medal in the Athens Olympics much like Sugar Ray did in 1976, and he is a crowd favorite. A charming guy with a great smile. He got through the Super Six Tournament with ease, and showed the world that brains overcome braun in boxing on any given night, but thats what makes this fight so anticipating.