17.05.07 – By John Martinez – Boxingrealm.com – Boxingrealm.com caught up with WBC light heavyweight Champion Chad “Awesome” Dawson’s manager and co trainer, Mike Crissio. Crissio informed us that Chad is preparing for his title defense and Floyd Mayweather Sr. is currently the co- trainer to Chad. Although he touched on the aforementioned topics; it was Antonio Tarver that was the true subject on his mind.
JM: Mike, hello and good morning. I just wanted to touch up on a couple of things; specifically Gary Shaw’s comments on Dawson moving to heavyweight. What is the timeframe for this and do you think that Chad’s body frame can handle the weight at that division?
MC: Well Chad is going to rule the light heavyweight division for the next 5 years first. We also want to take the super middleweight division too. We want Calzaghe. We want all the big names. After conquering these divisions, we will move to heavyweight. So the comment on moving to heavyweight was premature and in the future. It will happen, but not right now.
JM: There seems to be some confusion about whom Chad is training with in
preparation for his June 9 title defense on SHOWTIME. Can you shed some light on this matter?
MC: Chad has been training with me. He has been up here in Connecticut. We’ve been working and getting him ready and then for the last couple of weeks left, he’ll be with Floyd. Chad had been training with me, not Floyd, but Chad is down there (Vegas) now with Floyd finishing up his training.
JM: What’s it like having a fighter like Chad? Is it truly the trainers that are making a difference or is it Chad’s natural talent that should be credited?
MC: Well don’t get me wrong. Floyd has done tremendous things with Chad and will continue to do that. In the end, Chad is a great athlete. It’s his natural ability that makes it so easy to train him. It’s really all Chad.
JM: What is Chad’s psyche going into this fight with Jesus “ Chuy” Ruiz? I ask this question because when I last spoke with Chad, he was very clear that he wanted a big name as his next opponent and coupled with that, he was also the headliner. Now, he is the co-feature to Antonio Tarver versus Elvir Muriqi.
MC: You know what? I tried to get Tarver and he ducked the question. He says he doesn’t duck anyone, well then let’s go. Stop ducking, because that’s what Tarver is really doing. He says he wants Chad to fight a bigger name first; well who does Chad have to fight to prove he’s the best? He’s the WBC light heavyweight champ! Tarver’s afraid. That’s all it is. He knows he can’t beat Chad. It is what is you know? I had this guy dumbfounded. I kept asking him when he’d fight Chad and he was like “ oh, uh, uh” he couldn’t give me answer at all. He’s scared.
JM: As Chad’s manager, what do you see for him after June 9th?
MC: Hopefully Tarver will grow some balls and fight Chad later this year.
Boxingrealm would like to thank Mike for his time and his insight. Dawson will make his WBC light heavyweight title defense against Jesus Ruiz in the preliminary bout on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING June 9 10 PM ET/PT. The headliner of the evening will feature the IBO light heavyweight championship fight between Antonio Tarver and Elvir Muriqi.