Photos by Tom Casino/Showtime – Tarver and Dawson held their final press conference before the 175-pound kingpins battle for light heavyweight supremacy on Saturday, Oct. 11, live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING (9 p.m. ET delayed on the West Coast). In the weeks leading to the fight there has been a war of words between Tarver and Dawson. Wednesday’s press conference was the final verbal battle before the two warriors clash in the ring Saturday night at The Pearl Theatre at Palms Casino.
Immediately prior to the light heavyweight world championship, on a night that has electrified the boxing world, SHOWTIME will present the World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight showdown between Samuel Peter and Vitali Klitschko on a tape-delayed basis from Berlin, Germany..
Tarver-Dawson will be promoted by AT Entertainment and Gary Shaw Productions in association with Palms Casino Resort Las Vegas from The Pearl Theatre at Palms Casino.
Here is what Tarver and Dawson had to say.
ANTONIO TARVER
“I’ve been a fixture in this sport for eleven years. I’ve been here before. Dawson hasn’t done anything. He’ll have a game plan but all that crap is going to be thrown out the window once he gets hit in the mouth.
“I’m an intelligent fighter. I make the right moves at the right time. All Chad has to do is slip up once and he’s going to pay for it. He makes one mistake and the fight will be over.
“Everyone knows Dawson doesn’t have much of a chin. He’s going to regret agreeing to this fight once he gets hit in the face a few times. He won’t know about the power until he feels it. You can watch all the film in the world, but until you meet me in the ring, you have no idea what you’re getting yourself into.”
CHAD DAWSON
“It’s time to put up or shut up. Your mouth (pointing at Tarver) can’t fight for you once you get in that ring. On Saturday night, you’re going to get it.
“This fight has gotten personal. I don’t like that dude. I won’t like him after the fight and I won’t like him two years from now. He irritates everyone. All people keep telling me is to shut his mouth up. That’s what I intend to do.
“Who told him to take his shirt off for the face off? Look at my body and look at his. He’s not cut like me. All I saw was old man flab.
“I can box. I can bang. I can stand in the middle and brawl. I can use the finesse game. Tarver is old news. What happens to old news? People forget about it. Tarver will be old news on Saturday night.
“Tarver said he hasn’t been ducking me. That’s flat out ‘BS’. He’s afraid of the beating I’m going to give him. He’s been afraid all along. I’m going to shut his big mouth up.
“Everyone knows I’m a better all around fighter. On Saturday night I’m going to prove I’m the best light heavyweight in the world. I’m going out to win every round. I’m all in.”
