By Vivek Wallace: In this week’s ‘CEO-Fridays’ segment, we take a look at a few men who remain eager to define their true worth in the sport. In an era filled with hype and false prophecy, finding that proverbial ‘cream’ with the ability to rise to the top hasn’t come easy, and it seems every week someone new attempts to be that guy. Over the past few weeks we’ve witnessed Bradley, Alexander, Angulo, and a number of other up-and-comers present their case a potential ‘leader-of-the-new-school’, only to learn their biggest strength is in fact their greatest weakness, as youth can bring great promise, but vastly limited experience. Although these men found their way to eventual victory, the quest to be the ‘next best’ remains a wish and a prayer.
With those fights behind us, this Saturday night the spotlight will shift to California’s Chris Arreola and Connecticut’s Chad Dawson, two men who once held a great level of promise, yet in the eyes of many, have yet to truly fulfill that vision. For Arreola, it’s been a constant battle with the bulge in a true display of limited commitment and sacrifice. In the case of Chad Dawson, it’s the unknown that remains a mystery.
When it comes to gaging a fighters worth, generally, we look at the heart of the competitor. A deeper look at these two men tells a rather funny tale. The one who has failed to demonstrate the proper level of commitment and dedication to his craft is the one who has been the fearless warrior (Arreola). He may not hold the same level of skills and ability, but he’s never met a fight he wouldn’t take. In contrast, the one (Dawson) who entered the sport well equipped to one day seize a P4P accolade of some sort is the very one who has had his heart questioned. Both of these men can create change and build on these perceptions, but the road ahead won’t be too forgiving, as stiff test awaits on the flipside of a victory.
A victory for Arreola could ultimately lead to a probable second shot at Vitali Klitschko, or initial shot at younger brother Wladimir. After falling down the rank structure and subsequently finding himself on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights, needless to say, his days of being relevant could be closer to ending than desired. Considering the weight that he tipped the scale for this fight, (256lbs), seems the questions surrounding his drive and passion have been answered. By the end of the night, so may the future of his career.
For Dawson, it isn’t quite so simple. This is a man who has a far greater than average skill set, and in his rematch with the rugged Glen Johnson, he proved his ability to elevate his game and adjust. With that phase now behind him, his new quest starts with an opponent who himself is looking for a career defining victory. Pascal will represent another credible test in the evolution of Chad Dawson. Many expect Dawson to edge his way to victory, but the true imprint he hopes to leave on the sport comes beyond the city limits of Montreal, where he’s set to take on Pascal this Saturday night. A step in the right direction would be a victory over Pascal, but to solidify the legacy that most felt he would cement in the sport one day, he’ll need to aim a bit further south, taking a potential detour through Philadelphia, (where Bernard Hopkins awaits), and perhaps even Florida, where one ‘Cloud’ (Tavoris) seems to be more than poised and quite eager to rain on his parade.
Where both of these men go from here is a question, but by the time the headlines print this weekend, there will only be answers! Stay tuned to see what those answers yield!
(Vivek Wallace can be reached at 954-292-7346, FaceBook, Youtube (VIVEK1251), Twitter (VIVEK747), vivexemail@yahoo.com, and Myspace).