Chad Dawson Says HBO Didn't Make Him Take Johnson Rematch

SIX QUESTIONS WITH CHAD DAWSON

Saturday, November 7, at Hartford’s XL Center

Live on HBO World Championship Boxing

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HARTFORD, Conn. (Oct. 8, 2009) – Chad Dawson shared his thoughts on facing Glen Johnson again, the state of the light heavyweight division and his interests outside the ring answering six quick questions posed to him recently.

Dawson (28-0, 17 KOs) of New Haven, Conn., meets Johnson (49-12-2, 33 KOs), from Miami, FL by way of Clarendon, Jamaica, Nov. 7 at the XL Center in Harford, Conn., in a WBC light heavyweight world title rematch. Back in April, 2008, the two met with Dawson’s WBC light heavyweight title on the line with Dawson coming away with the unanimous decision.

Promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, in association with DiBella Entertainment and Seminole Warriors Boxing, Dawson-Johnson II and a tremendous Alfredo Angulo vs. Harry Joe Yorgey 10-round Super Welterweight co-feature will be broadcast live on HBO World Championship Boxing Nov. 7, beginning at 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT, from the XL Center.

Tickets, priced at $200, $100, $70, $50, and $35, (plus any applicable fees and surcharges), can be purchased at the XL Center box office, at all Ticketmaster outlets, through Ticketmaster Charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000 and online at  www.xlcenter.com.

QUESTION: What do you expect to see from Glen Johnson the second time around?

DAWSON: “I don’t expect to see anything differently. I think he’ll come the same way he came last time. I don’t want him thinking in any way he won the last fight. I want to put that last fight out of his mind once and for all. I will outbox him and outwork him once again.”

QUESTION: You vacated your IBF light heavyweight title back in May to fight Johnson again rather than face mandatory challenger Tavoris Cloud. Why did you take this fight?

DAWSON: “It wasn’t just for the money which is what everyone is saying. I took the fight because it’s the one everyone wants to see. A lot of people think that HBO made me take this fight. HBO didn’t make me take this fight. The first fight took place 18 months ago. I took this fight to see where I’m at in my career.”

QUESTION: Your promoter Gary Shaw says he turned down more money from other venues to allow you to fight at home. How big will it be to have a “home” game on Nov. 7?

DAWSON: “Oh, definitely, it’s going to be big. A lot of my family and friends haven’t been able to see me fight and for them to get to do so in this huge fight on HBO is incredible. I just hope I don’t disappoint them. I want to showcase my talent and show everybody what I can do.”

QUESTION: How have you evolved as a fighter since you fought Johnson last?

DAWSON: “I don’t know. My last two years I’ve fought only Johnson and Antonio Tarver so I can’t really say. The last fight was a great fight. I think I’ve matured as a fighter. I’ve gotten a lot smarter in the ring. I’m a better boxer now.”

QUESTION: The super middleweights are getting a lot of publicity with the Super Six World Boxing Classic tournament. What do you think about the light heavyweight division right now?

DAWSON: “We have some older fighters like Glen Johnson, Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones. I’m stuck here for now unless I go down or want to go up to cruiserweight. Joe Calzaghe was our best fighter but he’s retired now. If he ever comes back it’ll be better. I’m in training camp right now so when I get home I don’t want to think about boxing. I keep my mind off boxing. I watched the Mayweather-Marquez fight. And I’ll definitely be at the Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto. That’s going to be a great fight.”

QUESTION: What do you like to do when you’re not in the ring or training?

DAWSON: “I like to play basketball and I’m really into cars heavy. I have a big family so I like to spend time with my brothers. I have a GT Coupe and a Jaguar sports car that I just put some new rims on. So that keeps me busy. It’s fun and that’s what I like to do.”