|
Putting The Past Behind Him, Chad Dawson Returns
By Sean Stowell
(October 29, 2004)
 Send this page to friend Give us your feedback
While Chad Dawson would have preferred that he never made the mistake that kept him out of the ring for the last seven months, he is grateful that he is only 22 and he has plenty of time to learn from his mistakes and move forward in his life and his career.
"Me and (manager) Lou (Mayo) were talking about it," said Dawson, who returns to the ring tonight against Darnell Wilson at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn. "It was good that it happened early. It hurt a lot, but I’m happy that I’m getting a chance to come back."
Dawson (15-0, 10 knockouts) last fought on March 27, winning a six-round decision against Aundalen Sloan at Foxwoods, but at the weigh-in the day before the fight he reportedly tested positive for marijuana.
With a nationally televised showdown with another one of New England’s top prospects, Ian Gardner of Brockton, Mass., scheduled for May 14, Dawson allegedly tested positive in a second test on May 7. The New Haven, Conn. resident passed a third test on May 13, but the suspension was still in place and the fight with Gardner was cancelled.
"It was a life-changing experience," said Mayo. "A lot of 22-year-olds would have said (expletive) it and quit, but Chad is all about getting back up."
Gardner went on to win the WBC Mundo Hispanico middleweight title with a decision over Patrick Perez, and then outpointed Kuvanych Toygonbayev on ShoBox on Sept. 2.
"It was an ugly fight," said Dawson.
Wilson, the man Dawson will be fighting on Friday, is 8-0-1 with six knockouts. He won three U.S. national amateur titles and was an alternate on the 1996 US Olympic team.
"I know he’s a tricky fighter," said Dawson. "I look at every fight like I’m the better fighter. I’m looking forward to getting a chance to show what I can do."
Dawson has spent the last 10 weeks preparing for the fight, training in Manchester, Conn.
"I spent the last nine or 10 weeks in camp getting my mind right," said Dawson. "I’m prepared 120 percent."
Should Dawson get past Wilson, he still hopes to face Gardner, or Willie Gibbs, a Philadelphia resident who has had most of his fights in New England.
"Ian Gardner and Willie Gibbs are two guys I want to face," said Dawson.
Dawson is also hoping that his performance in the ring will make the circumstances that led to his suspension just a bad, distant memory.
"When Friday night comes, everybody will forget about that," said Mayo.
For Questions or Comments
E-Mail Sean Stowell at seanstowell@hotmail.com
Discuss this Topic - Go to the forums
|
