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Bad Chad Ready For Return
Even though he won't be appearing in the main event tonight,
former WBC world champion "Bad" Chad Dawson (29-1, 17 KO's)
is eagerly awaiting his chance to remind the world he is the
best fighter on the card.
Dawson will meet fellow former champ Adrian Diaconu (27-2,
15 KO's) in the 12-round main supporting bout of the
"Dynasty II: Pascal vs. Hopkins" event at the Bell Center in
Montreal that will be televised live on HBO's World
Championship Boxing® in the United States and on
pay-per-view in Canada at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT.
To face Diaconu, Dawson is returning to the scene of his
first and only professional loss, last August, losing his
title against main event participant Jean Pascal via
11-round technical decision - a fight in which he looked
tentative for many of the early rounds before finding his
range too late. Dawson had Pascal reeling when an
unintentional headbutt forced a premature ending and a trip
to the scorecards.
For this fight, Dawson has been trained by the legendary
Emanuel Steward at the Kronk Gym in Detroit.
You've already made weight for your fight. How do you feel?
I feel great. I'm very well rested and well conditioned.
Ready to get back in and show everybody I'm still the best
light heavyweight in the world and showcase my talent.
Is it hard for you to probably be the best fighter on the
card, but not be in the main event?
It's kind of humbling, but I just take it how it comes. It's
a privilege to be on the card in front of a big crowd and a
big television audience.
What do you know about your opponent, Adrian Diaconu?
We were scheduled to fight a few years ago and it didn't
happen. Now we'll do it. He's a strong guy and a big
puncher, but nothing I have to worry about. I'm in great
shape and everything is great. I can't wait to get out there
and execute.
Who do you hope wins between Pascal and Hopkins? Who would
you rather face?
It doesn't matter. I would love to get Bernard in the ring.
I've been chasing him so long. But taking my revenge on
Pascal would be great too.
How do you feel when you watch the tape of your loss to
Pascal?
It's painful for me to watch. It wasn't me in there that
night. I can't believe I fought that way. I can't believe it
took me so long to come after him. It will be totally
different next time.
So you think Pascal just got lucky?
He definitely got lucky. He wasn't going to make it out of
that round. After the headbutt, the referee stopped it
without even giving my corner a chance to stop the cut. He
got a lucky victory.
Any qualms about fighting in Diaconu's backyard?
I've been in this situation before. My last fight was in
front of a hostile crowd. It doesn't bother me at all. It's
only me and him in the ring. They can boo and yell all they
want.
"Dynasty II: Pascal vs. Hopkins" is presented by Groupe Yvon
Michel and Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Casino de
Montreal, Videotron and Coors Light. It will be distributed
live on pay-per-view in Canada on Canal Indigo, Bell TV,
Shaw TV, Viewer's Choice and Sasktel in French and English
beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET. Dawson vs. Diaconu is presented
in association with Gary Shaw Productions and InterBox.
Tickets, priced at C$500, C$350, C$250, C$175, C$110, C$75,
C$50 and C$35, are on sale now and may be purchased at the
Bell Centre box office or by calling (514) 790-2525 or (877)
668-8269. Tickets are available online at www.evenko.ca.
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