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HARTFORD, Conn. -- Chad Dawson has the WBC light heavyweight title. Antonio Tarver has the fame and the reputation.
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So it was Dawson (23-0, 15 knockouts) who asked Tarver (24-4, 18 KOs) for a bout. But Tarver said the 24-year-old champ hasn't earned the honor.
"Go make a great name for yourself -- not a regional name, but a worldwide name -- and we can make the superfight," Tarver said.
The boxers will be on same card June 9 at the Connecticut Convention Center, with the 38-year-old Tarver getting top billing as he seeks to regain the vacant IBO championship in a bout against Elvir Muriqi (34-3, 21 KOs), a former kickboxer from Kosovo.
Dawson, fighting in his home state of Connecticut, will defend his WBC championship in the co-feature against Jesus Ruiz of Mexico (19-4, 17 KOs).
At a news conference Tuesday, Dawson's manager, Mike Criscio, tried to get Tarver to commit to a bout should both fighters win. Tarver said Dawson needs to beat Ruiz and a few bigger names to make a Dawson-Tarver bout worth his time.
