Last year the Light Heavyweight division was largely ruled by dinosaur future hall of famers or aging old vets including the now retired Joe Calzaghe, Bernard Hopkins, Roy Jones Jnr, Antonio Tarver & Glen Johnson. Fast forward to today and the land that in bygone years was a stop over between the Middleweights and ultimate glory of the Heavyweight giants is undergoing major surgery and enjoying a new lease of life.
 
It can be largely attributed to the emergence of Chad Dawson who stepped up from the Super Middleweight and wrested the WBC championship from Tomasz Adamek in 2007 a win that looks better and better ever since Adamek went on to become the top guy at Cruiserweight. What followed amounted to little more than Dawson settling into the division and title with two soft defence’s.
 
He kicked 2008 off with a win that showed he had the intestinal fortitude that is needed when things get a little dicey when he outpointed Glen Johnson in a fight that could of gone either way depending who’s work you liked the best. After that close win “Bad” Chad stayed in the big league and dually turned back Antonio Tarver. After a contractually obliged rematch which was a near replay of the first Dawson has marked himself out as the future of the division. He will again go old ground when he faces Johnson in November. A win will further solidify he claim to be the top dog at 175.
 
With Calzaghe retired and Hopkins still toying with his next move if there is in deed to be be one. Dawson could be called the Interim Light Heavyweight champion that asterisk could be removed up on Hopkins retirement, move to Cruiserweight or better yet if he could beat Hopkins. One other thing that could help Dawson in the long run is that the Johnson fight will take place in his home town of Hartford, CT.  If he can develop a good home support that will help his continued development and hopefully move him more into the mainstream.
 
While Dawson 27, more than held his own against the old guard he didn’t have any  allies in his quest to vanquish the oldies…until recently that is. In June Canadian’s Jean Pascal moved up to 175 having previously campaigned at 168 to win a highly entertaining fight with Canadian transplant Adrian Diaconu and capture the WBC crown.
 
It is rumoured that in September Pascal will make his first defence against one of those aging Vets, Silvio Branco. The undeserving Branco is 16 years Pascal’s senior and while he shouldn’t provide to much trouble in what shouldn’t amount to much more than a showcase for Pascal. A rematch with Diaconu will likely happen at some point based on the excitement and drama of the first fight. Not to mention another lively evening at the Bell Centre in Montreal between two locals.
 
This Saturday one of the brightest prospects in the world Kazakhstan’s Beibut Shumenov 8-0(5) looks to win his first world title when he faces off with Spain’s Gabriel Campillo 18-2(6) who’ll be attempting to make his first defence of the WBA trinket he won in June.
 
Shumenov 25, has a fine amateur pedigree which includes an appearance at the 2004 Olympics. Shumenov only debuted in November 2008 amassing 35 rounds of pro action so far. He’s been on the fast track almost from the get go beating veteran’s Donnell Wiggins & Epifanio Mendoza along with former world champions Montell Griffin & Byron Mitchell. 
 
Shumenov isn’t the only young gun looking to make a big impression this month. American Tavouris Cloud 19-0(18) looks to break out in another changing of the guard fight when he squares off with Britain’s Clinton Woods. Power punching Cloud 27, took apart anvil chinned Julio Gonzalez and became the first man to stop him when the action was mercifully called a halt too in the tenth.
 
Since then Cloud has made several interesting moves including not fighting. It’ll be a shade over a year since the Gonzalez fight when he squares off with Woods. He also turned down a spot on the projected Dawson-Johnson card on HBO with a shot at Dawson next up if both won. On one hand it may not be the best business move ever but it shows his hunger for the title shot and straight away.
 
As well as those guys also looking to break through are young guns from Europe and America including Wales newest star Nathan Cleverly 17-0(7) who broke out of the shadows when he added the British title to his Commonwealth crown when he took apart previously unbeaten Danny McIntosh in 7 one sided rounds in a fight that appeared to be 50-50 going in. His first defence is tentatively scheduled for 9 October in Belfast. The former Joe Calzaghe protege who was trained by Enzo Calzaghe up until the unacrimonious split between the Calzaghe’s & Frank Warren. He learnt plenty from countless sparring session’s with Calzaghe, Enzo Maccarinelli plus several others. The move away doesn’t seem to of hampered Cleverly who has really come on since leaps and bounds setting out on his own including developing power which has seen the 22 year old score stoppages in his last four outings.
 
Ukrainian Ismayl Sillakh 8-0(7) has based himself in America where 7 of his 8 fights have taken place. While he also has a impressive amateur pedigree which culminated with a silver at the 2005 World Championships at Middleweight, the 24 year old isn’t in quite the rush Shumenov is to reach the top but still seems to have the skills to get there after all he only debuted a year ago. He will next see action this weekend on the “Pinoy Power” card in Las Vegas where he’ll be looking to show off his considerable talent.
 
The American up and comers include Cedric Agnew 11-0(4) who has been a pro since January 2007. He’s still only 22 however one minus seems to be the Chicago fighters lack of power. Maryland product Mark “TNT” Tucker 11-0(7) has been very active in his 18 months as a pro including fighting a ten rounder last time out. Tucker 21, has gained impressive exposure regularly sparring with top guys like Paul Williams & Glen Johnson. Tucker returns toward the end of September when he fights for a minor title.
With Calzaghe retired, Hopkins semi retired, Roy Jones on a good bye world tour, Tarver & Johnson both over 40 and nearer the end than the beginning of there careers. Hungarian Zsolt Erdei has been very inactive of late and close to the end at 35. Woods 37, last chance comes against Cloud. Those guys can now be supplanted with Dawson, Pascal, Shumenov & Cloud along with impressive prospects like Cleverly, Sillakh, Agnew & Tucker who will look to break out further. The Light Heavyweight division looks like it’s in good hands for the coming years.

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