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Having a world title belt, in boxing, means what exactly these days? Some people believe it's the fighters that make the title, and some also believe the title makes the fighter. I was always one who believed that by winning a world title, it represented a platform of success that would open the eyes of television networks. That's not necessarily the case with "Bad" Chad Dawson.

Here stands a 6'1" classy, southpaw, finesse boxer who a few years back began his unheralded career in relative obscurity. Hardly publicized due to an average amateur career and lack of an Olympic pedigree, Chad Dawson would storm into the professional ranks amassing a perfect 15 - 0 record with 9 KOs. He didn't have the high profile promoter as many of the undefeated prospects at the time, but he was definitely more talented than those highly touted fighters who were deemed "the next big thing" in boxing. In late 2004, Dawson faced his best opposition to date in former world title holder Carl Daniels. He would beat Daniels relentlessly until the former champ chose not to endure anymore punishment from his younger foe. That victory would still keep the young Dawson in the dark. Though very talented, Dawson would not receive any notoriety from fighting on ESPN "Friday Night Fights." Instead, Dawson would showcase his skills on a relatively unknown cable television network "The Black Family" channel. No, that's not BET.

In the picture walks Gary Shaw, a highly respected boxing promoter who would sign Chad Dawson. After a couple of outings, together they would decide that middleweight wasn't the right division to receive the recognition that he badly desired. He would test the waters, briefly, at the Super Middleweight division and then make his next appearance into the fray at light heavyweight. Some felt him moving up two weight divisions, roughly 15lbs, would be too much for Shaw's young charge. But, confidently, Dawson would ignore the criticism while looking for bigger and better opportunities against bigger and better opposition. Standing across from Dawson was the first southpaw fighter to give former pound-for-pound champion Roy Jones Jr. trouble in the ring, Eric Harding of Philadelphia. Harding, too, would get battered and bruised by the surging Dawson. Since that time, Dawson would go on to defeat several more recognizable names in the division, including Antonio Tarver and Tomasz Adamek, picking up a few world titles along the way. Those victories would make Chad, now 28 - 0 17KOs, the man to beat at 175lbs.

But, sometimes being this good isn't good for you. Older champions like Joe Calzaghe and Bernard Hopkins wouldn't give the young champion an opportunity to be known on a world stage. Instead, they chose to fight each other rather than shining a light, on Dawson, from the fire of the passing torch. However, in the coming months, Bad Chad can look to further cement his claim to being the best light heavyweight fighter on the planet by beating a wily veteran Glen Johnson for the second time. The prize? Maybe the IBO title? Not necessarily. Finally the backing of one of the major television networks, HBO, is looking to showcase his talent on the world stage.

Will the young Dawson disappoint? Remains to be seen.

by: Josh (Ashyknuckles)