Ward vs. Dawson: Just what boxing needs

Finally, a fight boxing needs is a fight boxing is going to get.

WBC and WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward will take on WBC light heavyweight champ Chad Dawson on September 9 at the Oracle Arena in Oakland Ca on HBO’s Championship Boxing.

Why is this fight significant? Both fighters are the best in their division. More importantly, the fight was easily made. What’s more is that Dawson was willing to go down to 168 pounds to meet Ward. He also made no argument about fighting in Ward’s hometown of Oakland.

It’s the type of matchup true boxing fans should enjoy. Its rare these days to find a fighter of Dawson’s stature to give up so much.

"Chad's the best in his division and I'm the best in my division," said Ward. "Chad has proven he wants to fight the best. I want to fight the best. You want to make a statement when you can, and this is the right time for a big fight like this.”

Ward, 28, staked his claim as one of the world’s top fighters after dispatching Carl Froch in Showtime’s Super Six World Boxing Classic Final last December.

Dawson (31-1, 17 KOs) scored a majority-decision win over Bernard Hopkins in April. His only setback came against Jean Pascal in 2010.

“He's coming off his best win. He's a tree,” Ward (25-0, 13 KOs) said of Dawson. “I have to find a way to chop him down. Neither of us are all-time greats yet. We still have work to do."

Dawson, 29, is looking forward to getting another win against a major opponent. A win against Ward could get him that big payday he’s been looking for.

Said Dawson: "We're both great champions, two young guys taking each other on. I think this fight is great for the sport of boxing. It's a situation where he didn't have to take the fight and I didn't have to take the fight. (But) The deal got done, and there was no confusion. Everything went smooth."

A smooth negotiation between two champion fighters is a rarity these days.