Chad Dawson vacates IBF title; Roy Jones Jr., Jeff Lacy reach deal

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Unbeaten world light-heavyweight champion Chad Dawson vacated his International Boxing Federation title today instead of going forward with a fight against mandatory challenger Tavoris Cloud.

‘The IBF rejected our request for an exception to making an immediate title defense against mandatory challenger Tavoris Cloud and inasmuch as no major television network was willing to buy the fight, the IBF left us little choice,” Dawson’s promoter Gary Shaw said in a prepared statement released this morning. “I respect the IBF’s decision, but the fight they were forcing us to do was commercially unviable. On behalf of Chad, we thank the IBF for the opportunity to fight for its title and to defend it. It’s an honor Chad will always cherish. Now it’s on to bigger and better. Chad looks forward to defending his International Boxing Organization title against the cream of the crop and unencumbered.”

Dawson’s publicist Mercedes Ganon told The Times today that talks between Dawson (28-0, 17 KOs) and Glen Johnson for a rematch of their April 2008 fight (won by Dawson via unanimous decision) are ‘serious conversations,’ and that Dawson’s camp expects a deal ‘to be signed soon, as soon as next week, possibly.’

Ganon also said the deal between light-heavyweights Roy Jones Jr. and Jeff Lacy is signed, with the date tentatively scheduled for Aug. 22, and the site (possibly Las Vegas) to be determined.

-- Lance Pugmire