Could the Super Six land Chad Dawson to replace Jermain Taylor?

The word going around boxing today is that if Jermain Taylor drops out of the Super Six World Boxing Classic following his opening stage knockout loss to Arthur Abraham, Showtime may well have a big trick up its sleeve to replace him: Light heavyweight titleholder "Bad" Chad Dawson.

Dawson is saying he'd be thrilled to drop down in weight to take Taylor's spot if it opened up.

"I think it is a great idea. I talked to Gary a few times about getting in if Taylor does drop out. I'd love to take part."

Gary Shaw, Dawson's promoter, seems stoked on the idea, too:

"I know he'd be welcomed into the tourney and would win it convincingly," said Shaw, "even though I have Andre Dirrell."

Shaw also, for what it's worth, said that Dawson is the "most talented fighter out there today, bar none" and that he believes one day Dawson will win a title at heavyweight.

This kind of puts into focus just how big this tournament is to the boxers. Yeah, Dawson would have limited options if he beats Glen Johnson in their November 7 rematch, and though light heavyweight has gotten better and younger gradually, a convincing win over Johnson leaves Dawson with Bernard Hopkins or bust, and Bernard is tied up and about to turn 45. Unless Joe Calzaghe broke his retirement to fight Dawson -- which will not happen -- there's just not much to go after. And there's more money if he can drop down to 168 than there is going up to cruiserweight.

Were Dawson to replace Taylor, not only are you likely really strengthening the field, but that means you have one undefeated titleholder who came up in weight (Arthur Abraham) and you'd have another willing to come down in weight for this tournament.

For those wondering about Dawson's TV rights, HBO only has him on a two-fight deal, and fight number two is the Johnson rematch. If HBO "loses" Chad Dawson back to Showtime, they will have spent a lot of money and received essentially no return. The Antonio Tarver rematch they had to pay for, while bidding against themselves, was a disaster, and while Dawson-Johnson II is a much better fight, I don't think it's a whole lot bigger.

Another note about Dawson-Johnson II: Dawson, who is from Connecticut (where the fight is taking place), will honor slain UConn football player Jasper Howard by wearing Howard's No. 6 on his trunks for the bout.