Tommy Karpency targets Carl Froch after shocking Chad Dawson

HUGE betting underdog Tommy Karpency of Adah, Pennsylvania shocked former world light-heavyweight champ Chad Dawson on Saturday night, winning a 10-round split decision in โ€œBadโ€ Chadโ€™s hometown of Connecticut. Improving to 24-4-1(14) with the biggest victory of his career, and โ€œone of the best moments in my lifeโ€, Karpency now hopes for further big fight opportunities.

Tommy has boxed in Britain before, losing to Nathan Cleverly in 2012, and he says he would โ€œloveโ€ a fight with Carl Froch.

Karpency recalls the win over fellow southpaw Dawson:

Q: As you said post-fight, you feel you did more and landed the more telling blows. But with the fight being in Dawsonโ€™s hometown, did you feel youโ€™d get the decision?

Tommy Karpency: โ€œYou know, in my heart, I know I won and I knew then Iโ€™d won. But boxing, sometimes the judges are not friendly. But this time they got it right. I landed the more effective blows and all he landed on me were jabs – that was it.โ€

Q: You did some good counter punching in the fight, was that your game-plan going in?

T.K: โ€œOur gameplan going in was for the very best Chad Dawson. Heโ€™s on the comeback trail and he was on weight and in shape for the fight. But I only had two weeks of sparring, which is no way enough for a fight of this magnitude. The counter punching, that started after the first round. I said to myself, โ€˜hey, I can box with this guy.โ€™ I had the speed. And also, as Iโ€™d not had that much time to get ready, I knew I had to make my punches count, so I threw a lot of counters. At times, after Iโ€™d buzzed him in the earlier rounds, I really wanted to attack him, but I knew that if I didnโ€™t get him out of there, I might not have enough left in the tank to get through the fight. And I held back a bit. I really think that if Iโ€™d had more time to get ready for the fight, Iโ€™d have walked him down. He never hurt me or fazed me once.โ€

Q: Whatโ€™s next for you, and do you feel the sky is the limit for you after this big win?

T.K: โ€œYes, the sky is the limit. Before this fight, ESPN had Dawson ranked as the No.6 light-heavyweight in the world, and Ring Magazine had him at No.5. And I beat him over 10 rounds in a boxing match; it was a controlled performance. I proved that I belong with the elite at light-heavyweight. I want to fight the best in the world. Iโ€™ll go anywhere and Iโ€™ll fight anyone. Youโ€™re from England – Iโ€™d love to come over and fight Carl Froch if he wants to fight at light-heavyweight. Heโ€™s the main man right now. What people might not know about me, is the fact that I had no amateur experience. I began boxing at age 19, and Iโ€™ve learnt from my losses – to Nathan Cleverly, to Andrzej Fonfara and to [Karo] Murat. Now Iโ€™m a better fighter and Iโ€™m finally seeing the hard work and the sacrifice pay off.โ€

Q: How much notice were you given for the Cleverly fight back in 2012?

T.K: โ€œI was actually given quite a bit of time for that fight. I have no excuses, I was beaten by the better man. What surprised me was his punch output, his volume of punches. I have no excuses there, but I wasnโ€˜t as good then as I am now.โ€

Q: Sergey Kovalev crushed Cleverly as you know – how do you see Bernard Hopkins doing against Kovalev when they meet?

T.K: โ€œI see that fight goingย two ways: either Bernard Hopkins has an early night, or Kovalev has a very frustrating night. Iโ€™m anxious to see, is Kovalev the elite banger heโ€™s appeared to be? We really donโ€™t know yet. Iโ€™m interested to see what happens when he [Kovalev] fights someone he canโ€™t hit.โ€

Q: And who is the best in the world today at light-heavyweight in your opinion?

T.K: โ€œIโ€™ve gotta go with Hopkins. Heโ€™s the master. Kovalev is a close second, so weโ€™re going to see whoโ€™s the best on November 8.โ€

Q: Youโ€™re on a three-fight win streak and it must have been satisfying for you to avenge your very first loss, when you outpointed Rayco Saunders three fights ago?

T.K: โ€œIt was and it felt great. The first fight between me and Rayco was a very close and competitive fight. The rematch, he wasnโ€™t on my level at all and that shows me how far Iโ€™ve come as a fighter and how much Iโ€™ve improved.โ€

Q: Ideally, when would you like to box again?

T.K: โ€œIโ€™ll fight whoever, whenever. I donโ€™t have any specific date or name in mind. Iโ€™m always in the gym, in shape, so Iโ€™ll see what opportunity comes. But I want to fight the best in the world. Itโ€™s just a ring, with two men, and it doesnโ€™t matter where the fight takes place. Iโ€™ll leave it to my manager, Pat [Nelson], who has steered me right this far. Weโ€™ll keep going the way weโ€™re going and Iโ€™ll keep improving as a fighter.โ€

Q: Were you at all bothered by what Dawson had to say, that the decision against him was B.S and that he was robbed?

T.K: โ€œI have a lot of respect for Chad Dawson. He was probably frustrated at having lost. But like I said, I know in my heart that I won the fight. He might feel that way too, but I know I can put my head on the pillow and sleep well tonight.โ€

Q: Would you fight him again?

T.K: โ€œIf the fight made sense for my career, yes, I would.โ€

Q: Finally, Tommy, you were a 25-1 underdog going into the fight! Did your friends have any bets on you?

T.K: โ€œ(laughs) You know, after the fight, a few of my friends called me and said I was such a big underdog, but that they didnโ€™t risk any money on the fight, even if they are my friends and all! But I was a huge underdog and the fight ended up being a major upset.โ€

Share Page