MIAMI, Florida (CMC):

Jamaica's world-rated light heavyweight Glen Johnson has sent a strong message to Chad Dawson, warning the reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) champion to expect a huge fight in their title contest in April.

The undefeated Dawson defends his crown on April 12 in Tampa, Florida, on a major Showtime Championship Boxing television event against Johnson, who tells the young champion to anticipate a terrific challenge.

"You better be ready to fight because you are going to be in a fight like you never have been in before," Johnson warned Dawson in a BoxingTalk website story. "The light heavyweight division right now has a few guys that are doing big things. Chad Dawson is on top of the younger crop of guys in the division. If I go in there and make a statement against him, it will show that I am ready for the young group, and it will show why the old group keeps running from me."

Johnson won his two outings in 2007 - against Montell Griffin and Fred Moore - and knows that the Dawson bout is a crossroads event in his career, with a win likely to considerably boost his marketability.

"It's important to do well. My gameplan is to show up and excite, so if I give them (Showtime Television) a great fight as I did with Jones, and Tarver, hopefully they will have no choice but to keep giving me opportunities," he said.