|
|
Dawson Defeats Tarver on Points
By Sean Wippert at ringside (SecondsOut.com ): Chad Dawson defeated Antonio
Tarver by 12 unanimous points decision over 12 rounds to win the IBF/IBO light
heavyweight boxing world titles at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on
Saturday night, televised in the USA on Showtime Championship Boxing.
Tarver put his belt on the line against "Bad" Chad Dawson. This was a fight that
many had been looking forward too. six months of anticipation was rewarded with
a title fight in the Pearl Concert Hall of the Palms Hotel. In that time, Dawson
continually pressed getting at shot at Tarver. Dawson came into the fight a
2-to1 favorite, and has openly stated he dislikes the current IBF champion. “I
don’t like that dude. I won’t like him after the fight and I won’t like him two
years from now. He irritates everyone. All people keep telling me is to shut his
mouth up. That’s what I intend to do.” are just a few of the words slung at
Tarver by the undefeated Dawson.
The self proclaimed "Peoples Champion" returned fire, saying Dawson is no more
than an unknown just trying to get his moment in the sun. The time for words had
passed and the time to get in the ring and throw down had arrived. Would the
brash outspoken champion be able to back up his words, or would Dawson silence
the mouth that referred to him as nothing more than an unknown?
With the sound of the first bell, Dawson came out looking to make an impression.
He opened up with a display of speed, launching shot after shot with little
regard or fear of Tarver. Dawson continued with the assault by snapping off a
pair of nasty hooks, opening up Tarver to several quick jabs and a heavy
uppercut. In the third Dawson launched a hard right hook that surprised Tarver.
Dawson appeared to look like he was finding Tarver’s punch rhythm at this point.
In the fourth Tarver came out swinging, the effect was limited as Dawson
defended and retaliated with hard body shots. This continued throughout the
round and into the fifth. Dawson’s continued attacks yielded a left hook that
seemed to hurt Tarver. Immediately pouncing, he launched a series of left and
right hand combos that Tarver had no answer for. The sixth round saw Tarver land
a few shots, only to get paid back with massive amounts of return fire from
Dawson. Tarver made it a point in the eighth round to come out strong but once
more was met with heavy resistance. Dawson bombarded Tarver with shot after shot
and closed the round with a viscous overhand left.
By the ninth round, momentum for Dawson had spilled out into the audience. The
masses in attendance seemed to read the writing on the wall, cheering for the
challenger who appeared to be winning the fight handily. Dawson answered their
calls with more damage on Tarver. With the world on his side, Dawson appeared to
want to end the fight early in the tenth. Within seconds Dawson opened up a
hurricane of punches that blistered the champion. Tarver defended as best he
could, but absorbed a wicked uppercut late in the fight that capped off another
round for Dawson
In the eleventh there seemed to be a sense of urgency in Tarver’s manner. Tarver
came out swinging and tried to press the action. He landed a few good shots, but
all to many were defended or dodged. Dawson used the final moments of the fight
to tee off on Tarver, nearly putting him on the floor. As the final bell
sounded, the entire crowd appeared to be behind Dawson.
The judges ringside saw that too much damage had been done to the "Magic Man".
Dawson won the fight in a unanimous decision 118-109 / 117-110 / 117-110. The
win crowns Dawson as the new IBO and IBF light heavyweight champion, and notches
him up to an impressive 27-0. With this brutal loss, Tarver falls to 27-5 and
looses his title.
“Floyd gave me a call tonight in the locker room before the fight,” Dawson said.
“He told me I’m the best fighter in the world. That was a huge compliment and
confidence booster. When Floyd says something like that you can’t help but smile
and go out and perform.”
Tarver could not keep up with the younger and quicker Dawson.
“I fought my fight and Chad fought his,” Tarver said after the fight. “I was
never hurt. I should have had a busier work rate, but Chad was the busier
fighter. I think I did well. I didn’t land the left as much as I should have.
“I tip my hat to Chad. He came in with a good work rate. I felt good about my
ability to win this fight, but it was Chad’s night tonight.”
Return to
previous page
|
