LAS VEGAS(AP) Chad Dawson successfully defended his IBF and IBO light heavyweight titles Saturday night, unanimously outpointing Antonio Tarver in a rematch of their October fight.
The undefeated Dawson, who looked lackadaisical at times in fighting off several impressive combinations from the 40-year-old Tarver, had winning scores of 116-112, 117-111 and 117-111 from the three judges.
Unlike their bout last fall, when the fast-handed left-hander dominated in a 118-109, 117-110 and 117-110 victory, Saturday’s fight at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino produced plenty of back-and-forth action from start to finish.
“He put up a hell of a fight,” said Dawson, 28-0 with 17 knockouts. “He definitely took me off my game. My hats off to Antonio Tarver.”
Dawson landed most of significant punches in the final four rounds, including a flurry of punches at the end of the ninth round – arguably his most impressive round.
Tarver was the clear aggressor, throwing 749 punches to Dawson’s 677. But the 26-year-old Dawson had a 62-14 advantage in punches that connected with the body and connected on 31 percent of his punches. Tarver only landed 16 percent of his punches.
“He pushed the fight and took my off my game plan,” Dawson said. “He threw a lot of punches, but I was catching most of them.”
Dawson, who was in the first fight of a two-fight contract with HBO, said he doesn’t know who he will fight next. An ideal possibility is Bernard Hopkins.
“I will fight whoever they throw in front of me,” Dawson said.
Despite the lopsided outcome in the first meeting, Tarver was confident he would win the rematch. He had also lost to Roy Jones Jr., Glen Johnson and Eric Harding during his career, but avenged all three loses in rematches.
He was almost right.
Photo by AP