Dawson Defeats Johnson

Chad Dawson on Saturday night scored a unanimous points victory over Glen Johnson to retain his WBC Light Heavyweight title at Tampa, Florida.

It was a contest in which age crossed paths with experience, as the 25-year-old champion stretched every sinew and tendon to overcome the veteran.

The 39-year-old Jamaican put up such a hair-raising performance that in the end when the ring announcer read out the verdict, the crowd could not help but register their displeasure with boos.

The fight, which was beamed live on Metro TV, saw both fighters starting strongly, and after six rounds, it was difficult to tell which of the two was on top.

Indeed, Johnson, former IBF Light Heavyweight Champion and Ring Magazine's boxer of the year in 2004, won the crowd over with his aggressiveness and ready-to-trade-punch style.

After round six though, the match followed a pattern, with Johnson doing the chasing while Dawson jabs the night away.

Dawson, who was faster, used his longer reach to advantage while Johnson waited for the right opening. And this nearly paid off in round 10 when the Jamaican landed a right-hand shot that left the champion dazed.

The veteran however failed to finish him off. At this point, the crowd started cheering Johnson and booing the champion for his evasive style.

In rounds 11 and 12 however, Johnson forced the champion to stand toe-to-toe with him, and so it continued to the end.
All three judges scored the bout 116-112 in favour of Dawson.

In the other co-feature of the night, 39-year-old Antonio Tarver outclassed Clinton Woods to unite the IBO and IBF titles.

The fight was a pulsating one that left both boxers gasping for air at the end of the 12th round.

Tarver, who came into the fight as the IBO champion, silenced his critics by producing a convincing performance in front of the home crowd, and when the final bell went, there was little doubt as to who the winner was.

The former WBC Light Heavyweight Champion left Woods bleeding and chasing shadows. As the night wore on, it became evident that the Brit could simply not match the skills and technique of Tarver, who was too swift for a 39-year-old.

Scores were 116-112, 117-111, 119-109.

By Mohammed Muniru Kassim