Dawson Outpoints Tarver ... Again
Sunday May 10, 2009
Put two fighters in the ring for a rematch and sometimes it plays out entirely differently the second time around. Chad Dawson-Antonio Tarver II was definitely not one of those rematches. When Dawson and Tarver first met last October, Dawson won an easy unanimous decision by nine, seven and seven points on the three judges' scorecards. This time around Dawson won an easy unanimous decision by six, six and four on the three judges' scorecards. There's not much more to say about a fight that nobody really wanted to see. Nobody, that is, except for Tarver, who exercised a mandatory rematch clause after losing the first fight.
To his credit, the 40-year-old Tarver was often the aggressor (throwing 749 punches to just 677 for Dawson) and was definitely more competitive than in the first fight. Dawson, however, remained the faster and more accurate puncher (on those occasions when he elected to fight) - landing 31% of his punches to only 16% for Tarver.
Dawson, 26, remains one of the more talented young boxers in the sport but this performance will not do much to help sell tickets for his next fight - with Bernard Hopkins, Mikkel Kessler, Glen Johnson, Kelly Pavlik and Jermain Taylor all being mentioned as possible opponents.
Comments
Tarver just was not in the fight at all. He seemed to lack physical strength, speed and most importantly lacked the confidence in himself that a younger Tarver once showed. I have always liked Tarver for his enthusiasm and the amazing will that destroyed Roy Jones, Jr. But like Jones, it is time to take off the gloves and do other things before serious injury results. Dawson is not that good and I suspect he will not last long as champion, but on the night of the Tarver fight, he was a clear and convincing winner.
Dawson is a good fighter,bernard hopkins should fight him.Tarver should retired he did put up a fight.