SecondsOut.com - By Derek Bonnett - At Boardwalk Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA, Chad
Dawson challenged Bernard Hopkins for light heavyweight supremacy. The
first time these two men clashed, the bout ended in a controversial
second round TKO for Dawson, which was rightfully declared a No Contest
afterward. The highly anticipated rematch was preceded by Seth Mitchell
looking to advance himself further up the heavyweight ladder by taking
on Chazz Witherspoon. SecondsOut will report the results of the HBO
televised card as they unfold.
In the co-feature Chazz Witherspoon, 30, put a hurting on Mitchell
over the first three minutes. Witherspoon rocked Mitchell half way
through the round and kept Mitchell on wobbly legs for the remaining two
minutes. Witherspoon landed twenty-four of thirty-nine power shots.
Mitchell wisely attacked Witherspoon’s body to slow his attack, but his
lack of experience kept him from holding on to reduce his punishment.
Mitchell weathered the storm to gain control in the second.
Witherspoon established his jab early, but Mitchell’s body attack put
Witherspoon on his heels for most of the round. A hard left hook to the
body floored Witherspoon early in the third. Witherspoon walked right
into Mitchell’s shots instead of boxing as he was instructed between
rounds. Wisely, Mitchell, 29, varied his shots from the body to the
head. A huge right hand wobbled Witherspoon along the ropes. The referee
called a knockdown since the ropes kept Witherspoon from falling to the
canvas. After a brief count, Witherspoon was declared unfit to continue
awarding Mitchell the third round TKO victory. Witherspoon fell to 30-3
(22). Mitchell elevated his dossier to 25-0-1 (19).
In the main event, Dawson kept a measured distance over the first
three minutes. Virtually no punches of any significance landed, but it
was Dawson who let his hands go more freely even though he caught mostly
Hopkins’ defense. Dawson’s higher output prevailed. Hopkins closed the
distance in the second while both men threw sparingly with minimal
accuracy. Dawson landed a couple clean shots to the body and employed
his jab to set up the left hand. Again, few punches landed, but Hopkins’
hands were busier than in the previous round. Another close three
minutes passed, but Dawson appeared the more productive puncher.
Hopkins opened the third with a clean right hand lead. Dawson
regained his space to keep the fight on the outside. Hopkins waded in
wildly to let his hands go, but not all were effective blows. Hopkins
began holding Dawson’s arm with his elbow as they came in close. After
being separated, Hopkins landed a nice left hook. Hopkins’ head movement
cut down Dawson’s accuracy and probably gave him the round. In the
fourth, a clash of heads opened a large gash over the left eye of Dawson
in the opening seconds. Hopkins immediately began hot dogging once the
action continued. Dawson regained his space and scored well with a long
left hand. Dawson began darting in to find a home for his right hand as
well. Another close round went in the books for Hopkins.
Dawson started the fifth more quickly and scored well while Hopkins
was pressed to the ropes. Dawson returned to the body with his hooks and
began setting up his uppercut as Hopkins dropped his head. A strong
left for Dawson landed near the close of the round and his increased
punch-rate earned him the round on SecondsOut’s card. Another left hand
lead landed flush for Dawson to start the sixth. Hopkins retaliated with
a wild combination to the midsection as Dawson backed up out of range.
An uppercut to the body landed for Dawson as he continued to box safely
and increase his footwork for another close frame. After six rounds,
SecondsOut favored Dawson 58-56.
Round seven saw some good exchanges early. Dawson’s left hand started
landing with greater frequency, but Hopkins managed to land quick
counters to keep him in the action. Dawson reestablished his range and
returned to pumping his jab to win one of the most conclusive rounds of
the bout. The cut remained only a small factor with no blood flow since
it opened. Dawson opened up with a big right hook in the eighth. To the
remained closer as they both worked for each other’s body. Dawson began
to assert himself over Hopkins as he pressed him to the ropes with rapid
combination punches to the body and head. Dawson countered an off the
mark Hopkins jab with a solid uppercut. Hopkins was cautioned for
pushing down on Dawson’s head. Somewhere in the action another cut was
opened over the right eye of Dawson. Dawson’s lead grew to 78-74 on
SecondsOut’s card.
The ninth kept the same pace as Hopkins began back up around the ring
while Dawson followed him while neither man threw with any conviction.
Hopkins picked up the pace, but Dawson met him head on with cleaner
punching. Neither man had been able to hurt the other to this point, bit
Hopkins’ shot appeared more wild than fans are used to seeing. Hopkins
surrendered another round to a more active Dawson. A solid one-two put
Hopkins on his heels momentarily to start the tenth. A stiff jab
followed which snapped Hopkins’ head back. Dawson kept his distance
using his legs more and more while pumping out one shot at a time. The
punch count remained low, but Dawson clearly out landed his older foe to
gain a lead of 98-92 on my card.
Hopkins put in some good work to start the eleventh as he found
Dawson’s head with greater frequency than in the previous ten rounds.
Hopkins charged forward and the two fell to the canvas in a tangled
heap. Hopkins rose appearing more tired than any point in the fight.
Dawson landed with the right, but Hopkins won the round. The final round
saw Dawson pressing more than in the previous three minutes, but he
never landed with great consequence. Hopkins’ output dropped for yet
another close round won by the challenger. Dawson was the victor by a
margin of 117-111 on SecondsOut’s card. The three judges from ringside
scored 114-114, 117-111, and 117-111 to give Dawson the majority
decision.
Dawson, the new WBC light heavyweight champion, improved to 31-1
(17). Hopkins fell to 52-6-2 (32). After the bout, Dawson expressed
interest in meeting Andre Ward at any weight to begin establishing his
own legacy. Before leaving the ring, the new champion showered Hopkins
with praise, but pointed out some of Hopkins’ questionable tactics.
Hopkins left the ring without granting an interview.
This report provided to Doghouse Boxing by SecondsOut.com
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