Chad Dawson easily defeats Glen Johnson in rematch

by SC on Nov 7, 2009 11:11 PM EST in Post-Fight Analysis Comment 15 comments

Chad Dawson defeated Glen Johnson decisively in their rematch tonight. (Photo via images.sportinglife.com)

In the main event of tonight's HBO World Championship Boxing, Chad Dawson routed Glen Johnson over 12 rounds in a rematch of their tight 2008 battle, leaving no doubts this time about the identity of the superior fighter. Dawson kept his undefeated record with arguably the best and most impressive win of his career.

Still, the scorecards were close. Two judges scored it 115-113 for Dawson, and the third scored it a much more realistic-seeming 117-111. Bad Left Hook had it 119-109 for Dawson, who controlled the entire fight, landed all the best punches. HBO's Harold Lederman had it 118-110 for Dawson.

Dawson (29-0, 17 KO) clearly won the fight in my estimation, and everyone watching in our live thread agreed, so it's not just me. The scores sort of seemed as if they were overly cautious after the controversy of the first Dawson-Johnson fight. I felt the second Mayweather-Castillo fight had the same thing in a way.

But the right man won. Dawson made the 40-year-old Johnson look very old and slow for most of the fight. Johnson (49-13-2, 33 KO) never relented with his pressure, but he also never got anything established offensively.

Dawson's next move will be interesting. Hopkins and Jones are tied up, and past them there just aren't many names at 175. Dawson could fight the Pascal-Diaconu winner, or fight Tavoris Cloud. Both fights are attractive, but aren't money bouts, especially considering I doubt Dawson would go to Montreal to fight Jean Pascal, where it could do an excellent crowd.

Hats off to Dawson, who established himself for sure tonight. If there were any questions left, they should be gone now.

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this was one boring ass fight but god damn was chad dawson impressive as impressive can get

The Dude Abides

by battle axe of doom on Nov 7, 2009 11:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

WBC has mandated Dawson as the mandatory for the Pascal-Dianconu winner

And frankly, as long as Pascal wins, I can’t imagine we won’t see Pascal-Dawson next. Pascal’s not a huge name, but he’s as big of money of a fight as is legitimately available. No, Dawson won’t head to Montreal, but as long as it’s on the East coast, they can get the Canadian TV revenue.

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Nov 7, 2009 11:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

It should be in Montreal… it would be a huge fight with a great gate. At least 15K that would be willing to pay to see him…

"Boxing is dirty," said Casamayor. " The day I’m not ready to be a dirty fighter is the day I don’t fight anymore because it will mean that I have no heart for it anymore."

by Zocalo on Nov 7, 2009 11:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

and it should be fun. pascal is much quicker than johnson and a lot younger, so it SHOULD be a lot closer/funner than tonight

The Dude Abides

by battle axe of doom on Nov 7, 2009 11:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He's also a lot worse defensively

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Nov 8, 2009 12:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It SHOULD be, but Gary shaw probably won't let that happen

Even though it would be in his best financial interest to do so.

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Nov 8, 2009 12:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I know the WBC sent down that mandate, and I agree Dawson-Pascal would be an outstanding fight and should happen, but Chad has shown no problem giving up belts to ignore mandatory fights he didn’t feel like taking.

Bad Left Hook
"Well Howie, I think I'm going to stay outside and outjab him." -- Tex Cobb telling Howard Cosell how he would approach Larry Holmes

by SC on Nov 8, 2009 3:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Super Six

I hope it happens. Dawson would cement himself as one of the best p4p fighters if he were to win that.

by gunranger on Nov 8, 2009 12:27 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

he weighed 191 tonight

I really don’t think he can make 168 without sucking.

Bad Left Hook
"Well Howie, I think I'm going to stay outside and outjab him." -- Tex Cobb telling Howard Cosell how he would approach Larry Holmes

by SC on Nov 8, 2009 12:28 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Winner of Jones v. Hopkins

I think Dawson might try and make a name and a brand for himself first before fighting guys like Pascal or Cloud. I think he’ll want the winner of Roy Jones and Bernard Hopkins. I actually think a Dawson vs Hopkins match up would actually be really good considering Hopkins just manhandled Kelly Pavlik.

by mason_beer on Nov 8, 2009 8:56 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Well, he didn’t “just” manhandle Pavlik. He did that over a year ago and hasn’t fought since. To be totally honest, Hopkins-Jones 2 is probably going to be a bad fight and a PPV flop, and then here I am watching Dawson against another old man.

Bad Left Hook
"Well Howie, I think I'm going to stay outside and outjab him." -- Tex Cobb telling Howard Cosell how he would approach Larry Holmes

by SC on Nov 8, 2009 12:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Scoring

Man there has been some terrible scoring this year. 115-113? How the F do you give Johnson 5 rounds. Ok so he looked good in the last round and then one in the middle (5th or 6th I think). Maybe the first round if I’m trying to give him rounds but after that, I can’t think of rounds to give him much less two. What was their criteria for winning a round? Nervous energy and head bobbing, cause Johnson looked pretty good in that regard. Seriously Scott could you get a license and be a judge because your scores are way more sensible than most of the judges scorecards recently.

by waldo47 on Nov 8, 2009 4:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs