Dawson Barely Escapes Johnson; Tarver Wins Another Title
Posted by Ramon Aranda on 04.13.2008
Ringside Report: Anthony Ivey gives us his full report from the Title Night in Tampa including the non-televised fights.
Written by Anthony Ivey from ringside
Photos by Tom Casino / SHOWTIME
In the evening's opening bout former Mike Tyson conqueror Danny Williams scored a decisive six round decision over Little Rock's Marcus McGhee. William's scored a knockdown in the third and was awarded a unanimous decision by the scores of 60-52, on all cards. "I couldn't get into the fight early on, I was a little upset because I wasn't doing what I was supposed to." With the victory Williams moves to 38-6 with 30 KO's, while McGhee drops to 20-16.
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The next contest saw Laura Ramsey of Lake Wales, Florida score a lopsided four round decision over fellow super middleweight, Germany's Alexandra Malloy. Ramsey pounded her opponent throughout the bout, even scoring a knockdown with a brutal right cross in the final round of the four rounder. "I felt kinda tired, been off a few days from work," stated Ramsey. "But this was my first fight back in nine months, so I need to do a little more work." Ramsey's mark now reads 9-3 with 4 KO's.
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Heavyweight's Bowie Tupou and Ramon Hayes took center stage next. Tupoa, now 14-0 with 11 KO's, controlled every round of the bout and took home a unanimous decision via scores 59-55(twice) and 58-56. The super middleweight pro debut of Jonathan Nelson was a success as he scored a unanimous four round decision over Devin Laney in the evening's next contest.
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Orlando's Jean Baptiste and Raymond Biggs Jr. put on an entertaining six round junior middleweight scrap in the evenings next contest. Biggs Jr. scored effectively with combinations for the majority of the bout, but Baptiste pressured him from bell to bell, landing hard single shots. Baptiste was deducted a point in the final round for a questionable rabbit punch. In the end, the scorecards read 58-55 twice, and 59-54 for Biggs. Bantanweight Yan Barthelemy shut out Jose Bernal in the next bout, 60-53 on all cards. Barthelemy remains unbeaten at 6-0.
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The first half of this evening's main event came up next as WBC Light Heavyweight Champion "Bad" Chad Dawson battled former champion Glenn Johnson. Dawson scored effectively in the first, rattling Johnson with straight lefts and right hooks. Johnson pressure paid off in the second, as he was able to find the mark with a couple of straight rights to the chin. Dawson was jabbing away effectively in the third, until a Johnson right hurt Dawson, whose was doing his best just to escape the round. The next round was filled with heavy back and forth exchanges, which had the crowd on its feet. Johnson pressure paid dividends again the fifth, as landed often with both hands. Dawson did more moving than punching in the sixth stanza as Johnson stalked him around the ring. Dawson appeared fatigued in round seven, but did unleash some wicked power shots to the chin of the onrushing Johnson. Round eight was fairly even, with a heavy toe to toe exchange in the final moments of the round. In the ninth it was Johnson's turn to be a little winded, as he breathed heavily while Dawson outboxed him. A huge right hand shot from Johnson in the closing minute of round ten had Dawson reeling and hanging on till the bell sounded.
The two warriors slugged it out the eleventh, as Dawson tried to prove he had shaken off the effects of the previous round. The final round had both men landing heavily, but it was Dawson who came out the worse for wear on the exchanges. When the scores were read, there was nothing but boos heard as Chad Dawson was announced as a unanimous decision winner via triple scores of 116-112.
"Johnson is a warrior," stated Dawson, now 26-0 with 17 KO's. "He caught me with some good shots, but I took them. I am not interested in a rematch at this time." Johnson was understandably upset about the decision. "Of all the tough decisions I have lost this is the worst," said Johnson, 47-12-2. "I definitely deserved to get this decision."
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The second half of the evening's double header took center stage next as IBO champion Antonio Tarver and IBF titlist Clinton Woods clashed in a light heavyweight unification bout. Round one was a feeling out round, with the sole highlight being a left uppercut to the chin from southpaw Tarver. Woods pressed the action in round two, having it his way until a Tarver flurry in the closing moments. The third stanza was fairly even with some effective shots from both guys. Tarver used his right jab and landed sparse combo's to take round four. The fifth was Tarver's best round, as he scored with flashy combinations to Woods's chin.
Round six was a replay of the fifth, as Tarver would again be successful raking Wood's with shots. Woods came out determined in the seventh frame score with a hard hook early in the round. Tarver, however, would regain control by the rounds midway point. Round eight unfolded much like the previous two did, with pressure from Woods, but the effective blows being scored by Tarver. Chants of "Let's go Tarver" filled the arena as he outboxed his opponent. Woods was effective in the tenth, bullying Tarver into the ropes while landing hard to the body.
Back and forth action in the eleventh, as Tarver drilled Woods with a pair of stinging straight lefts, only to have Woods rip Tarver right back. The Tarver chants would return in the final round, as Tarver landed at will with his left to close out the fight.
116-112, 117,111, and 119-109 were the scores announced as Antonio Tarver became the new IBO/IBF light heavyweight champion of the world.
"I finished strong, I was active, and I was in great shape," stated Tarver, now 27-4 with 19 KO's. In reference to the evening's earlier fight Tarver said, "Dawson is easy pickings right now, he's a wounded duck." With the loss, Woods's may be looking at hanging it up. "I fought the best light heavyweight in the world. I don't know if it's time to retire, but I'm contemplating it," stated Woods.
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This ringside report was written by our Florida boxing correspondent Anthony Ivey for 411mania, whom you can also find at www.floridaboxingbeatdown.com.
