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 Twice as nice
Dawson gets double win over Tarver after triple-action rematch
Ringside by Chris Cozzone & Natasha Chornesky
Photography by Chris Cozzone / Fightwireimages.com
Some rematches don’t live up to the reputation of the first fight.
Sometimes, that can be a good thing - like it was last night, in the high-action return bout between “Bad” Chad Dawson and Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver.
The only thing that resembled last year’s less-than-spectacular showdown between Dawson and Tarver was the end result, that being a second, convincing, unanimous decision for Dawson.
After last night’s 12-round war, held before a crowd of 2,156 at the recently-constructed The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel, those who might’ve dreaded the return bout, would probably not argue if a third installment was in the works.
Defending his IBF and IBO straps, Dawson stood and banged it out for much of the fight, against a completely different, completely aggressive Tarver.
 The bout was the main event of an HBO telecast, promoted by Gary Shaw Productions.
Dawson came out aggressive, jabbing and setting up a straight left, in round one. Tarver found a home for a short right hook, but Dawson’s straight left edged the round.
With both fighters jabbing, Tarver stepped up the pressure, landing another strong hook or two, but Dawson’s faster combinations and footwork racked up his second round.
In the third, Dawson gave the round away while Tarver upped his game, pressuring and throwing solid shots in between consistent, half-loaded combinations.
After a lukewarm third round, Dawson came out heavy in the fourth, driving Tarver back for much of the round, landing to the body and a left upstairs. In the last minute, Tarver landed his best punch so far – a straight left – though it wasn’t enough to steal the round.
Tarver made it a fight in the pocket in the fifth—and Dawson obliged. In the best action seen yet, the two traded hard shots, with Tarver getting the best of it, his short, right hooks inside landing cleanly. After taking shots, Dawson retaliated, finishing strongly.
In the sixth and seventh, fighting just within range, Dawson took back the fight, outboxing the slower but patient Tarver. Jabs and straight lefts picked up another round for Dawson in the sixth and much of the seventh, but big right hooks crashed into the champion late in round seven. Despite appearing momentarily stunned, Dawson flurried back to end the round.
 Dawson went to the body in the eighth, but Tarver came alive in the last minute, landing a big left hand that was taken well.
The champ had his best round in the ninth, trapping Tarver in the corner and hammering him with his best shots yet. A huge uppercut snapped Tarver’s head back.
Instead of jumping on Tarver at the beginning of the tenth, Dawson jabbed and moved, while making his opponent miss.
The eleventh was close, Dawson outboxing Tarver in the center of the ring for much of the round. In the last minute, Tarver came alive, landing uppercuts and Dawson firing back with rights.
Dawson came out strong in the final round, mounting a final attack on Tarver, who had no answer for the younger, stronger champion. Keeping control, Dawson clinched the round, and fight, with harder shots.
The scorecards ranged from 117-111 (Judges Duane Ford and Patricia Jarman) to 116-112 (Judge Alan Davis), although only five of the 12 rounds were in agreement.
Fightnews.com had it 116-112 for Dawson.
 Losing a rematch for the first time in his career, Tarver falls to 27-6, 19 KOs).
“I think I proved I still have some magic in my hands,” said the 40-year-old former champion. “When I let my hands go, I can take on any fighter in the world.”
There is no talk of retirement for Tarver.
Dawson, retaining his belts and perfect record (28-0, 17 KOs), says he hopes to move on to “bigger, better” fights and paydays.
“I don’t know if it Antonio Tarver was that much better, or if I had a bad night,” said Dawson. “It wasn’t my best performance.”
Dawson is targeting Bernard Hopkins, considered by most to be the top light-heavyweight in the world, or Mikkel Kessler for a bout in October or November. Promoter Shaw is also considering a bout at 168, if Kelly Pavlik or Jermain Taylor is game.
 Hernandez-Sitzes sizzles arena
Spicing up the undercard, two furiously-fought female fights and several knockouts highlighted the six-bout undercard.
In the best fight of the undercard, female featherweight Melissa Hernandez (10-1-2, 3 KOs), of the Bronx, New York, and Jeri Sitzes (14-9-1, 6 KOs) duked it out for six solid rounds.
Sitzes proved no easy for Hernandez. Though outpointing her in the first, landing to the body, several straight rights were endured.
Firing fast and straight one-two’s at the showboating Hernandez, Sitzes was edged again in the second, the quicker, slicker Hernandez moving and throwing from all angles.
In the third, Sitzes had her best round, with big rights that crashed full force onto Hernandez’ face. Hernandez took back the fight with a body attack in the fourth.
With both trading often, Sitzes’ harder right hands were more than a match for Hernandez’ sneaky hooks and higher output, but the Bronx battler kept her pace through the final two rounds to earn her win.
Scores were 60-54 and 59-55 twice, for Hernandez.
 Tupou tips over Koval
In an eight-round heavyweight bout, Bowie Tupou (17-0, 12 KOs), of Tonga, remained undefeated with a third round TKO over Chris Koval (24-6, 18 KOs), of Youngstown, Ohio, stopping him at :15 of round three.
Grinning, the monstrous Tupou stalked the less-than-impressive bulk of Koval through most of the first round. After a couple attacks on Koval’s big pink body, the Youngstown heavyweight sank to one knee in Tupou’s corner, with just seconds left.
The count was beat, and Koval survived the second, hugging and smothering Tupou. By the end of the body, his back was criss-crossed with rope burns and bruised by Tupou’s heavy-handed hammering.
The end came quickly in the third, a big right hand from Tupou flooring Koval. Referee Tony Weeks waved it off at :15, though Koval complained briefly.
 Hultin is "DinOmite" in debut
In a four-round women’s junior lightweight bout, Swede hopeful Donnatella "DynOmite" Hultin (1-0, 1 KO) was impressive in her pro debut, stopping Jasica Rojo (0-2), of Tucson, Ariz., at 1:08 in the fourth.
Under the watchful eye of Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, Hultin shook off her nervousness early and went right to work on Rojo, jabbing and landing straight right hands. Rojo showed heavier hands in the first, landing a hard left hook, but that quickly changed as the rounds wore on.
Hultin’s right hand kept on landing in the second and third, while Rojo sought to tie up and throw in spurts.
In the fourth, a big right hand hammered Rojo to the canvas for a clean knockdown. Rojo beat the bount but, seeing her foe hurt, Hultin jumped on Rojo, blasting her with right after right until Referee Byrd halted the slaughter at 1:08.
 Sillakh TKOs Whittom
In a six-round light-heavyweight bout, Ismayle Sillakh (8-0,6 KOs), of Simi Valley, Calif., remained undefeated with a sixth round TKO over David Whittom (10-9-1, 6 KOs), stopping him at 2:25.
Whittom was a punching bag for most of the fight and Sillakh, boxing beautifully behind a jab, threw everything but his corner stool at the Canadian.
In the fifth round, Whittom came alive and appeared to hurt Sillakh, who was now, somehow, cut under both eyes.
Round six saw Sillakh take back the fight when he came out for a kayo, battering Whittom down. The bout was, then, stopped.
Guzman outslicks Lugo
In a six-round lightweight bout, Jose Guzman (7-0, 5 KOs), of New York City, beat Jose Lugo (10-8-1,5 KOs), of Mexico, by unanimous decision.
Though game to the core, Lugo was too slow and one-dimensional for the slick and speedy Guzman. Unloading in spurts, Guzman played and toyed for much of the fight, though Lugo had a solid sixth round, coming full speed at a tiring Guzman.
Judges scored the bout 59-55, 57-57, 58-56.
 El Harrack kayos Correa
In a six-round welterweight bout, Said El Harrack (5-0, 2 KOs) remained undefeated with a first round TKO over Hugo Correa (8-3, 4 KOs), stopping him at 1:55 of round one.
The first minute was cautious, but as soon as El Harrack opened up, it was over.
A big right hand floored Correa and though he was up before ten, his shaky legs had Referee Joe Cortez stopping the fight at 1:55.
Pacheco-Valencia draw
In the opener, four rounds at jr. featherweight, Jose Pacheco (1-5-6) and Omar Valencia (0-3-1) fought a majority draw, with scores of 39-37, 37-39 and 38-38.
Neither one could miss a punch—and both landed hard and often—through four furious rounds. Pacheco edged the first but the harder punches of Valencia earned him the second.
The wear-and-tear showed on Valencia in the third, but in the fourth, his harder shots made the difference to even the score.
Bonus photos
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