DAWSON-TARVER II HBO 5/9/09

TOO MUCH SPEED FOR THE “MAGIC MAN”

Chad Dawson wins 12 round unanimous decision over Antonio Tarver

Round 1: Dawson started shooting his jab and then threw a quick combo landing a left. The speed difference was evident very early in the fight. Fast combinations by Dawson made Tarver hesitant to throw punches. Tarver was waiting too long to let his hands go. He was trying to pick his spots to counter Dawson, but the hand speed of Dawson was too much.

Round 2: Trainer Buddy McGirt told Antonio Tarver in between rounds to throw a right hook. Tarver did what McGirt told him and landed a few of them. Dawson became a little more cautious, but was still more fluid with his punches than Tarver. Dawson landed some good body shots. Tarver lands left. Two more body shots land by Dawson. Dawson flurries. Tarver still is a little hesitant to let his hands go more, but he did land more punches this round.

Round 3: Tarver puts on more pressure. Dawson was back on the ropes and Tarver landed a good body shot. Dawson with his superior hand speed lands a right than left.
A straight left than right hook by Dawson lands. Tarver is circling and unleashes a combination. Tarver switched from a southpaw stance to conventional momentarily.

Round 4: Dawson threw a combination to Tarver’s body and head twice. Tarver not throwing punches immediately after Dawson lands his. Dawson backs him up with the jab. Dawson lands big left that really slowed Tarver. Dawson was cautious and did not rush toward him.

Round 5: Dawson unloads a flurry to start round. Tarver lands an overhand left and three shots to the body. Dawson lands a left uppercut. McGirt was yelling from the corner “step to him,” and Tarver responded with a combination. Tarver lands a left uppercut. Dawson lands a left uppercut in close range. Good pace to the round with Tarver taking more chances and exchanging with Dawson.

Round 6: Dawson lands a right hook followed by a straight left. Tarver lands a combo to the body and than head. Tarver lands right hook and Dawson counters with a right uppercut. Dawson lands a left uppercut. Both guys were really looking to counter each other.

Round 7: Dawson lands good left to the body. Tarver is throwing more punches. He lands a left and stuns Dawson with an uppercut.

Round 8: Tarver uses his jab to set up some shots. Dawson flurries on Tarver with a lot of speed. Tarver landed a good left, outworked him and used his jab well.

Round 9: Dawson throws a good combination landing a solid right hook. Tarver lands a straight left to the body. The speed of Dawson’s punches controlled the flow of the round. Dawson lands combination as Tarver’s back was on ropes just before round ended.
Round 10: Both fighters circling in the middle of the ring. There were good exchanges with Dawson landing a strong, solid body shot and Tarver lands a straight left to the head.

Round 11: Dawson uses his speed more efficiently and Tarver was not throwing punches as much. Dawson fires a right hook and straight left to Tarver’s head. Tarver fires a few jabs. Tarver lands a left uppercut.

Round 12: Dawson ripped a vicious right hook to Tarver’s body. Tarver lands a good right hook to Dawson’s head.

Overall Summary: At 40 years old, Antonio Tarver fought a better fight than many fans anticipated. Tarver battled well in exchanges despite the overwhelming hand speed of the 26 year old Dawson. At times, Tarver was hesitant to fire shots because Dawson would throw fast, blistering combinations to his body and head. Dawson favored using his right hook to the body and straight left to the challenger’s head.

Chad Dawson fought a more disciplined fight this time with Tarver. He was not careless throwing his punches and was cautious not to get nailed with Tarver’s straight left hand. His overall athleticism, speed and quickness were too overwhelming for Tarver.

Dawson is a good, young fighter with tremendous hand speed for a light heavyweight. He is a force to be reckoned with and his southpaw style is an added bonus. He throws ferocious combinations to the body and head that puts fear into opponents wanting to let their hands go. Dawson throws combinations in spots throughout the rounds. He could be a little more consistent each round throwing his punches in bunches. At times, he tends to tire a little during the middle-to-later rounds. Overall, he is really starting to look like a more complete fighter.

Possible next opponents for Chad Dawson are 168lb. WBC champion Carl Froch or light heavyweight Glen Johnson. In his last fight, Carl Froch recovered from a 3rd round knockdown to stop Jermain Taylor in the 12th round in their battle on April 25, 2009. Glen Johnson would pose a great challenge in a rematch with Dawson. He gave him his toughest challenge to date.

FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS 5/8/09

Adrien Broner defeats Fernando Quintero by 8 Round Majority Decision

Round 1: Both started out trying to find their range. Broner demonstrated the superior hand speed. He was a little anxious and settled a bit as the round went on. Broner tried to catch Quintero with a left hook and lead rights.

Round 2: Quintero charges forward with a flurry. Broner found range and tried to keep Quintero at bay with the jab. Broner takes a left hook from Quintero as he throws a flurry of punches. Quintero charges forward trying to land more punches, but becomes a little hesitant because of Broner’s quick hands. Broner was having trouble putting punches together as Quintero brought more fight in this round.

Round 3: Broner looks to counter punch as Quintero continues to bring the fight. Broner got closer with his jab, but Quintero landed some body shots and then an overhand right. Quintero is getting his punches off first and Broner waits too long to let his punches go. Quintero lands more punches and just as the round ends, Broner throws a quick flurry.

Round 4: Competitive closer round. Quintero still getting close to him, but Broner threw more punches this round. The hand speed of Broner is bothering Quintero less because he lacks power.

Round 5: Quintero starts the round strong. Broner backs him up with a quick flurry. Broner starts circling and jabbing. Quintero rushes in trying to land body shots as soon as Broner stops punching. Quintero charges forward and lands more punches. Quintero was out working him in the last minute.

Round 6: Broner started to use his speed more efficiently. Quintero placed his punches well. He had Broner against the ropes and was landing body shots.

Round 7: Broner initiates more action at the start of the round. He tries to overwhelm Quintero with his quickness. Quintero was trying to land punches while Broner is against the ropes. Broner was trying to time Quintero coming in. Broner lands a good over hand right to Quintero’s head.

Round 8: Broner throws a flurry of punches and then lands a flush right to the head of Quintero. Quintero gets Broner in a corner and lands some effective punches. Broner becomes wild with his punches to back Quintero off. Then, Broner started throwing a jab.

Overall Summary: Quintero landed the cleaner, more effective punches in the bout. His pressure reduced slightly in the last two rounds. Broner possesses speed, but is a raw talent. He needs to keep his feet closer together when throwing punches, so he does not become off balanced. He needs to put together a better game plan starting with utilizing his jab more. With Broner’s speed, this fight may not have been as difficult for him if he let the flow of his punches come off the jab. Broner lacks power, but is only 19 years of age. He improved to 9-0 with 6 KO’s. This was Quintero’s first loss as a professional.

Charles Hatley TKO’s Carlos Garcia in Round 1

Round 1: Hatley was trying to make Garcia open up to throw a right hand. Hatley successfully landed a flush right that dropped Garcia. Garcia got to his feet, but Hatley landed another right and then a left hook. The referee stopped the fight at 55 seconds.

Overall Summary: Welterweight prospect Charles Hatley improved his record to 3-0 with 3 KO’s. All his knockouts have come in the 1st round.

Craig McEwan wins 10 Round Unanimous Decision over Brian Vera

Round 1: Both fighters circle and try to set the pace with their jabs. McEwan landed some straight lefts to the head of Vera. Vera was trying to get inside. He threw and landed a few looping punches.

Round 2: Vera tried to land the big right hand and was throwing wide shots all round. McEwan landed some straight lefts to end round.

Round 3: Vera continues to work his way inside, but still throwing wide punches. McEwan landed the more accurate punches. Good back and forth pace to the round.

Round 4: Vera brought on the pressure to start the round. McEwan switched frequently from southpaw to a conventional stance. Vera throwing many punches and backs McEwan into the ropes. McEwan landed a few punches as round draws to a close. Vera was making McEwan work. However, when the fight was in the center of the ring, McEwan was more effective moving and landing shots.

Round 5: McEwan starts to land the straight left more often. He used his range well and landed the cleaner shots in the round.

Round 6: Vera landed some good shots on McEwan while he was against the ropes, but he was still wide with his punches. McEwan landed another straight left and than as Vera went back into the ropes, he got nailed with a straight left again.

Round 7: Vera chased McEwan around the ring and was pressing forward hard. McEwan continued to beat Vera to the punch. He landed big shots to Vera’s head.

Round 8: McEwan timing Vera well. Vera tried to rough up McEwan on the inside. He landed a few shots while McEwan’s back was on the ropes.

Round 9: Vera was still pressing forward, but with less effort now. He started to tire. McEwan lets Vera throw his shots and then follows by landing straight lefts and a right hook.

Round 10: Vera went back to throwing wild punches. McEwan continued to do well timing him coming inside because he was throwing straight lefts. Vera’s punches are not having the same effect as earlier in the fight.


Overall Summary: McEwan may have had an easier time fighting Vera if the fight stayed in the center of the ring, but the fighter from Scotland fought well. He timed Vera coming in with straight lefts most of the night and circled well when he was fighting in the center of the ring. Vera was aggressive, but not effective. He threw a lot of looping, wide punches which left him open for McEwan’s counters. Vera’s a tough fighter, but needed to put his punches together more often. Vera has lost each time he’s steeped up in class. He’s lost to Jaidon Codrington, James Kirkland and now McEwan. Freddie Roach, trainer of Manny Pacquiao, has another good south paw up and coming. McEwan has had over 300 amateur fights and improved to 15-0, 9 KO’s.