Dawson keeps light heavyweight title with win over Tarver

Dawson retains IBF/IBO light heavyweight title with second consecutive win over Tarver

By Jeff Haney, Brett Okamoto
Sat, May 9, 2009 (6 p.m.)

Deja vu? Different night, same outcome. Chad Dawson is still the IBF/IBO light heavyweight champion after defeating Antonio Tarver by unanimous decision. Keep reading »

• Photogallery

  Tarver-Dawson weigh-in

  By Steve Marcus · May 8, 2009 · 5:00 p.m.

  You need to upgrade your Flash Player

• 

  Second time is Tarver’s charm, but Dawson is a heavy favorite

  By Jeff Haney · May 9, 2009 · 2:00 a.m.

  After Chad Dawson won a clear 12-round unanimous decision against Antonio Tarver in October at the Palms (the judges had it 118-109 and 117-110 twice), some boxing observers were surprised Tarver opted to exercise his rematch clause. Keep reading »

• 

  Dawson, Tarver weigh-in

  By Brett Okamoto · May 8, 2009 · 4:28 p.m.

  As has been the case in the anticipation for their rematch Saturday night, Chad Dawson and Antonio Tarver said little during Friday's weigh-in at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Keep reading »

• 

  Tarver’s trainer shares tips, wisdom

  By Andy Samuelson · May 9, 2009 · 12:00 a.m.

  He’s trained champs and chumps. Kids, like Antonio Tarver made it all the way to the top. Others lay dead in the streets. Jimmy Williams’ message of a better life couldn’t save them from some of mankind’s biggest pitfalls: drugs and violence. Williams was a contemporary of Muhammad Ali, Willie Mays and Jackie Robinson. But all accolades and accomplices aside, the 81-year-old’s illustrious career, which also saw him perform a stint as a professional dancer, is best defined in the ring. Keep reading »

• Photogallery

  Tarver-Dawson News Conference

  By Steve Marcus · May 7, 2009 · 7:00 p.m.

  You need to upgrade your Flash Player

  IBF light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson and former champion Antonio Tarver took part in a news conference at the Hard Rock Thursday, May 7, 2009 to promote their Saturday title fight.

• 

  Tarver keeps quiet, while Dawson predicts similar performance

  By Brett Okamoto · May 8, 2009 · 12:00 a.m.

  The last time Antonio Tarver fought Chad Dawson, his mouth got him in a bit of trouble. Showing no respect to his younger opponent, Tarver was anything but quiet leading up to their Oct. 11 bout last year, saying "I've got a lot of Chad Dawsons on my resume, he don't have one Antonio Tarver." Tarver paid for those words on fight night, as the 26-year-old Dawson defeated him by unanimous decision, knocking him down in the 12th round. Keep reading »

• Photogallery

  Tarver workout

  By Steve Marcus · May 6, 2009 · 10:00 p.m.

  You need to upgrade your Flash Player

  Former light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver hosted an open workout at Bones Adam's Boxing Gym in Las Vegas on Wednesday, May 6, 2009 in anticipation for his title fight against Chad Dawson Saturday night at the Hard Rock.

• 

  Tarver eager for rematch

  By Andy Samuelson · May 7, 2009 · 12:00 a.m.

  The talk is a lot tamer this time around from Antonio Tarver. That tends to happen when you’ve had your head handed to you like the former light heavyweight champ did last fall, in a lopsided loss to Chad Dawson. But a rematch clause in their first contract allows a confident Tarver the opportunity to take his title back and keep his second-time around streak intact. Keep reading »

• 

  ‘Bad Chad’ not mad at rematch

  By Brett Okamoto · April 21, 2009 · 12:00 a.m.

  Chad Dawson laughs when the question of his May 9 bout with Antonio Tarver at the Joint at the Hard Rock, the first rematch of his professional career, is brought up. "I don't think Tarver deserves the rematch, that's why I'm smiling," Dawson said. "Hopefully he can come in and make it a more interesting fight. But I think if he opens up on this one, if he tries to throw more combinations, that's going to work to my advantage because of my hand speed." Keep reading »

• 

  For both Dawson and Tarver, it’s personal, again

  By Jeff Haney · March 21, 2009 · 2:00 a.m.

  Coming up through the ranks, Chad Dawson always respected and even admired Antonio Tarver from afar. Then, as Dawson tells it, he met Tarver in an up-close-and-personal manner, only to come away disillusioned. Keep reading »