Undefeated light heavyweight Chad Dawson of New Haven keeps challenger Glen Johnson II off balance in the seventh round of their WBC interim / IBO light heavyweight title fight Saturday night at the XL Center in Hartford. Dawson retained the title by unanimous decision. (PATRICK RAYCRAFT / HARTFORD COURANT / November 7, 2009)
HARTFORD -
Chad Dawson vowed he had learned from his mistakes in his reunion with the relentless Glen Johnson,
Rather than go toe-to-toe with Johnson as he did late in an April 2008 bout that he won in a decision, Dawson would stick to his style. And sure enough, the light heavyweight from New Haven bounced around the XL Center ring Saturday night and peppered Johnson with an onslaught of jabs.
There was no knockout blow, but the mostly pro-Dawson crowd of 5,230 got what it wanted. As he delivered a unanimous 12-round decision, supporters from around the state saw Dawson at his best — focused, controlled and relentless.
Judges Duane Ford and Glenn Feldman scored the bout 115-113, and Michael Pernick scored it 117-111.
Dawson (29-0) isn't a knockout artist, so he worked Johnson's body and continually slipped away when his opponent tried to be the aggressor. Johnson (49-13-2, 33 KOs) said he would try to end the fight early, but he was never able to square up his foe.
Dawson averaged 42 jabs per round and threw far more punches (756 to 688). With the victory, he retained his IBO title while winning the WBC interim title.
"I tried to use all the tools to my advantage," Dawson said. "I felt like I landed the big punches when I had to. It was important for me to put on a show for my hometown fans. I knew I couldn't stay in there and get hit. I have to keep moving, sticking and moving. And that was the difference in the fight."
After their last meeting, Johnson said he was robbed by poor judging. This time, he wasn't as sure.
"I'm not sure I won the fight," he said. "I thought I did enough. My whole plan was to wear him out at the end with body shots. I felt I was doing that, especially late in the fight. I knew he was going to run. I thought I could run him out of gas."
Dawson entered the ring to a thunderous ovation. Honoring slain UConn football player Jasper Howard with "RIP Jazz, #6" on the right sleeve of his robe, Dawson walked purposely through the crowded ring while he was introduced.
Angulo (17-1, 14 KOs) was the aggressor from the first bell. Yorgey (22-1-1, 10 KOs), from Bridgeport, Pa., was on his heels and unable to mount an attack.
Late in the second round, Angulo squared Yorgey in the corner and delivered one blow after another. Yorgey went to his knee, rose and survived the round.
"Once I started hurting him with the body, I knew the fight would be over early," Angulo said. "I never worked this hard for anything in my life. All the hard work paid off."
In the third, Yorgey stumbled early. He appeared dazed, but referee John Callas allowed the bout to continue. Soon, Angulo pressed Yorgey against the ropes and landed a few blows to the jaw.
Yorgey fell and the bout was over. Angulo, a 2004 Olympian from Mexico, won his first title.
Rather than go toe-to-toe with Johnson as he did late in an April 2008 bout that he won in a decision, Dawson would stick to his style. And sure enough, the light heavyweight from New Haven bounced around the XL Center ring Saturday night and peppered Johnson with an onslaught of jabs.
There was no knockout blow, but the mostly pro-Dawson crowd of 5,230 got what it wanted. As he delivered a unanimous 12-round decision, supporters from around the state saw Dawson at his best — focused, controlled and relentless.
Judges Duane Ford and Glenn Feldman scored the bout 115-113, and Michael Pernick scored it 117-111.
Dawson (29-0) isn't a knockout artist, so he worked Johnson's body and continually slipped away when his opponent tried to be the aggressor. Johnson (49-13-2, 33 KOs) said he would try to end the fight early, but he was never able to square up his foe.
Dawson averaged 42 jabs per round and threw far more punches (756 to 688). With the victory, he retained his IBO title while winning the WBC interim title.
"I tried to use all the tools to my advantage," Dawson said. "I felt like I landed the big punches when I had to. It was important for me to put on a show for my hometown fans. I knew I couldn't stay in there and get hit. I have to keep moving, sticking and moving. And that was the difference in the fight."
After their last meeting, Johnson said he was robbed by poor judging. This time, he wasn't as sure.
"I'm not sure I won the fight," he said. "I thought I did enough. My whole plan was to wear him out at the end with body shots. I felt I was doing that, especially late in the fight. I knew he was going to run. I thought I could run him out of gas."
Dawson entered the ring to a thunderous ovation. Honoring slain UConn football player Jasper Howard with "RIP Jazz, #6" on the right sleeve of his robe, Dawson walked purposely through the crowded ring while he was introduced.
Angulo Scores KO
Earlier, with the WBO Inter-Continental junior middleweight title on the line, Alfredo Angulo relentlessly stalked Harry Joe Yorgey for two rounds before dropping knocking Yorgey to the canvas and earning a knockout victory KO at 1:03 of the third.Angulo (17-1, 14 KOs) was the aggressor from the first bell. Yorgey (22-1-1, 10 KOs), from Bridgeport, Pa., was on his heels and unable to mount an attack.
Late in the second round, Angulo squared Yorgey in the corner and delivered one blow after another. Yorgey went to his knee, rose and survived the round.
"Once I started hurting him with the body, I knew the fight would be over early," Angulo said. "I never worked this hard for anything in my life. All the hard work paid off."
In the third, Yorgey stumbled early. He appeared dazed, but referee John Callas allowed the bout to continue. Soon, Angulo pressed Yorgey against the ropes and landed a few blows to the jaw.
Yorgey fell and the bout was over. Angulo, a 2004 Olympian from Mexico, won his first title.
