CHAD DAWSON DETHRONES ANTONIO TARVER
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 12 Oct 2008
Los Angeles, CA: - Tonight the concert venue of the Palms Hotel Casino Resort in Las Vegas was converted to a boxing arena for Showtime to put up a light heavyweight championship fight featuring the title defense of IBF/IBO champion, Antonio ?Magic Man? Tarver against WBC champion, Chad ?Bad? Dawson.
This fight has been long delayed. If my memory serves me right, it was brought up as early as December 1, 2007 after Tarver defeated Danny Santiago at the Foxwoods Casino Resort in Connecticut. For some reason, it did not happen soon enough. In fact, Tarver defended his crown against Clinton Wood in March this year before this fight with Dawson was finally arranged.
Tonight?s fight was critical for Tarver. He knows that at age 39, time is running out and he wants to unify the alphabet crowns before he finally calls it a career. ?This fight is to put a stamp on my greatness? Tarver said.
For Dawson, who is undefeated, the fight was an opportunity of a lifetime. He was aware that a victory over Tarver will propel his career further up the financial ladder of success.
He also genuinely dislike Tarver, a feeling heighten by the fact that Tarver talks too much. ?Getting rid of Tarver is not only a mission, it is a public service?, stated Dawson.
Tonight?s fight started with a bang with Dawson winning the first two rounds with his dominant combinations and blazing hand speed.
Round 3 begun and Tarver starting to move forward and finding a home for his straight left and left upper cut. Dawson responded with combinations but Tarver landed the heavier punches.
Round 4, Dawson regained the upper hand mainly due to his combinations. Although not all of them landed, the sheer number allowed him to land more than Tarver.
Round5. A straight left hand momentarily stunned Tarver. Dawson continued to dominate and landed more power shots.
Round 6 Tarver started to stalk Dawson but can?t land his vaunted left solidly. Dawson at times simply covered up and allowed Tarver to hit him. But he blocked most of them. At times he seems to be talking to Tarver asking him to hit him with his best shot hoping that Tarver will punch himself out.
Round 7 Dawson came out more aggressively and started to throw more combinations. Tarver had no answer for the hand speed of Dawson and Dawson started to land more body shots and triple jabs to the head.
Round 8 Dawson again reverted to a peek a boo covering his face and allowing Tarver to hit him. But Traver can not land a solid one. Then Dawson he will break out and start to land his combinations. He moved to make Tarver miss then he will make him pay with his combos.
Round 9 Tarver is now starting to sense a need to knock Dawson out in order to win. He is measuring his shots but can not land them against a faster Dawson who repeatedly landed his combinations.
Round 10 Dawson seem to be landing his combinations at will to the body and the head at times with 6-7 unanswered punches. Tarver continues to come forward but keeps on eating Dawson?s combo.
Round 11 Tarver increased his punch output but just can not seem to land as many as Dawson. He now knows for sure that only a KO will may him win but Dawson is not allowing him to land any clean shots. Dawson, meanwhile continues to land the combos
Round 12 Even Tarver?s cornerman knows that only a KO willl make him win. In fact that is what he told Tarver before the round started.
Dawson threw a combo and a right hook put Tarver went down . He bounced right up for count of 8. With that all Dawson had to do was survive the round to win
Dawson wins the IBF/IBO Light heavyweight title. Judges scores are as follows: Max Luca 118-109; Dave Moretti- 117-110; CJ Ross- 117-110.
Top photo: Antonio Tarver is knocked down by Chad Dawson, during the twelfth round of their IBF/IBO Light Heavyweight championship boxing match Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008 in Las Vegas. Dawson won by unanimous decision. (AP Photo/Eric Jamison).
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
‘THE RING 6’ TEOFIMO LOPEZ VS. SHAKUR STEVENSON PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Fri, 30 Jan 2026NEWCASTLE PRESS CONFERENCE: WHAT WAS SAID AS JOSH KELLY AND BAKHRAM MURTAZALIEV ARE KEPT APART AFTER HEATED FACE-OFF
Fri, 30 Jan 2026Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Flores vs. Castillo’ at Live! Casino Hotel Maryland
Fri, 30 Jan 2026WAPA Deportes Confirmed as Puerto Rican Broadcast Home for Saturday’s Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou Title Unification Showdown
Fri, 30 Jan 2026Legendary Panamanian Juan Carlos Tapia will be inducted into the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Fri, 30 Jan 2026Manny Pacquiao Promotions Announces Additional Matchups for Saturday, February 28 Event at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York
Fri, 30 Jan 2026SWERVE TV STRIKES MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS TO EXPAND PREMIUM BOXING CONTENT
Fri, 30 Jan 2026Leuenbergers to join IRONMAN® 70.3 Davao
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 30 Jan 2026Open Workout: Xander Zayas and Abass Baraou Prepare For Saturday's Unification Showdown in Puerto Rico
Thu, 29 Jan 2026Cabrera-Zapata Kicks Off All Star Boxing's 2026 Season
Thu, 29 Jan 2026Manny Pacquiao Chess Philippines: Cash prizes, FIDE rating at stakes this Sunday
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 29 Jan 2026IBP Fun Run & Family Day on February 15
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 29 Jan 2026TEOFIMO LOPEZ AND SHAKUR STEVENSON FACE-OFF AT KNICKS GAME AS COUNTDOWN TO ‘THE RING 6’ ON SATURDAY BEGINS
Wed, 28 Jan 2026Davao to sponsor P500K in IRONMAN 70.3
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 28 Jan 2026JOSH KELLY SOUNDS WARNING TO WORLD TITLE RIVAL BAKHRAM MURTAZALIEV AS HE TARGETS HISTORIC NORTH EAST HOMECOMING
Wed, 28 Jan 2026