CHAD DAWSON CUT DOWN BY JEAN PASCAL

Jean Pascal W 11 Chad Dawson SCORES: 108-101, 106-103, 106-103
Dawson unable to continue after accidental headbutt

There is nothing more frustrating then watching a fighter lose a fight you know they could win. That is what happened last night on HBO between Chad Dawson, and Jean Pascal. Chad Dawson just couldn't, wouldn't pull the trigger. Jean Pascal was the underdog, but it seemed that he didn't care. He took the fight to Chad Dawson all night long, scoring when Dawson was doing nothing. Jean Pascal has speed, and explosiveness that he used against Dawson. They both only fought in spots the entire fight. Every time Pascal landed, or even threw a punch the crowd went wild. Pascal would be losing most of the round but then pull it out with a wild fury of power punches. Because of the crowd, and his exciting style Pascal was able to persuade the judges. Chad Dawson was hurt a few times as his knees buckled and he went backwards. The same could be said about Jean Pascal. Pascal was dazed, and confused also but Dawson didn't capitalize. Every time Dawson did anything offensive he would sit back and admire his work, as opposed to following it up with more offense. I'm not taking anything away from Jean Pascal because he took advantage of Dawson's passiveness. In the 11Th round Dawson had Jean Pascal hurt very bad, but let him off the hook. If he would have kept pushing the pace he could have won the fight by knock out. He allowed Pascal to get his legs back instead of finishing the fight. Pascal was able to mount a little offense himself in the 11Th before the accidental headbutt occurred. This happens a lot when you have a conventional fighter in the ring with a southpaw. The cut over Chad Dawson's eye was so severe the fight was stopped. Who knows what would have happened if the fight went the extra round. Pascal was winning, but he was really hurt in the 11Th round. That is why you have to finish a hurt fighter because you never know what is going to happen. Pascal gets the well deserved victory, and Dawson gets to fly back to Connecticut with out the belts. This fight is huge for the Canadian, because it opens many doors for him. Lucian Bute wanted to fight Dawson, but now he can fight Pascal in the biggest Canadian fight ever. The rematch clause that Dawson has allows Pascal to fight someone else before he gives him a rematch, if he so chooses. This could be the best thing to happen to Dawson. If he can learn from this loss, and get more aggressive he can be unstoppable. All I know is the people of Montreal are very happy because they have to great champions that could possibly face each other.

Combat Canadiens de Montréal

Chad Dawson (29-0, 17 KO) vs. Jean Pascal (25-1, 16 KO)

Montreal Canada is famous for producing some of the most best fighters in the world. Here is just a few of them, Lucian Bute, Jean Pascal, George St-Pierre, David Lemieux, Adonis Stevenson, and Patrick Cote. It is not surprising that the very diverse city has spawned all these great fighters. However people are surprised to see that the fight fans are even more rabid then their toughest fighters. If you have ever been in the Bell Centre on fight night then you know that the electricity in the air is second to none. Anytime they have a fight of any kind from boxing to mma they sell out the arenas. Montreal's own George St-Pierre is one of the biggest draws that the UFC has. It doesn't matter if it selling a gate, or tuning in on PPV they generate huge numbers. Every foreign fighter that comes to fight in Montreal talks about how awesome the energy in the building, and how great the fans are. American fight fans should learn from our neighbors from the north, and do the same. The reason that Chad Dawson is fighting in Montreal is because he can't generate the crowds, or money in Connecticut, that Pascal can in Canada. They support their fighters to the very end, and they will do that tonight with Jean Pascal. Jean Pascal is facing Chad Dawson his toughest challenge as a professional boxer. The WBC light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal has a stellar record at (25-1, 16KO). The problem is he is going against the best fighter in the light heavyweight division Chad Dawson. Pascal is coming off a good win against Silvio Branco, sandwiched between 2 great wins over the tough Adrian Diaconu. He will be putting his WBC light heavyweight strap up against Dawson's IBO title. He will need to bring his "A" game if he has any chance to win in this one. In order to win he will have to tap into the legendary energy of the Montreal fans that so many fighters have done before him. If you can't make it to the Bell Centre in Montreal Canada, then you must tune in to HBO and watch this great match up. I know that the crowd will be in this fight. If you have never felt, or witnessed the energy you will not want to miss the fight tonight.

TAVORIS CLOUD MAKES IT RAIN ON THE ROAD WARRIOR

Tavoris Cloud W 12 Glen Johnson SCORES: 116-112, 116-112, 116-112

Tavoris Cloud beat Glen Johnson is what was a really good light Heavyweight match up. Tavoris the young, powerful champion successfully defended his IBF crown last Saturday night. Glen Johnson truly lived up to his nick name, the Road Warrior. Glen took many shots proving he is still as tough as he has ever been. The fight was going back and forth with Cloud landing the harder punches. He had Johnson severely hurt in the early rounds, but he could not finish. He threw too many punches, and blew a ton of energy. Cloud would win a round, and then take a round off letting Johnson back in the fight. It looked like they were both out of gas by the later rounds. It was a good fight to watch, and if they had more in the tank late it would have been great. Johnson thought that he won the close fight, and he stated so in the post fight interview with Max Kellerman. I thought that Cloud won but it was a lot closer then the scorecards showed. Tavoris Cloud is a great offensive fighter, but I don't think he would have the same success with either Bute, or Dawson. He called out Chad Dawson (the best fighter at 175), but I think he is barking up the wrong tree. He truly deserves a shot at Dawson, I just don't think he has a chance to beat him. Dawson is in action this weekend against the number 2 rated Light Heavyweight, Jean Pascal. If Dawson can beat him and he can draw either Lucian Bute, Bernard Hopkins, or Joe Calzaghe then he should fight Cloud. Instead of waiting for Dawson Cloud has other intriguing fights he could engage against, while perfecting his powerful, raw style. The other people in the top ten that could be fun to watch would be, Karo Murat, or Borat I mean Beibut Shumenov. He would for sure crush the talentless Shumenov, but Murat might give him a test. If he can't get Dawson or any other of the big fish in the ring maybe he can get a belt chasing 168 pound super middleweight. As far as Johnson is concerned he should try to get a rematch with Cloud. If he can't, and I don't think he will get Cloud again he could try to work his way back. If he can't do that he should seriously ponder the idea of retirement. Fight after fight he is taking beatings, absorbing punishment and getting just getting older. I know he can compete with the young guys, but I don't think he can beat them anymore. In boxing you can get old in one night. I think that is what happened against Chad Dawson. In the first fight he looked like he won, but got dominated in the second. What am I thinking? This is boxing ,and boxer never retire. They continuously chase their former glory, or the almighty dollar. They do this even though they know where it may take them.

NO APTHY IN CONNECTICUT WHAT A GREAT NIGHT ON HBO

Chad Dawson unanimous w12 Glen Johnson 115-113, 115-113, 117-111

Chad Dawson made Glen Johnson showed no APATHY in Connecticut tonight against Chad Dawson and either did El Perro. Chad looked more calm and professional against the tough Road Warrior Glen Johnson then in their first encounter. You could tell after the opening round it was going to be an up hill battle for Glen Jonson and a totally different fight then their last. When Chad stood his ground he stopped the relentless attack of his opponent with sharp precision punches. Glen tried to pressure all night but because of Chad's great circling ability he was unsuccessful of sustaining his patented attack. Even Glens sparring with the great supermiddleweight champ Lucian Bute didn't help him tonight. Chad was just beating him to the punch all night long and keeping him off balence with his movement and angles. Every time you thought Johnson was starting to make progress chad had an answer for him. He lead, he countered, he threw combinations, well he did it all. In boxing you can get old in one night and that is just what the great warrior looked tonight, but only time will tell if he is as old as he looked tonight against the young lion. If Chad Dawson continues to progress and learn under Eddie Mustapha Muhammad he will reign for as long as he wants. I was totally impressed with the 27 year old Chad Dawson's performence tonight, he is as BAD as his nickname implies.

Alfredo Angulo KO 3 Harry Joe Yorgey Time 1:03

I'm sure everyone is sick of all dog related cliches related to Angulos nickname "El Perro', but I really just don't care because they fit. As soon as Angulo was let off of his chain he attacked like a neighborhood pit with a thirst for blood. Yorgey looked like the mailman when he saw the attacking dog Angulo moving backward. Angulo mauled him with a ferocity that Mike Vick would applaud hitting Harry Joe with clean hard punches. He bloodied his nose and stunned him after round 1, and he never looked back. Angulo didn't just throw one punch and sit back and enjoy his work, he followed each one up with one harder than the first. Jack Lowe should have stepped into save his fighter but then again he can't even get his boy Kelly to even fight after the one sided beating he sustained at the hand of B-Hop. Yorgey was out of his class and he paid for it in blood, hat Angulo was more than happy to take. Angulo come back with the second impressive performance after his boxing lesson he took from Kermit Cintron. When can you tell you are watching a good fighter? You can tell by the way they come back from a loss, and Angulo came back in impressive fashion. Too many time now a days fighters are afraid to take on tough completion and risk a loss on their records. What these fighters don't realize is when you fight the best and loose the fans will give you respect. Angulo learned from his loss and Mexicans every whee should be proud that he is proving to be a real fighter and we thank him for that.

Nick Thomas deathwish72@gmail.com

GREAT BOXING ON TV THIS WEEKEND

November 7Th

Chad Dawson vs. Glen Johnson

This is a great rematch that Dawson won the first time, I thought Johnson won. I am picking Johnson to win in what most people would call an upset to line up a third fight. In this fight you get to see a young, highly skilled phenom Chad Dawson try to show his speed and power to beat a man who wont go down easy. Glen Johnson will pressure Dawson smothering him trying to take his legs, and go for a KO. This fight will be on HBO at 9:30PM ET so be ready or record it.

Alfredo Angulo vs. Harry Joe Yorgey


Everybody knows El Perro and how ferocious he can be and how weak he looked against Kermit Cintron, which one will show up. Not too many people know Harry Joe Yorgey, but he is good. I know this because he knocked out Detroit representative and son of legend Ronald Hearns. This fight could go either way it Yorgey can box and move he can beat Angulo but if he can't he will be malled badly. Either way this should be an entertaining fight to watch as an under card bout on the Dawson/Johnson fight on HBO.

Nikolai Valuev vs. David Haye

This is truly a David vs. Goliath fight with the 7 ft Russian giant going up against the UK loudmouth and blown up cruiser weight David Haye. This is a slow lumbering giant with OK skills facing a very fast fighter with a mighty punch. This one is hard to pick, if Haye can hurt Valuev early and get him out of there he can win. If he can't he will be tired and possibly set up the big man for the KO. I know Haye will get exposed but will it happen against the giant probably not . Having said this I'm picking Haye in an ugly fight, I like to pick the smaller guy it makes the fight much more fun to watch. It can be a bad decision in Russia because anything can happen just ask "The Real Deal". Even if Haye wins he will get crushed by a number of heavyweights including The Klitschko brother which he is afraid of.


Also Wednesday on ESPN2 we have Jr lightweight Jason Litzau in action against Johnnie Edwards. This should be a fun fight to watch and all 10 rounds will be fought hard. On Saturday Joel Casamayor against Jason Davis, and Zab Judah is against Ubaldo Hernandez are back in action in the welterweight division. This could set up a fight between the two and it would also be fun to watch if it ever materialize.

Nick Thomas deathwish72@gmail.com

AND THE NEW...........!!!!!!!!

Light Heavyweight Tavoris Cloud earned a unanimous decision over veteran former champion Clinton Woods to win the vacant IBF world title. With all judges scoring the fight (116-112) Saturday in Florida . Tavoris Cloud has been talking the talk and walking the walk in the light heavyweight division after beating Julio Gonzales and now Clinton Woods. This win could propel him to the next level at the top of the division to possibly face the winner of Glen Johnson and Chad Dawson. It is always a little easier to get bigger fights when you have a little gold around your waist, but only time will tell. After running his record to an impressive (20-0), he is proving to be a real problem for anyone in the light heavy weight division. He beat Woods with a great triple threat of speed, combinations and power all night long to beat the game Englishmen. The main event proved to be a great fight Between Randall Bailey and Juan Urango. Urango retained his IBF junior welterweight belt only after surviving a sixth round knockdown to stop Randall in the 11Th. The Friday Night Fights, Fight card was full of action and did not disappoint.


Nick Thomas deathwish72@gmail.com

Old Dog; Same Tricks

Chad Dawson won the fight, but glen Johnson won the crowd. Johnson used the same tactics that got him to the big show, coming forward at all times and landing some good shots along the way. Dawson fought a tactical bout and outpointed Johnson much to the crowds dismay.