Fight Night Coverage: Chad Dawson vs Jean Pascal

Hello, boxing fans! We have a half hour before HBO’s card airs. Any predictions on the light heavyweight championship?

The final undercard bout is unimaginably dull and thankfully nearly over. It has been a night short of excitement so far, hopefully the main event bucks that trend. Unfortunately my battery is on its last legs, so I might not be able to participate in the discussion.

If anyone will be tuning into the live card on Fox Sports, updates are welcome.

Biggest cheers of the night do far have been for Bute when he appeared on the big screen and just now when he was introduced by Buffer.

Michael Buffer is offering his condolences to Jay Larkin. Honorable 10-count in effect.

Chad Dawson is on his way to the ring to Eminem’s “Not Afraid.”

Pascal on his way out.

Buffer: Let’s get ready to rumble!!! En francais!

Both fighters have been announced. Referee is Michael Griffin. Griffin gives instructions. They touch gloves.

It’s tentative at first, a little nervous energy. Dawson is more on the attack than Pascal. Dawson keepting Pascal at bay with the jab. Pascal is trying to time him, looking for a left hook opening. Pascal is looking off-balance. Dawson looks pretty calm. Pascal lands hard right hand with a minute to go. Dawson in control of the action. Pascal might take it on two hard shots in the round.

Garcia stopped Lock in the 11th

Pascal comes out more aggressive than in the first. Dawson still standing his ground and using his jab. Pascal using the ring, sometimes attacking from strange angles. Pascal is finding a home for the straight right. Too much in-and-out by Pascal. Dawson more steady in his approach. Pascal wants to counter and is fairing well. In final 20, Pascal lands some hard rights.

The crowd is errupting anytime anything happens.

Pascal grazes Dawson with left hook in first 10 tics. It’s looking more like a chess match right now. Dawson moves like a pawn. Pascal is moving like a knight. Dawson needs to let his left go more. Pascal rips the body halfway through. He’s in-and-out and it’s working. Dawson is not landing power. Pascal moves laterally, throws hard left. He’s keeping Dawson off-balance now. Dawson finally lands a left.

Dawson comes out more active, throws left to body. He’s chasing Pascal around the ring. Pascal looks at home, no pun intended. Dawson triples up on the jab. Pascal not doing much halfway through, lands nice jab. There going jab-for-jab. Dawson’s defense is better this round. Pascal charges in and they clinch. Pascal lands hard right and hell almost broke loose with 10 seconds left.

I liked Dawson’s work rate that round. I don’t think Pascal stole it away in the last seconds.

39-37 Pascal

Pascal has slowed in his lateral movement slightly. He’s still explosive and dangerous. Dawson’s jab is still working. Dawson pounds Pascal’s body, which is what he needs to do. Pascal is reaching with his shots, but they’re shaking Dawson. Sometimes it’s a right to the body, other times it’s a jab. Pascal is throwing in combination now.

Pascal takes the fifth.

49-46 Pascal

The two meet at the center, but then the game begins. Pascal gets on his bike. Dawson pumps jabs. Dawson has him in the corner, but for some reason lets him out. Pascal isn’t throwing a lot. Pascal lands a left hook upstairs. Dawson still jabbing to the body and head, gets him in the corner but lets him out. Action has slowed. Dawson doubles and triples. Left hand to head by Dawson. Pascal returns it. Pascal is trying to steal rounds.

I think Dawson feels he’s weathered the power of Pascal. Now he just has to slow him down. He’s moving forward but gets caught with hard right hand. Pascal smells blood. Dawson is hurt, but is walking forward. Dawson puts a combo together and is warned for low blow. Dawson seems to have his wits. Pascal using the ring. He’s winning the round and Dawson isn’t doing anything about it. He’s just jabbing.

Dawson seems calm for a guy who seems in trouble. Pascal lands straight left. Dawson lands left hook upstairs. Pascal jabbing, confident to stand in front, hard right to the body. Pascal is now beating Dawson to the punch. Beautiful straight right by Pascal. Dawson appears to be initiating the holding. Dawson looks hurt. He’s slowed drastically this round. Dawson just stands there.

Pascal comes out like a monster. Dawson was on the ropes. Dawson still goes back to jabbing. His punches don’t have the same zip to them. Pascal is using Dawson’s inactivity to catch a breather himself. Dawson puts a combination together, has Pascal on the ropes and stops punching. I don’t know why, and I bet his corner doesn’t either. They trade rights. Both are jabbing. Pascal will try to steal it again.

Dawson might need a knockout, at least a knockdown. He got that one slightly.

87-84 Pascal

Dawson still not changing his approach, which is a mistake. Pascal shoe-shines. It’s more than Dawson is doing. Dawson using his jab as range finder but not following it up with anything. Another lead right by Pascal. He jumps in and gets out. Dawson just isn’t answering Pascal’s attack.

Pascal using the huge ring. Dawson finally lets his hands fly, but Pascal slides away. Dawson has Pascal in trouble on the ropes. Pascal slips away again. Dawson stalks him, triples the jab. Hard left uppercut by Dawson and he doesn’t take advantage. Dawson is cut over his right eye. Headbutt. Action is stopped. Doctor calls the bout.

If we’re scoring the 11th, Pascal wins 106-103.

Vasquez is dominating a game Kim. Last round coming up

108-101
106-103
106-103

By unanimous technical decision, the new light heavyweight champion is…

JEAN PASCAL!

It was another fun live blog. Thanks to all who participated and followed along.

Thanks for the RBR. Vasquez wins easy decision