Jean Pascal retained his WBC light-heavyweight title with a controversial technical victory over the previously unbeaten Chad Dawson.
Canadian retains title following clash of heads
Jean Pascal retained his WBC light-heavyweight title with a controversial technical victory over the previously unbeaten Chad Dawson.
Despite being champion, Pascal went into the fight a big underdog with Dawson having twice beaten both Glen Johnson and Antonio Tarver in the past two years.
However, the Canadian picked up many of the early rounds simply by being the aggressor, with Dawson surprisingly unwilling to trade blows.
Pascal, whose only defeat came at the hands of England's Carl Froch, appeared to stun Dawson with a big right hand in the eighth round and he maintained his dominance in the next.
But Dawson, the former WBC and IBF champion, finally came alive in the 10th as he sensed the champion was starting to tire, and hurt Pascal as several heavy blows on the counter.
Upper cut
The fight literally came to a head in the next as Dawson backed up his opponent with a big left upper cut, and as the the champion sought to hang on in the clinch Dawson emerged with a deep cut above the right eye, with the doctor bringing the fight to a sudden halt.
It went to the cards, where Pascal's early aggression was enough to have him 108-103 on the card of the Canadian judge, with the American and British officials scoring it a close 106-103.
"Chad Dawson is a great fighter, but now I know I also belong among the best in the world," Pascal said. "I showed that I'm the best light heavyweight in the world and that I should be on the pound for pound list.
"I know for sure I'm not a dirty fighter and it wasn't an intentional head butt. Why would I need to do that? I was leading the fight."
A rematch clause will surely be exercised by Dawson's promoter Gary Shaw, who was incensed with the actions of Pascal as well as the decision.
"The head butt was intentional in my estimation," Shaw said. "The ref should have let Chad fight the last two rounds. He had Pascal in trouble."
Dawson also was upset with the decision, saying his opponent should be happy with his "little victory."
"There were four or five head butts and the ref didn't do anything," he said. "But we have a rematch clause and I will be back and I will bring the title back to the States."
