by James Slater: Jean Pascal (26-1, 16 KO’s) scored a big upset last night in Canada, by becoming the first man to defeat slick and talented southpaw “Bad” Chad Dawson (27-1, 17 KO’s), even if the technical decision the defending WBC light-heavyweight champion was awarded caused controversy. As the result of a nasty clash of heads in the 11th-round, Dawson was deemed unable to carry on by referee Michael Griffin, and the fight went to the score cards. Way ahead on all three cards due to his effective aggression and the fact that he took the fight to Dawson all night long, Pascal won by scores of 106-103(twice) and 108-101.
This last score infuriated Dawson and his promoter Gary Shaw, and so too did the actions of referee Griffin. With a rematch clause in place, Dawson, now 29-1(17) says he will take the return match, but that he will fight with another referee in charge. Promoter Shaw also said he will not have judge Jack Woodburn officiating the sequel – Woodburn of Canada turned in the wide 108-101 score for Pascal.
“The headbutt was intentional in my opinion,” Shaw said of the fight-ending clash. “I thought the ref should have let Chad fight the last two rounds. He had Pascal in trouble.”
Dawson, who was too cautious early on in the fight, and who fell behind on the cards because of this, did succeed in hurting Pascal in the 9th and 11th-rounds. But then the butt occurred and the winner’s early lead paid huge dividends. Can Dawson get revenge in a part-two, or will the stronger, more aggressive Pascal repeat his victory; this time without the controversy?
Dawson, sarcastically, said Pascal can be happy with his “little victory,” and he also promised to bring the WBC belt back to America in the rematch.
“There were four or five headbutts, and the ref didn’t do anything,” Dawson stated. “But we have a rematch clause and I will be back, I will bring the title back to the States.”
But will he? For one thing, Pascal -who said his win proved he is both the best 175-pounder in the world and a fighter worthy of being placed in the pound-for-pound ratings – has an option to take an interim fight before giving Dawson a return match. Word is Pascal, now 26-1(16), and beaten only by Britain’s Carl Froch down at super-middleweight, may face reigning IBF 168-pound king Lucian Bute next – in what would be a massive fight for Canada.
In the meantime, Pascal can enjoy his big win, even though the defeated Dawson says otherwise.