DAWSON-TARVER ll

by John Mastalir jmastalir@yahoo.com

For many years I was in the top of the loop of boxing writers in Las Vegas !

I have been out of the loop for a couple of years !

Today I returned to the loop for top boxing writers in Las Vegas and I could not be happier....as a reporter....as a fan and as a representative of the media.

At one point events transpired that caused me to react negatively toward promoter Gary Shaw and the Hard Rock boxing venue.......NO MORE !

Top of the line for both tonight !

They started out with a great press conference on Thursday....lots of pluses...good information....no train of non English speaking illegal aliens muttering in tongues....they started close to on time...only the headliners spoke and they both acted like the had some sense and strategy (which as it turns out...they did)...lots of photo and interview opportunities and a great lunch.

Lets fight !

Saturday at the Hard Rock in their new 4000 seat arena...8 matches starting on time with limited rap music and some great hosts (staff acted like they were happy to see me and I was happy to see them). What an arena...stadium seating two large video boards and the best seat I have ever had at a boxing event...9 rows back...first row of the balcony 15 feet over the ring....absolutely super perfect...(a little dark) !

So they fought........I love numbers...the first two boxers were a combined 1-8-7 AFTER their fight...don't you love it....I'm paying attention...not the greatest matches in history....the two womens bouts among the best on the card. They ran the matches very close together (great for paying customers) and only one HBO fight (Hatton-Pacquiao replay followed). Not a big crowd maybe.....1500...$2 million dollar purse for the fighters....where did this money come from ?

Anyway the main event..Tarver-Dawson ll......I expected this to be lopsided with the 26 year old Dawson running over the 40 year old Tarver ! He did for the first 5 rounds and it looked like Tarver was not interested....he became more interested as it went along tho,before losing 117-111, 117-111 and 116-112....just about the way I saw it. The event is what it is....they always have to play the game and both fighters with signifcant histories brought something to the ring....altho this light heavyweight division suffers with a lack of quality the same as the heavyweight division. Dawson obviously at the top of what's there.

What a nice event in a great new arena with a nice staff of people doing the best they can at their jobs....made my day a postive experience and I continue to recommend this venue, this sport and this promoter to the world.


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