Quick-handed WBC light heavyweight world champion Jean Pascal wowed his hometown supporters on Saturday night with a technical decision upset over previously undefeated American Chad Dawson at The Bell Center in Montreal, Canada.
Pascal 26-1 (16) whose only defeat came at the hands of Carl Froch seven pounds south of this weight division in 2008, enjoyed a successful opening – out-working his opponent and confusing the American with his awkward style and faster hands in the first two rounds.
An off-balance and passive Dawson 29-1 (17) was unable to fully cope with the challenge ahead and, although he started each round strong and connected with a series of combinations in spots, the telling and more numerous offense was all authored by Pascal throughout the first five rounds.
Dawson improved in the sixth and, despite being stunned by right hands in the seventh and eighth, he began to tighten the contest as Pascal seemed to tire mentally and physically as the fight progressed.
Both guys took turns and thumping each other in a rousing ninth and, after a stunning effort by Dawson to close the show in the eleventh, any hopes of stopping a weary and badly wobbled Pascal were dashed with a minute to go after a head clash opened an awful and fight ending wound over Dawson’s right eye.
Scores: 108-101; 106-103; 106-103