Glen Johnson's20-month pursuit of Chad Dawson and an elusive rematch of their disputed first fight finally ended Saturday night.

Johnson, a Miami resident, had a second opportunity at Dawson, who won the first bout with a unanimous decision, although Johnson and many fans believed he was the winner.

Intent on proving the judges erred in the first fight, Johnson counted on the formula that has made him one of the top light-heavyweights in the world. But relentless pressure doomed Johnson in the rematch -- just as it nearly finished him in Tampa.

This time, Johnson found a different fighter who was unwilling to stay within his punching range. Dawson instead used superior boxing skills, connected the sharper punches during most of the 12-round bout and won another unanimous decision at the XL Center in Hartford, Conn.

``I wanted to outbox him and use my legs,'' Dawson said. ``I had youth on my side.''

Johnson's 40-year-old legs and reflexes proved futile in breaking Dawson. The taller and younger Dawson, 27, landed frequent combinations and maintained the pace with a lead right jab.

``In the last fight, [media reports] were saying I lost steam the second half,'' Dawson said. ``I didn't let it happen this fight. I outboxed him. Used my jab. Used my speed.

``I outclassed him.''

Although Dawson's performance seemed as if it warranted a wider margin on the scorecards, judges Duane Ford and Michael Pernick had him winning 115-113. Judge Glen Feldman scored the fight 117-111.

``Dawson's whole game plan was to run from the start,'' Johnson said. ``My whole fight plan was to put pressure and try to go to the body early and try to run him out of gas late in the fight.''

Johnson (49-13-2) was not as outspoken with the rematch's verdicts as he was after the first fight.

``It's not for me to decide. I thought I fought a good fight,'' he said. ``I can't do anything about it.''

Dawson (29-0) looks forward to new opponents now. His past four fights consisted of two bouts each with Johnson and Antonio Tarver. The Connecticut native further solidified claims as the best fighter in the 175-pound class.

``This chapter in my book, Glen Johnson and Antonio Tarver, is closed,'' Dawson said. ``Now it's time to move on and fight some new faces and reclaim my spot at the top.''

Don't expect Johnson to fade fast from the light-heavyweight elite, despite Saturday's loss. But his future hinges on securing additional marquee bouts.

``I have to wait and see if there are opportunities that make sense,'' Johnson said.

READY FOR ACTION

Miguel Cotto completed his second consecutive training camp in Tampa two weeks ago and now is in Las Vegas, the site of his final workouts and his highly anticipated welterweight title bout Saturday night against Manny Pacquiao.

``This is a big fight because the public likes when the best fighters get into the ring,'' Cotto said. ``This is what Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler and Wilfredo Benitez did for years -- they each fought against the best, the way I am doing against Pacquiao.''

Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs) has won two fights and the World Boxing Organization title since his first career loss, which came against Antonio Margarito in July 2008.

A REMATCH

Paulie Malignaggi will have a second fight against Juan Diaz after all. Malignaggi, who lost a disputed decision to Diaz on Aug. 22 in Houston, will face the former lightweight champion Dec. 12 in Chicago.

Despite Malignaggi's busy punch total in the first fight, the three judges scored the fight for Diaz, who is from Houston. Malignaggi, a former super-lightweight world champion, intensified calls for a rematch and repeatedly blasted the judges' scoring, the bout's promoters and Diaz's advantages fighting in his hometown.

FINAL CARD OF YEAR

Veteran welterweight Cosme Rivera will face prospect Euri Gonzalez for a regional title headlining the final card of the year at Miccosukee Resort and Gaming on Dec. 4.

A former contender, Rivera (31-13-2, 22 KOs) will make his fifth Miccosukee appearance in his scheduled 12-round bout against Gonzalez (19-1-1, 14 KOs).

Join the discussion

The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. In order to post comments, you must be a registered user of MiamiHerald.com. Your username will show along with the comments you post. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.

     Showing: Oldest first Newest first Most-recommended first Least-recommended first

@Nyx.AuthorDisplayName@ wrote on @Nyx.PostedAtTime@:

@Nyx.repliedToText@

@Nyx.replyAnswerText@

Reply to this Comment @Nyx.Recommender@ @Nyx.AbuseReporter@