HBO Saturday Special tossed fight fans a freebie instead of going the PPV route, with defending IBF l/heavy champion Chad “Bad” Dawson in a contractual mandatory return with now age 40, Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver. 

My guess going in was Tarver would do some magic, and disappear sometime late in the scheduled 12-rounder - but then, there he was still upright come the bout ending bell of stanza twelve.   

The return played out in “Bad Chad” having the better - the action spotty with Tarver in role of puncher’s chance - and Dawson proving the better in the counter-punch role of mutual southpaws. 

Tarver in body appearance belies the forty past birthdays - still the affects were visible in his being tardy with the counters, missing time and again with the big left hand when the openings were there. 

Dawson clearly the sharper and more diversified when on the offense - showed some quality combinations when going to the body, that usually saw Tarver unwilling to engage. 

Thus it went to the judges’ scorecards, going unanimous Dawson 117-111, 117-111, 116-112 - my unofficial had it Dawson 116-112 in points and 8-4 in rounds.

• Chad Dawson (28-0, 17 KO) ~ age 26 @ 6‘-3” - classic boxer-puncher with good technique - helps his working from the port side - decent power in the short-burst combinations that start to the body. With Calzaghe and Hopkins unavailable it’s an open road ahead. The media hoping to hype ancient Glen Johnson - another former good one falling victim of too many birthdays, to pull the proverbial pugilistic rabbit out of the hat in a Dawson pairing. Overlooked in the media sell is the ol’ Jamaican road warrior’s tainted résumé of 48-12-2, 33 KO’s. Shout from this neutral corner is Dawson should go the unification route.

• Antonio Tarver ( 27-6, 19 KO) ~ age 40 too big an albatross to be considered contender - the yesterday Hail Mary left hand bomb that put fragile-chinned RJ Jr. to sleep earned “Magic Man” more recognition than deserved - the Jones Jr. prime time version would surely have been the one left standing. Tarver body still good, and if able to dictate the pace against any number of 175 Lb pretenders can carry on a bit longer. Word is Caveat emptor, if PPV offerings , whatever the weight class, include surnames Tarver, Hoya, Jones Jr., Spinks, V. Phillips  etc.     

Closing opinions: Once again a pleasure when HBO gives us a Larry Merchant, Manny Steward with the commentary.