Dawson defeats Johnson to retain WBC title

TAMPA, Florida (Reuters) - Chad Dawson retained his WBC light-heavyweight title with a unanimous points decision over Glen Johnson on Saturday.

All three judges scored the fight 116-112.

"It was definitely the toughest fight of my career," said Dawson. "But I executed my game plan, and put rounds in the bank."

The bout was on the same bill as the IBF light-heavyweight contest between Clinton Woods and challenger Antonio Tarver.

Dawson, 26-0 with 17 KOs, peppered the 39-year-old Johnson with combinations behind a southpaw jab, though Johnson continued to advance behind his high guard and for several early rounds the pair engaged in ferocious close-quarter exchanges.

Dawson took control of the bout from the sixth round when he moved in closer to fire off combinations then dance away.

Johnson, however, caught him with hard right in the 10th and attacked for the final two rounds but it was not enough to convince the judges.

"He's a good fighter," said Johnson. "But he's not good enough to beat me. I can not believe that at age 39, they would rip me off like this. Of course I want a rematch."

(Writing by Kieran Mulvaney in Washington; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)