<div><p>LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Chad Dawson retained his IBF and IBO light-heavyweight titles with an unanimous, 12-round decision over fellow-American Antonio Tarver on Saturday.</p><p>Undefeated Dawson used a battery of powerful body shots to keep Tarver at bay and the 26-year-old champion consistently outworked his 40-year-old opponent, throwing nearly twice as many punches in the bout.</p><p>Two judges scored it 117-111 for Dawson, while the third judge had the champion winning by 116-112 at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.</p><p>Dawson improved to 28-0, while Tarver dropped to 27-6 in a rematch between the southpaws.</p><p>Tarver, who lost his titles to Dawson by another unanimous decision in Las Vegas last October, jarred Dawson when he connected twice with his vaunted left in the seventh round but Dawson withstood the barrage.</p><p>The former champion stepped up his attack in the last two rounds but it was too little, too late against the stronger, quicker Dawson.</p><p>Neither boxer was knocked down in a largely defensive bout, marked by occasional bursts of action.</p><p>"Antonio Tarver fought a hell of a fight," Dawson said in a ringside interview after the fight. "My hat's off to Antonio Tarver."</p><p>Dawson said he was willing to take on all comers at light heavyweight.</p><p>"Whoever it is, bring them on," he said. "I definitely believe in my skills."</p><p>(Writing by Larry Fine in New York, Editing by Ian Ransom)</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=49905613&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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