​Dawson outworks Grachev to earn USNBC title

Unbeaten heavyweight Chaney steals the show with first-round knockout in co-main event
 
Hartford, CT (October 12, 2019) – Twenty-four hours after learning he’d been inducted into the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame, “Bad” Chad Dawson turned back the clock with another Hall-worthy performance Friday at the Connecticut Convention Center in downtown Hartford.
 
The 37-year-old Dawson (36-5) outworked Russian veteran Denis Grachev (19-9-1) live on UFC FIGHT PASS® by scores of 80-72, 79-73, 80-72 to capture the WBC USNBC light heavyweight title in the main event of CES Boxing’s long-awaited return to Hartford.

After shaking off the rust in his comeback fight in June, the former two-time world champion Dawson looked much sharper Friday against the always-dangerous Grachev, using his exceptional footwork and defense, coupled with a stiff jab, to keep the hard-charging Russian at bay. Grachev promised to dictate the pace, suggesting Dawson doesn’t handle pressure well, but the New Haven, CT, veteran masterfully controlled the fight from the opening bell, save for a brief scare in the sixth when Grachev landed a rare clean shot and backed the champ against the ropes.
 
Afterward, Dawson issued a challenge to the world’s top-rated 175-pounders, citing, “I feel like I’m 25 again.” On Thursday, the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame announced Dawson as one six honorees in its 2019 class, which also includes Arturo Gatti and Delvin Rodriguez. 
 
Unbeaten New London, CT, heavyweight Cassius Chaney (17-0, 11 KOs) made quick work of Colombian veteran Santander Silgado (22-8), scoring a one-punch knockout 1 minute, 3 seconds into the opening round of the co-main event with a thundering overhand right. Also on the UFC FIGHT PASS® main card, New Haven’s Jimmy Williams (16-3-2) and Tilton, NH, super welterweight Jose Medina (18-17-2) battled to a six-round draw with scores of 58-56, 56-58, 57-57. 
 
Hartford lightweight Sharad Collier (4-0-1, 3 KOs) rallied in the opening bout of the telecast to earn a third-round knockout win over hard-hitting Glenn Mitchell (3-4) of Steubenville, OH. Collier hit the canvas in the opening round courtesy of a stiff, left jab by Mitchell, but dusted himself off and landed a series of looping, overhand shots that floored Mitchell right before the bell. As Collier became more patient in the later rounds, he continued to rock the taller, lankier Mitchell with hard, overhand rights, eventually earning the stoppage at the 2:15 mark.
 
The preliminary card featured three evenly-matched bouts, starting with Springfield, MA, super welterweight Jalen Renaud (2-0) scoring a first-round knockdown en route to a unanimous decision win over Boston’s Maceo Crowder (2-3), who retured to the ring for the first time in six years. Crowder had his moments after the knockdown and landed some effective blows, but Renaud earned the decision, 40-35, across the board. 
 
In what may have been the most entertaining bout on the card, New Britain, CT, super bantamweight Nathan Martinez (6-0) remained unbeaten with a hard-earned win over Texan Steve Garagarza (1-2-1), 40-36, 39-37, 39-37. The bout began at a frenetic pace with the two fighters exchanging shots within inches of one another for the first two rounds. The pace slowed a bit as fatigue set in, but the fight remained entertaining as Garagarza continued to press the action. Martinez’s defense was the story as the talented right-hander kept his guard up and landed effective counterpunches to pile up the point. 
 
Decorated amateur and former 2017 New York Golden Gloves champion Jahvel Joseph (1-0) of the Bronx, NY, earned the win in his professional debut, overcoming a solid effort by Sao Paolo, Brazil vet Leandro Silva (1-3) by scored of 40-36, 39-37, 39-37, Silva, also a nine-time UFC vet in mixed martial arts, put constant pressure on Joseph, who eventually settled down and utilized his height advantage with an effective jab to set up his offensive attack.
 
Visit www.cesboxing.com, www.twitter.com/cesboxing or www.facebook.com/cesboxing for more information, and follow CES Boxing on Instagram at @CESBOXING. 
 
INFORMATION
 
CES Boxing promoted its first event in 1992 headlined by future Champion Sucra Ray Oliveira. Over the years, CES has earned the reputation as the Heart and Soul of boxing with a rich history that includes the development of former U.S. Olympian Jason Estrada, plus Vinny Paz and Rhode Island legends Gary Balletto and Peter Manfredo Jr., both of whom rose to fame on The Contender reality television series. Through the years, Jimmy Burchfield Sr has earned several noteworthy awards, among them the NABF Promoter of the Year, and 2011 inductee into the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame. 
 
UFC FIGHT PASS® is the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports. Since launching in 2013, FIGHT PASS is now available in more than 200 countries and territories. FIGHT PASS provides its members with unlimited access to live UFC FIGHT PASS Prelims; live mixed martial arts and combat sports from around the world; original series and historical programming; special features; behind-the-scenes content; in-depth interviews; and up-to-the minute reports on the world of combat sports. FIGHT PASS subscribers also have 24/7 access to the world’s largest fight library, featuring more than 17,000 bouts from dozens of combats sports organizations, as well as every fight in UFC history. Fight fans can access FIGHT PASS on personal computers, iOS and Android mobile devices, Apple TV, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Roku, Samsung Smart TVs, LG Smart TVs, and Sony TVs with Android TV. 

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