How Glen Johnson deserved to win their first fight. How HBO forced him into accepting a rematch. And how Johnson - who was already within a few pounds of fight weight a month ago - is ready to finish this weekend in Hartford a job he claims to have started last year in Tampa.

Dawson hears it all. And for those who buy into it, he has one simple declaration: "See you on Saturday night." "At this point, Glen Johnson sounds like he's looking for excuses, and looking for ways to pump himself up," Dawson said this week, upon returning from a seven-week training camp in Las Vegas. "And that's all it is, a lot of talk. But it doesn't mean anything." As for the specific points Johnson and others have made, the unbeaten 27-year- old's counters are just as precise, coming with the same slightly amused annoyance that marked replies prior to his last 40-something titl

Perez (20-0), appearing in his first title fight, floored his opponent in the 10th round. The knockdown came after an apparent accidental head-butt, after which Agbeko turned his back apparently to complain. Perez won by a count of 117-110 on two of the scorecards, while a third judge had him ahead, 116-111, at the Treasure Island Hotel/Casino.

Agbeko (27-2) was making his third defense of the title he won over Luis Alberto Perez in September 2007.

Unless, that is, you're a boxer claiming elite-level status in the heavyweight division.

In that case, according to Star Boxing President/CEO Joe DeGuardia anyway, ignoring the 30-year-old native of Asbury Park, N.J. -- nicknamed "Kingpin" -- has been far too easy for way too long.

A few come to mind right away. But that's, ahem, another story.

In this context a year ago, all three of the modern-era fighters eventually deemed worthy of induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame -- Lennox Lewis, Orlando Canizales and Brian Mitchell -- had check marks next to their names as 'Yes' votes on my inaugural Boxing Writers Association of America ballot.

Taylor was admitted to the hospital on Saturday after suffering from concussion-like symptoms following the fight.

He was cleared by a team of doctors to continue a planned vacation in Europe.

Froch (26-0), who moved to 13-0 in bouts in his home city, won 115-112 on two of the scorecards. Dirrell (18-1), who was the bronze medalist at the 2004 Olympics, had a 114-113 edge from the third judge.

Referee Hector Afu deducted one point from Dirrell in 10th round due to excessive holding in the fight that didn't start until after 2 a.m. due to it being shown on live television in the United States.

Abraham (31-0, 25 KOs) used a big right hand to floor Taylor (28-4-1), who was counted out with six seconds left in the bout, which was part of the Super Six World Boxing Classic round-robin six fighter tournament.

The other boxers involved are Andre Ward, Mikkel Kessler, Andre Dirrell and Carl Froch.

But to hear Glen Johnson tell it, his was the last name on the guest list.

"This is not the fight Dawson wanted," the affable 40-year-old said. "He was pushed into it by HBO. They gave him two names -- Bernard Hopkins and Glen Johnson -- and we all know Bernard doesn't want to fight anyone these days. So that left them with me.

A native of Puerto Rico, Lopez (27-0), won by scores of 116-111, 114-113 and 115-111 over Mtagwa (26-13-2), who is from Tanzania but now lives in Philadelphia.

This was the fifth successful defense of the title for Lopez, who first won the belt in a first-round TKO of Daniel Ponce de Leon in June 2008.

Salgado (21-0-1, 15 KOs) remained unbeaten and earned his first career major title while handing Linares his first-ever defeat.

Linares (27-1-0, 18 KOs) went down twice in the short bout, which was put to a halt after just 73 seconds of action. This was his second defense of the super featherweight crown he won last November with a fifth-round TKO of Whyber Garcia.

Hopkins and Jones have tentatively agreed to fight in 2010 if Hopkins defeats Ornelas in Philadelphia and the 40-year-old Jones upends IBO cruiserweight champion Danny Green in December.

Jones (54-5, 40 KOs) defeated Hopkins (49-5-1, 32 KOs) in a unanimous decision for the middleweight title in 1993 and the two avoided a rematch in the prime of their careers.

There, if asked about a tumultuous relationship with the sport that made him a hero in his native Western New York and got him within a fight or two of a try at a heavyweight title, Joe Mesi could simply say "It's complicated" and log off.

In reality, though, it's not quite so easily explained.

In fact, rather than attempting new ways to answer the same old question, the Dominican-reared New Yorker-turned-Floridian tried the next best thing this week.

He went out and fought.

The bout was stopped after the 10th round by referee Jon Schorle after consulting with Arreola's lead trainer Henry Ramirez.

SportsNetwork.com had Klitschko ahead, 98-92, at the time of the stoppage.

Kratingdaenggym (39-1, 28 KOs) took away Dunne's belt with just three seconds remaining in the round and accomplished the feat on the ex-champ's home turf.

This was the second career title fight for Kratingdaenggym, who moved to 15-0 since 2006. He was coming off a ninth-round TKO of Rafael Hernandez on April 30.

The fight will take place in 2010, but only if the 40-year-old Jones upends IBO cruiserweight champion Danny Green in December.

Jones (54-5, 40 KOs) defeated Hopkins (49-5-1, 32 KOs) in a unanimous decision for the middleweight title in 1993.

Pascal (24-1) defeated fellow Canadian Adrian Diaconu back in June for the belt and won handily in his first title defense, sending the 43-year-old Branco (59-10-2) to the canvas once in the seventh and twice in the 10th, the last coming at the 2:19 mark to single the end of the fight.

Pascal is unbeaten in 19 bouts in Montreal.

I've chatted with him a couple times, and, while we weren't cracking each other up trading lines from one of our favorite movies - "Coming to America" - I found him to be as engaging, frank and accommodating as any of my other favorite interview subjects in boxing.

We even share a birthday - March 5 - though my arrival was admittedly a few years before his.

Without dipping my toe into the message boards and other fan forums out there since the final bell of his fight with Juan Manuel Marquez Saturday night/Sunday morning, I can pretty much assume that as the prevailing sentiment.

But you know what? He's a real-life Satan incarnate who can, ahem... fight like hell.

made a convincing return to boxing's biggest stage Saturday night, winning nearly every second of every round en route to a unanimous decision over Juan Manuel Marquez in the main event of a pay-per-view broadcast from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Mayweather (40-0) had been inactive since a December 2007 stoppage of Ricky Hatton in defense of his WBC welterweight championship.

Sylvester (32-3, 15 KOs) was declared the winner on two cards -- 116-112 and 115-113 -- but was behind, 116-111, on the third. Lorenzo (27-2, 19 KOs) was the top-ranked fighter in the IBF, while Sylvester was ranked second.

The belt was vacated by Arthur Abraham, who moved up in weight class.

Mayweather (39-0, 25 KOs), a six-time world champion from five different divisions, weighed in at 146 pounds, four more than Marquez (50-4-1, 37 KOs).

The fight will mark Mayweather's return from retirement, as he has not fought since December 2007, when he downed Ricky Hatton by TKO.

Finally.

It's a welcome return -- at least in this space -- to the fighter who, as they used to say about Reggie Jackson in New York, is "the straw that stirs the drink." Love him or hate him, and it seems clear there's a lot more of the latter, it is through Mayweather, with Mayweather and in Mayweather that the best fights at 147 pounds and its surroundings will be made until he decides to hang up the gloves permanently.

In his first championship bout, Nongqayi (16-0) scored a sweep of sorts. He beat Arce's brother, Francisco, in a title eliminator fight in February. Tuesday's win were by scores of 117-112, 116-112, 117-111.

Jorge Arce (52-6-1) is a former WBC/WBO champion.

Sosa (37-5, 21 KOs) made the 10th defense of his title and remained unbeaten since 2003, stretching his winning streak to 25 bouts.

Soto (14-4-1) has lost four of his last seven fights.