Dawson defends WBC title against KO artist Stevenson

Dawson defends WBC title against KO artist Stevenson

Chad Dawson returns to his comfort zone on Saturday when he puts his World Boxing Council light heavyweight title on the line against knockout artist Adonis Stevenson.

Chad Dawson, pictured as blood drips down his chest after he was cut above the left eye by an accidental head butt, during a WBC fight in Atlantic City, on April 28, 2012. Dawson returns to his comfort zone on Saturday when he puts his World Boxing Council light heavyweight title on the line against knockout artist Adonis Stevenson.

Dawson's last foray in the ring saw him stopped in the 10th round by Andre Ward on September 8, in a fight for Ward's super middleweight world titles.

Dawson was pummeled by Ward, who knocked him down in the third and fourth round before his final barrage ended it in the 10th.

Dawson fell to 31-2 with 17 wins inside the distance.

Now, however, Dawson is back up at light heavyweight, where he feels he ought to be.

"I'm back at my natural weight," he told ESPN. "In the Ward fight, it took a lot out of me and I got to see how physically strong I was at 175 (pounds) as opposed to being at 168 (pounds).

"It was kind of a blessing in disguise to show me I shouldn't have taken the fight at that weight, but I did. It was my error and Andre Ward took advantage of it. Now I'm back at light heavyweight and I'm looking forward to continuing to be the best in the world."

Dawson brings a record of 31-2 with 17 knockouts to the bout.

In April of last year he claimed the WBC light-heavyweight crown with a 12-round majority decision over 47-year-old veteran Bernard Hopkins.

Canada's Stevenson, meanwhile, is moving up in weight to take on Dawson.

He boasts a record of 20-1 with 17 knockouts. He avenged his only defeat -- a 2010 loss to Darnell Boone, with a sixth-round knockout of Boone in March.

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