"This was a long time coming," [Chad Dawson] said Saturday night, fighting back tears after winning the WBC light heavyweight title from [Tomasz Adamek] with a unanimotis decision at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, Fla. "I trained my (butt) off for this fight. Six or seven long weeks, and I knew my potential. I'm happy."

"He's the best," said Dawson, who brought [Floyd Mayweather Sr.] aboard after deciding two-time trainer of the year Dan Binningham was putting in too much time with Winky Wright and Jeff Lacy to give him the attention he needed. "When I switched trainers, I knew it would be for the best. We had our differences in training camp, but I buckled down, and now I am world champion."

"I was just too sharp for him from the beginning," [Julio Diaz] said. "I thought he had a lot of soul, but I didn't see it tonight. He must've injured himself."

Tournaments & championships