With an upcoming paper-per-view featuring Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawson, the boxing community has been debating who will win this fight. Bernard has shocked the world time and time again. Chad has had a steady, unexciting rise to the top. He is a very good, technical southpaw who recently reunited with former trainer John Scully. Bernard, who has become more vulnerable to become an exciting fighter, is 46 years old but fights as if he were ten years younger.
Meeting in Los Angeles, across the country from where both fighters hail from, Chad will challenge Bernard for his piece of the belt. This is a very tough fight to call. Chad is younger, taller, and has a longer reach. Bernard is the seasoned veteran who has more tricks than Harry Houdini. Regardless of age, Bernard is always in shape and is willing to box, slug, brawl, or any form of fighting you can think of. Chad has been a traditionally technical boxer.
During the press tour, Hopkins has consistently taunted the younger Dawson. Dawson has commented that he is focused and nothing can take him off course. What Dawson may not realize is that not only does he have to stay focused and ignore Hopkins words, he will have to ignore the mind games and boxing tricks Bernard plays in the ring.
Chad is great. There pros and cons to Chad. The pros. Chad is tall, in shape, and can box. Chad can really box. The cons, Chad does not have the relationship and chemistry with his trainer. He recently reunited with John Scully, a good trainer but no Emanuel Steward. A trainer-boxer relationship is extremely important during those late rounds when Hopkins begins to really get into the fighters head. The other con with Chad is that he can be a dull fighter who falls into a very mellow fighter who is not active in the ring.
Hopkins also has pros and cons. The cons. Bernard is old. Even though Bernard fights as though he is 35, he still is 46. Because of that, regardless of his shape, expect him to be slightly slower and possibly a little weaker. The pros. Nazim Richardson and Bernard have developed a great relationship. Nazim knows what to say to give B-Hop the edge in every round. Bernard has fought much better fighters than Chad. The skills and ring smarts make up for his age.
When thinking of this fight, I give it to Bernard by UD. Although Bernard is a slower starter, he can figure out an opponent, find his weaknesses, get into his head and then dismantle the other fighter to gain the win. Dawson has never fought someone like Bernard. As stated before, Hopkins has beaten better fighters than Chad.
Bernard will weather the storm that Chad will bring. Bernard will get into Chad’s head. Scully will be unable to motivate Chad the way Nazim can motivate Bernard. Bernard will find the punches that land and take Dawson apart. Expect a UD by Bernard Hopkins.
I’m not much of a fan of neither. Chad has turned me off with his excuses. He has an excuse for everything, especially after a close call, under-achieving win or his loss. Bernard has bored me to death countless times. Yes, I admire his accomplishments and all but he’s a not a fighter I’d pay to watch. As for this fight in particular, I realize all the advantages in Dawson’s favor and although I’m sort of waiting for Bernard to show his age soon I still believe that he will emerge victorious. He will win because Bernard is mentally strong and will take advantage of Dawson’s mental fragility. It might even be a rather close fight but the ultimate factor will be Bernard’s superior will to win and his arsenal of intangibles.
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