It's amazing the amount of top level success he is still having at his age, 46. The guy is still in such great shape, his physique looks like that of a man 15 or so years younger.
Honouring a fighters career, before they go into a important fight..? Thats not a good sign man, are you confidant that Bernard Hopkins will win..?
I think Hopkins has some disadvantages, but he has the biggest advantage of all, and its the mental one. Add to that the experience and knowhow, I genuinely cant see anything other than BHop winning by 4 or more rounds.
Drugs cheat, but a good boxer who could have been better off at a more natural weight like 168 a lot sooner, if Joe Calzaghe didn't exist. 160 wasn't not his best weight.
Experience is overrated, what is your definition of experience..? Chad Dawson has been fighting for 20 years himself. People don't even understand what experience is.? just because somebody is older, does not mean they have more or "Better" experience. Experience for me has nothing really to do with "Time" it has all to do with "Experiences" and the fact of the matter is. Hopkins is very rarely in tough trench warfare fights, he says he's seen it all! But in my opinion Evander Holyfeild is the most experienced fighter on the planet. "Its been a long time since Bernard Hopkins has really really been pushed "Taken out of his comfort zone". When he was last pushed he bitched and moaned........."Against Joe Calzaghe". I really don't know whats going to happen to be honest........
Whether Hopkins wins or loses his position in history is secure. He's already beaten the man that beat Dawson. He also beat better versions of Dawson's best wins - so really, all Chad gets out of a win is to say: "I beat an old Hopkins who, when he was younger, did a better job on my best opposition who were also older when I faced them." Chad will likely add a few "Knawhumsay'n"s in there too. It's never a 100% pick - a fight can get stopped on a cut, or Hopkins could get old - he is 46 after all - but I feel quite secure picking Hopkins. Dawson is massively flawed and his strengths don't entirely make up for it. The main problem for him is that he lacks focus in the ring. He really launches three or four attacks per round, and punctuates them with a southpaw jab and a lot of posing. In the past those three or four attacks were extended bursts of punching and the jab was pretty consistent, but now they tend to be four-five shot deals and he backs off. You can get away with that against a plodder like Diaconu, but I'm unsure how well it'll work against Hopkins who is still very mobile. Hopkins is also good at causing hesitation in opponents - he blocks a shot and counters sharply, or he fires first just when the other man is about to punch. He has incredible anticipation. Now consider that Dawson is already tentative and hates getting hit - how does that end? Yeah, Dawson could let rip early and take Bernard out, but he's never shown that sort of instinct ever in his career.
PK is a complete idiot. His poor knowledge of the sport is rivalled only by his mental instability. I also despise people who quote themselves when they don't say anything worth quoting.
I'm adding substance to this thread/debate, look at the things I'm writing. Lets not make this personal, because I'm not.
I just like being mean to you. Also you called me a **** once and I don't forgive things like that. :twisted:
So your not confidant, the past is irrelivant man. Thats was then, and this is now........... We already know that Bernard Hopkins place in history is secure, that is a totally pointless point coming into this fight. Chad Dawson could be the man to end the career of Bernard Hopkins like you have just said........"In devastating fashion" Its almost down to what Chad Dawson does, not what Hopkins does. Thats how much more ability in my opinion Chad Dawson has "At this point in their careers", the only thing that is stopping me from picking him out right now. Are his personality flaws.............. But I'm equally not as confidant in Hopkins. Come closer to the fight, i will pick the winner...! Mark my words. Or i could be badly wrong about Bernard Hopkins...........we could all be wrong.
PK, I'm simply saying why I'm honouring him - which is nothing to do with what happens against Dawson. I think Hopkins will win, pretty clearly in fact, but there's always a chance Dawson mutates into a totally different fighter from the guy he's always been...