I don't really buy the whole idea that Dawson is shot or has been ruined. Yes he lost back to back but he lost to one of the best P4P fighters on the planet in Ward and fought like an idiot against a huge puncher in Stevenson. Nothing has really changed since the last time they fought other than Hopkins is even older and slower. Dawson is faster and still adopts a cautious, mobile style against Hopkins not allowing the older man to counter. Dawson wins a UD.
He will always have the style to beat Hopkins but mentally he's gone down Hill ..That's why he can't be trusted
u wrong.... here's why.... chad sucks now, not because he wasn't very good before.... he chased the money and ward ruined him.... made him drop stupid weight and got ko's by a guy with no power.... lost his punch resistance, speed, reflexes.... bernard owns him now... fact.
ward would have never ko'd him at 175.... ward can't punch for nothing.... never looked like getting ko'd before that fight.... and then looked slow/ and punch resistance was gone.... his speed/reflexes/punch resistance is gone.... plus he's inactive.... add that together = he's done
Not really disagreeing on the points you brought up ..But if Chad were to reclaim some of his old form Hopkins still loses to him
A better question may be " Who would want to see this fight?" The first two fights were barely watchable. I think Chad is done and would even lose to Hopkins at this stage.
impossible.... if chad recaptured his old form he'd beat stevenson and ward at 175.... if ward vs. dawson had happened at 175 @ that time... i honestly would have favoured dawson.... look, ward was able to physically push dawson around.... because chad was so weak, compare that to how he man-handled hopkins at 175 that tells u everything.....
I agree Ward wouldn't have stopped him at 175lbs, he was too drained at super middle. I haven't seen anything to suggest Dawson's reflexes are gone or that his punch resistance is any worse. Look at how he fought Stevenson, he literally walked up to him with his guard open he was begging to be KO'ed he might as well have walked into the ring blind folded with a target on his head the result would have been similar. Stevenson hit's hard which is why he stopped him and Dawson chin has never been granite and it wouldn't need to be against Hopkins who has no power now. Dawson has always been a inconsistent and has had a tendency to fight a dumb fight and make it hard for himself hence why he struggled against Johnson and Pascal but beat Johnson in the rematch and finally woke up too late against Pascal. I personally don't think he is completely done and could still be a factor at 175lbs, though he will need to comeback soon and get some fights before inactivity does ruin his attempt at a comeback.
If Hopkins was even close to his prime-ish years, I reckon he'd be able to neitralise Dawson but at this point, I agree with you.
i've seen everything i needed to see in that stevenson fight to suggest he's shot... he never got out first gear..... that's what happens to shot fighters.... they come out, and throw the jab out and don't give any different 'looks'.... nothing to make the opponent think.... he's lost a step or two.... just look at every fighter who fought on two long.... what was the difference between them at their best and their last fights.... guys like rjj, barerra, gatti, and so on.... they still look exactly the same when they enter the ring, even move somewhat similar.... but they've lost their ability to move into 3rd/4th/5th gear.... some lose their punch resistance/ reflexes/ power but mostly they all lose their timing and sharpness..... the best dawson would've popped his jab and stepped out.... he didn't do it because he's done, i'm sure there's a few bums out there he could beat but he loses to pretty much anyone in the top 10 imo.