Based upon tonight's match-ups, you have to give the edge to Hopkins in this fight. I can't believe I'm typing that about a 46-year-old Hopkins, but the evidence was quite clear from both bouts this evening. Now, if Hopkins does end up fighting Bute first, and he ages a bit more, maybe Dawson has more time under Steward and Hopkins just falls off the old-age cliff. But, Hopkins showed his usual savvy and poise tonight, and punched with precision and power. Meanwhile, Dawson was sleepwalking and taking rounds off, as is his wont, against a fading and tired Diaconu. If they both fight as they did tonight, Hopkins will win. Likely by his usual mugging style and possibly with Chad getting hurt or stopped. Chad Dawson should win this fight, if it happens. But the realization that he probably would not win the fight tells you just about all you need to know about where Dawson's career stands at this moment. Emanuel Steward: It's all (Chad flailing career is) in your hands.
He would beat him and I'm confident about it. Dawson isn't an active fighter in the ring, to beat Hopkins it has to be in an ugly active fight and Dawson isn't active. Pascal's style has the best shot to beat Hopkins and still Hopkins can adapt in the ring whenever he needs to. Dawson loses by UD. Taking rounds off randomly and landing just "enough" will never work against Hopkins.
I totally agree, Scar. Great post! :good What a night, man. What a night. I'm so freaking pumped right now. YES!!!!! Hopkins Lover til I die! :thumbsup
Dawson doesn't have the mentality, and he's not half as active as he should be. So Hopkins definitely has a chance. Based on styles, though, I actually think he might have a better chance against Bute. And I think Hopkins thinks that too, which is why he called Bute out first.
Just love seeing B-Hop stick it to The Haters. Hell yeah! What are you going to say now, Lou DiBella? HBO? Everyone else. YES!!! They all tried to run him down and run him out, and he beat 'em all. Woo!!!
dawson looked terrible tonight and needs to dump steward as his trainer. if he goes back to fighting the way he did pre-pascal, he can beat hopkins. if he looks like he did tonight, i favor bhop
This would be a much different fight than Pascal. Dawson doesn't explode out of nowhere with crazy powerful ****. He's much more controlled, but he too takes rounds off and fights like he's half-asleep. I think Hopkins would be able to time him and offset him enough to land the cleaner shots and rough him up a decent amount as well. Yeah...I'd take B-Hop by decision. Honestly, people overrated Dawson by calling him the next P4P king in boxing. He's a good, talented fighter with a lot of deficiencies.
I agree -- Bute's style is likely better for Hopkins. Man, Dawson has SO many gifts, but he is The Tin Man and The Scarecrow put together. It's actually sad to watch, and I'm not a Dawson fan.
for being such a great athlete, dawson seems content to stand right in front of his opponents. hopkins would pick apart the dawson who weve seen in the past few fights. dawson should be circling to his opponents off hand pumping that jab being the taller more athletic man but he doesnt. if he stands in front of bhop like he's been doing the last few fights he will be taken apart clinically.