Hopkins v Dawson

I'll be shocked if Hopkins pulls this one out. Dawson is too complete a fighter to lose to Hopkins. Pascal is fast but very flawed. Pavlik, well, we know about him. Terrible style match up for Hopkins.

The only question for me is whether Dawson takes Hopkins out late.

 

I rewatched B-Hop's last two fights against Pascal a couple days ago and they got me concerned. Honestly, he's a complete shell of his former self. His reflexes aren't like they used to be, he's sloppier offensively, he gets hit a lot more than ever, and his footspeed and movement don't even compare to what they were a few years back. His durability has probably taken a big hit too. It was an awesome accomplishment winning the title again, but he doesn't look like he could really hold off a young, quick, decent technical fighter anymore.

I don't know....I'm getting a bad feeling about this one. This might be the end of a true all-time great career.

 

I forgot how old he really looked against Pascal, Jones, and Ornelas.

 

Let's not forget Hopkins was seriously hurt TWICE in their 2nd fight AND KD twice in their first fight.

When's the last time Hopkins was hurt or KD? Well over a decade ago.

I'll be utterly shocked if Hopkins pulls thie one out. It will be his best win right behind Tito if he does win.

 

True. He doesn't look all that sturdy or sharp really, and there are times when he can't only not put his hands up from fatigue, but can barely get out of harms way. I was really surprised when I rewatched the Pascal fights how much his legs have slowed down. He's been more exciting because he doesn't have the legs to fight ultra cautiously and give constant angles/movement anymore.

****...

 

He's great at exposing flawed fighters but Dawson has very little flaws. His only flaw is his mind. If he shows up focused, he'll win and possibly even take Hopkins out. And i think Dawson will get up for this one. If he can't get up for this one, something's wrong with him.

 

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Is this fight on PPV or just HBO

 

The flaws I do see in Dawson though are that he is open to right hands, especially when he's throwing combinations, and he can fall into patterns offensively and throw the same combinations over and over again. Sometimes, although he's a gifted athlete, he looks pretty mechanical and basic. I think we'll probably see Hopkins get a little dirty in this fight and try to bully him and use some roughhousing tactics, because if it's a jabbing type of chess-match, Hopkins isn't winning that one. He needs to get in Chad's head early and mind**** him.

I worry about Hop rushing/jumping in sometimes with that right hand/left hook combo with his head down and getting blasted by a counter right uppercut. I bet he gets hurt at some point in the fight, maybe even with a body shot counter when he jumps in. He's looked extra vulnerable lately.

 

The fight will turn out like this. Hopkins will run around circles, jab, throw a few headbutts, as dawson slowly starts outlanding him. Towards the latter rounds, Hopkins will be less active except when he's backpedalling and headbutting and Dawson will win a decision. Then Hopkins will complain like he was robbed and demand a rematch. (See Hopkins/Taylor 1, 2, Hopkins/Calzaghe, better yet, every fight that hopkins lost)

 

I'm just hoping for a good fight, don't care who wins tbh (though I'm rooting for Hopkins).

 

I might throw something on a draw as that is a very possible outcome, but I definitely can't pick a clear winner. Over the past week I've watched every hopkins fight up till Trinidad on DVD, plus the Pascal fights. Must say there's a big difference. Plus Dawson is very athletic guy with skill and height, but as history has shown, it is NEVER safe to bet against hopkins. Lol I don't give a damn if he's a grandpa, he's just so skillful, even with his declining body.

 

My brain tells me Dawson but i keep thinking of the Dawson v Pascal fight. BHOP can do exactly what Pascal did and win a decision. Chad also goes into a defensive shell so it will be easy for BHOP to land punches and then get on his bike