Andre "The Matrix" Dirrell vs. "Bad" Chad Dawson

RealIzm is going to be maaaaaad when his boy gets lit up by Ward.

 

The hell it is.

 

The chances of that happening are certainly big. I just rewatched Froch-Dirrell and Dirrell-AA. I didn't see this masterful boxing that Dirrell supposedly did vs Froch at all. Some masterful counters yeah, and a good left jab/straight to the body. But... He let Froch get close on the ropes several times and only Froch's total ineptitude saved him there. Dirrell's body was open against Froch, just like it was vs AA. AA's trainer was yelling "körpe, körpe" all night long. But for some reason - perhaps because Dirrell's annoying - neither Froch or AA did and instead tried to bash his head in with predictable wide, wiiide left hooks. Whenever Froch threw a straight right to the body, he couldn't miss.

Ward is much better at closing distance which we could see against Kessler. Only Froch's and AA's slowness and predictability saved Andre from getting tagged against the ropes. Ward's much quicker and has a more compact left hook.

The why is this relevant to Dirrell-Dawson? I'd say because it highlights one of the things that I feel Dirrell's not gonna like: Speed, accuracy, reach and jab. Froch's jab was actually giving him problems even though it didn't always land and I speculate that's what made him tentative. It wasn't ONLY stage fright. Froch also showed Dirrell has virtually no inside game at all. Against Ward and Dawson - if he decides to regroup from this loss and let his hands go more - his flaws might very well get exposed. Against Ward it might be the inside game, quickness and backing off straight, against Dawson the reach, jab quickness and guard. Only speculation of course and Dawson has deficiencies of his own. Can't really see Dawson pressurizing Dirrell like Froch or AA either. But I don't think he has to. It's not in Dirrell's mentality to do what Pascal did.

 

I would like to see what Dirrell does against Ward before I make a pick.

 

Always happy to go on record. You must have seen the thread I started on picking Pascal to beat Dawson on points, proven correct the very next day, and explained why I favoured Pascal.
The Ring as I recall had Froch a 1 point winner and Boxing News had Froch a 3 point winner as I recall.
Did you know Froch also outlanded Dirrell?
On this post I said earlier that I favour Dawson to beat Dirrell at this time.

 

Dirrell has looked better recently.

 

The fastest hands in boxing? Not even close. Pacquiao, Roy Jones Jr, Shane Mosley, Zab Judah, a lot of fighters have faster hands. Dirrell is maybe the fastest in his weightclass but thats about it, and speed doesn't make up for his current lack of world class technique.

 

Dawson for sure. Wide decision.

 

But he lacks heart and killer instinct, and against Dawson he will lose if he just stays on the outside.

He will have to fight Dawson somewhat similiar to Pascal, and that's not how Dirrell fights.

And Dawson has excellent technique himself, but I think he's tougher and harder, and has a lot to prove.