Enough of the Dawson hate, let's enter reality.

I didn't get to watch Dawson yesterday (no showtime, only hbo) so I am really really itching to see this fight

 

As a huge Dawson fan and one of his chief proponents on this forum, I think this is a very fair assessment.

What bothers me about Dawson is that he didn't learn from the Adamek fight that he must keep his guard high. He still seems to desire to be a reflex fighter defensively, and like Jermain Taylor, Andre Ward and other young Americans in recent years, he can't do it.

It also goes without saying that he suffers from some of the same problems Taylor does in that he doesn't box as much as he ought to. He's clearly a more complete fighter than Taylor, mind you, but it's a valid concern now anytime he faces a slugger whom he otherwise should outclass.

Diaconu will be very dangerous for him. I hope that Adrian's chin will not hold up as well as Johnson's did -- it couldn't be any better -- and that Dawson will pacify him with combinations and be able to avoid the more lunging attack of A.D.

 

He had his rough spots, but I disagree that he was timid. He fought stupidly for too much of the fight, yes, and his defense is not PfP level, but he was very aggressive offensively from the very beginning.

Also, I hate how anyone less than top 5 PfP is considered a "B grade fighter at best." That suggests he may be a C-grade fighter (or worse), yet he owns victories over Johnson and Adamek. Are those guys "C grade at best"?

You can call me and others out for overhyping him, if you want, but he's certainly an A-fighter.

 

Can we wait til Diacnou fights someone with a pulse before rating him the heir apparent.

He hasn't fought a guy half as good as Johnson or Adamek.

 

pavlik would kick the **** out of chinless dawson. glen ain't no one punch powerguy and he nearly had dawson out a few times.BTW glen got jobbed

 

I think you might be right. Dawson is a damn good fighter but Pavlik could get to him, and when he does Dawson would be in trouble. Pavlik knows how to finish the show.

 

:huh

Taking out a little Cintron frustration on Pavlik maybe?

I was never as high on Dawson as many though I agree he's still a top LHW contender.

Why Cry about it? If Cal beats Hop's? He'll smoke DAwson after that:yep
I'd think you'd be happy:good

I'll Take Hopkins over Dawson if he beats JC

Hey Pavlik said he'll fight Joe as well. what's the matter?

 

Good post. I obviously over rated him, based on what i had seen.... I still thought he needed to prove himself before bein proclaimed the new king of boxing, but i honestly though he had progressed more then he currently has. If anything, this bout was the best thing that he could have possibly hoped for. He is still only a very young fighter... Hopefully he can refine his game, and use it to help further develop him as a fighter.

 

:good Rock on.. Amsterdam has some serious Anti-Pavlik issues.:bbb

 

For good reason too, Pavlik is VERY limited. Kessler would annhilate Pavlik, as would Calzaghe. This fight is embarrassing to even think about.

 

Maybe it isn't his 'walls' he's been staring at? :thumbsup

 

There's nothing wrong with being a top 5 LHW, which I still think Dawson is. The reason you're seeing backlash is that this dude was getting seriously overrated. A few posters called it before the Johnson fight, but once people saw that fight, now hopefully they're actually realizing that he's not a P4P guy right now, even if he has the potential for bigger things in the future. I still laugh at the Dawson vs Haye thread a couple weeks ago.

Honestly, he reminds me a little bit of Andy Lee in that they're tall southpaws who have no problem being slick... except for the fact they eat right hands like Wheaties from pressure fighters and can't take a great punch without getting stunned. Dawson's accomplished more of course, but I still see a few similarities there.