Hating on Hopkins? (Why I think Bernard wins)

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_8JLkwzpd0[/ame]

 

Not surprised at the quality of the post.:good
But I think it comes doen to two things;Bernard being in the right frame of mind and keeping close to Dawson with hopefully a bit more finesse than Sir Ricky Hatton did.
Close that space and jab and Chad is like the guy from 127 Hours.:yep

 

people are hating on bhop because of the stunt he pulled but dawson slammed bhop on the mat. did the same thing against pascal. and yes, dawson was not dominating bhop in any sense for that short fight or non-fight.

 

Hopkins weighed in 173.5 last time as well (EDIT: 173.4; he was 173.5 this time). . . I remember noticing that he weighed in the same again this time. . . He's definitely planning on using a lot of lateral movement. . . I think he's going to try to move around, and pick off lead right hands from angles, and "in and out" feints, rather than use roughhouse tactics on the inside (he felt how physically strong Dawson was last time). . . ALthough i'm sure he'll still use some of his tricks on the inside.

I agree that Dawson is on again/off again, and he very well might have underestimated Hopkins this time, thinking that Hopkins really is scared of him. . .

I just don't see Hopkins doing enough to win this fight (unless he gets a lot of help from the judges). . . I think Dawson will win by pumping the jab 25-30+ times each round. . Just a fairly high, steady work rate. . . He won't really hurt Hopkins any, and Hopkins will have a few moments of brilliance, where he makes Dawson look foolish. . . But Dawson wins a pretty wide UD. . .

I also think that Hopkins will probably fight once, maybe twice more (if the money is right). . . I still have suspicions that he wants to try his hand at cruiserweight - maybe try to snatch a title up. . .

 

People are too hard on Hopkins given his achievements.

Yes, he's feigned injury but he's also produced clinical performances when he was expected to lose. The fights that stick out for me are Trinidad, Joppy, Pavlik and Tarver as examples of what, despite his age, he is capable of. I thought he was simply brilliant. He wasn't too shabby against Pascal either.

I don't think he quit last time. It makes no sense as he then chased and is now fighting in an imediate rematch. My worry is that he is starting to show his age. I hope he can pull out yet another brilliant tactical victory, albeit in an unspectacular fight. That being said, I see Dawson starting sluggish but outlasting Hopkins to take a close and potentially debatable decision.

 

You're right Ilesey.Did he **** quit!:nono
Pulling out so blatantly would have finished him as a prizefighter,even allowing for his remarkable ability for self preservation.
Head still saying Chad but I'm going with the heart tonight.:bbb

 

Was thinking more that if he had been captured pulling a stroke(and it was very possible that he could have been caught) he'd never get a serious fight again.
Still can't believe people weren't refunded for their PPV.:think

 

I have a sneaky feeling popkins will take it, but that 'bernard has 2 rounds worth of knowledge to use' isnt worth ****.

 

That was the 2nd Pascal fight.

 

BHOP is a living legend. But the guard is changing and a 47 y/o fighter is smarter than a 29 y/o fighter, but he aint stronger, faster or more durable.

I'd rather see Dawson win a non eventful decision....not enough to make BHOP leave on a sour note, but enough to deter hiding SMWs from moving up for the prestige and payday. :think

 

The big thing for me will be the pace that the fight is thought at. Hopkins at 47 needs to slow the pace at times and find moments in the fight where he can take a little breather before he comes back and does his thing.

If he fights somebody who can apply pressure for 3 minutes a round, every round then he can get in a whole load of trouble even despite his other worldly craftiness in the ring.

Dawson is a fighter who is patient, who doesn't push every second of every round and who just doesn't strike me as a naturally aggressive fighter. That's what is making me think long and hard about this one. Pascal had a lot of success against Dawson with litte raiding tactics and that allowed him to fight at his own pace and eventhough Dawson had good moments in that fight.

If I had to pick, I'd go for a Hopkins UD but I wouldn't be shocked to see Dawson take it since Father Time has an extremely overdue appointment with B-Hop.

 

Hopkins don't need the money and he does not need the Dawson fight. Hopkins knows he can win.