Is Chad Dawson the best light heavyweight today?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Biff_McBiff, Apr 17, 2008.


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  1. Biff_McBiff

    Biff_McBiff New Member Full Member

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    I truly believe that Dawson is the best in the division, but the Johnson fight raised some concerns.

    Despite Johnson's terrific effort last Saturday, I still thought that Dawsons superior boxing skills should have provided him with an easier, much more decisive victory. Obviously, this was not the case although he did demonstrate some heart in surviving the late rally by Johnson (Johnson clearly won 3 of the last 4 rounds).

    I never thought Dawson would be pushed to the point of surviving in the late rounds against a fighter who is nearly 15 years his senior.

    Perhaps it was Johnson who proved that he is arguably the best, or, at least among the best conditioned/most determined 39 YO boxer with a chin of ganite active today.

    Dawson showed resilience and the usual terrific skills but I expected a dominant performance.
     
    Biff_McBiff, Apr 17, 2008
    Biff_McBiff, Apr 17, 2008
    #1
  2. untmike

    untmike ABN Full Member

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    are you forgetting hopkins
     
    untmike, Apr 17, 2008
    untmike, Apr 17, 2008
    #2
  3. Rilz

    Rilz Ball don't lie! Full Member

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    you pick bad chad to beat hopkins and calzaghe??? I also think Byrd may make an impact at 175 too here in the near future, if he can actually get down that far
     
    Rilz, Apr 17, 2008
    Rilz, Apr 17, 2008
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  4. sambob

    sambob Active Member Full Member

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    No.
     
    sambob, Apr 17, 2008
    sambob, Apr 17, 2008
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  5. PolishPummler

    PolishPummler Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    Until they start to face eachother we wont really know.

    The most talented maybe.
     
    PolishPummler, Apr 17, 2008
    PolishPummler, Apr 17, 2008
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  6. Punisher33

    Punisher33 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Maybe, Johnsons a tough for anyone at that weight, just ask Jones and Tarver, even Calzaghe wanted nothing to do with Johnson, there's a reason why, he's tough, good workrate, and is always coming forward, when you fight Johnson you know your in for a fight.
     
    Punisher33, Apr 17, 2008
    Punisher33, Apr 17, 2008
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  7. jupzrooni

    jupzrooni Tyler Durden Full Member

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    no
     
    jupzrooni, Apr 17, 2008
    jupzrooni, Apr 17, 2008
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  8. markbrooklyn

    markbrooklyn Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I think Chad Dawson is the best LightHeavyweight right now. Don't be fooled by the Johnson fight. Johnson makes everyone look bad and nobody beats him easily just look at his past fights. Plus his style is difficult for ANYONE to handle. Hopkins and Calzaghe will stay away from Dawson... TRUST me on that!
     
    markbrooklyn, Apr 17, 2008
    markbrooklyn, Apr 17, 2008
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  9. Biff_McBiff

    Biff_McBiff New Member Full Member

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    I really don't think anyone other than Glen Johnson was interested in fighting Dawson prior to the 4/12/08 fight at 168 or 175. And while the Hopkins/Calzaghe matchup makes sense as far as each fighters reputation/name recognition/stage of career/money etc., neither of these guys were willing to risk a Dawson fight, despite (or perhaps because of) his growing reputation and WBC title.

    I'll venture to guess that the Hopkins/Calzaghe winner still won't fight Dawson and will look to Tarver instead (all these guys think they are the best thing going over thirty eight....and a couple are probably right) but I'll bet they all know now that the only cure for a skilled 25 YO is a super-Glen Johnson-like motor and that's a pretty rare thing to behold. If Calzaghe wins, he'll probably fight Tarver, or, if he takes the challenge, Dawson, but only at home. If Hopkins wins, it will be Hopkins/Tarver.

    Underneath all the bravado, they all understand the realities/limitations of age. That's why Dawson hasn't been invited to the party.

    Chris Byrd's performance at 175 is still an unknown. Will he have enough speed and strength as a 37 YO light heavyweight after a decade fighting as a heavyweight? We'll see soon enough. But, honestly, I don't think Dawson has much to worry about there.
     
    Biff_McBiff, Apr 17, 2008
    Biff_McBiff, Apr 17, 2008
    #9
  10. Cormega

    Cormega Quadruple OG Full Member

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    Johnson didn't make Hopkins look bad. Yeah, that was at MW and Johnson has improved some since then, but Bernard beat the breaks off that ass. I guarantee you Hopkins and Calzaghe aren't avoiding him because they're scared (I think they would probably both laugh at that idea). If they don't want to fight him it probably has more to do with the fact that he's an up and comer with zero drawing power. These guys are both on the way out and looking for big money and big names.
     
    Cormega, Apr 17, 2008
    Cormega, Apr 17, 2008
    #10
  11. Brian123

    Brian123 ESB WORLD CHAMPION Full Member

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    Hopkins most would say.
    Dawson looks average but the entire division is old and terribly underwhelming to me.
     
    Brian123, Apr 17, 2008
    Brian123, Apr 17, 2008
    #11
  12. Cormega

    Cormega Quadruple OG Full Member

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    Like I told the other Dawson fan, Dawson can't draw flies to **** at this point, and his last fight probably didn't help that any. The idea that Bernard & Joe are scared of this guy is just crazy, IMO. He's only beaten two guys who most boxing fans have ever even heard of.
     
    Cormega, Apr 17, 2008
    Cormega, Apr 17, 2008
    #12
  13. drvooh

    drvooh Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Hopkins is ranked # 1 in boxrec
     
    drvooh, Apr 17, 2008
    drvooh, Apr 17, 2008
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  14. Rilz

    Rilz Ball don't lie! Full Member

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    valid points, but I really do not see Joe C taking a fight with Tarver. A win over Tarver would do absoltely nothing to secure his legacy. Hopkins beat Tarver down and if Joe wins on saturday it would be a terrible decision to go after him. As sad as it is we will see a Joe C/Roy Jones matchup next. I don't want to see it but i have a gut feeling that Joe could not pass up Roy coming to Millinium Stadium and then swimming in a roomfull of money like scrooge McDuck afterwards.
     
    Rilz, Apr 17, 2008
    Rilz, Apr 17, 2008
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  15. LiamE

    LiamE Boxing Addict Full Member

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    From what I saw the other night I'd pick JC and B-Hop as strong favourites over Dawson. Tarver might well beat him too. Byrd is an unknown but in with a shout as is Johnson if he gets a rematch. Hell, judging by their last fights even a shot RJJ has a chance.

    So, to answer the question, no, Dawson is not the best LHW at the moment.
     
    LiamE, Apr 17, 2008
    LiamE, Apr 17, 2008
    #15
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