Hard to say, both looked like crap in their last fights. But on the basis that Adamek is similar to Kessler and Dawson dominated him, I'll go Dawson UD12.
I actually think they have a lot of similarites. I think they are both pretty much one trick ponies but do that one trick very well. Dawson is a little bit more versatile because he is good on the back foot aswell. Kessler isnt Adamek, even if he is like him he is a smaller, more fluid and faster version of him. Good cheese match type of fight, could be a highly technical war kind of like JMM-MAB. I think Dawson is just a bit better and proven at lightheavy. Dawson via decision.
Dawson has the better defense and better inside game. Also throws harder shots (not in a P4P sense). Dawson did dominate Adamek for the first half of their fight but lost rounds late after getting KD and almost stopped. That said, Dawson UD and wide.
meh, i'm about to leave but heres an abreviated version.... Kessler coming up to LH would already lose one advantage, and on top of that, dawson taller, longer reacher... younger, and hits harder....but the factor that would probably make this a very hard fight for kessler is the fact that Dawsons a south paw.....and it's a known fact that straight up hybrid boxer type fighters like Kessler, don't fight well against southpaws (part of the reason why calzaghe was slapping him around for 12rounds) but what would make matters worse is, Dawsons powers in his right hand which equals bad news for Kessler......sinces Dawsons both longer and taller and has good boxing abilitys as well as the superior speed, he can choose to have kessler eating jabs from his power hand as much as he wants, but this fight wouldn't go the distance in my eyes.....seeing as Dawson has the size and power advantage, and the better offensive arsenal if Dawson gets inside it's lights out.....banging to the body for 5-6 rounds would take the wind right of him, untill he's ready to get dropped... Dawson has every conceivable advantage not to mention he's the slicker more versatile boxer, and specailly since Kessler boxing style and arsenal are so predictable and something so ordinary, that he's face similar fighters in the past (Adamek)...and you know what happend there, but to sum it up, i dont see Kessler making through 8rounds at the latest.....and i think this ended up being longer then i wanted it
Are you serious? It is only one division, surely its not that hard to envision. Dawson by UD. Kessler doesn't apply pressure effectively, as seen vs Mundine, Lucas, Thysse, Siaca. Even when dominating, he still finds it hard to turn up the pressure and really put guys away. Against a faster, slicker boxer like Dawson who is superior from the outside, he will simply be outboxed. Kessler doesn't have the tools here to change things up. Very bad style match up for Kessler IMO.
Kessler is one of my favorite fighters but I think he losses a split decision. I'm starting to like Dawson too. If he beats Tarver and makes him retire then I would become an official fan.
How is Kessler winning this poll? Oh wait, that's right, he lost to Calzaghe. Losing to Calzaghe seems to be the key to becoming a great fighter in the eyes of Calzaghe fans. Dawson via UD