I had this guy as my #3 P4P before this fight. I think some people are finally seeing abilities and they're over-compensating for not having him ranked higher. He's an incredible fighter no doubt, but let's not forget Dawson came down 7lbs to fight Ward. He seems to be completely forgiven for not even having a catch-weight, but fighting Dawson a full weight class below his best weight. If they fought at 175, Ward would have still probably won, but they didn't fight there, they fought at 168. Dawson looked weaker and his legs weren't there since the beginning of the fight. Was he drained? I don't know, but I know he didn't moved very well.
As drained as needed to be to make a previously solid light heavy weight into a walking knockout at the hands of an average puncher.
No, let's iverreact. Dawson hung himself by stipulating the fight should be held at 168. Drained or not he made his bed so he show lay in it. If you were ward, would say no, I will take it at 175? Hell no! Anyway. Much like I have said with other similar scenarios (marquez vs Floyd as one example) the weight made no difference to the outcome. Ward is simply the better boxer. He may not of won by TKO, but he still would have clearly won. Mr Ward. I give you all my respect, and you are now my number 2 P4P.
Kessler, Froch wins are better for Ward. He is top 5 p4p I think but Dawson was never a P4P fighter like some were making out. Ward should have gone up to 175 and beat Dawson to be a 2 divison Ring Champ like Calzghe was.
I was unimpressed as a Ward fan...sorry...weight was such an obvious factor...this like Ward going down to middleweight limit to fight Golovkin...even though he would probably win he would struggle... minimal props.
The win does nothing to change my opinion of Ward. He fought Chad Dawson at 168, a weight that made Dawson look drained, weakened, and lethargic. The fight was in Oakland. Wake me up when ward goes to Nottingham to fight Froch, Montreal to fight Bute, or Stuttgart to fight Golovkin.
True he agreed to fight at that weight, but he was looking for a catchweight to which Ward said no to. But the fact that Dawson agreed to fight at the weight shouldn't change the fact that he was weight-drained: he probably thought he could make the weight easier but fair play to him for at least trying and making the fight: something a lot of others wouldn't do. I think you are right that Ward probably would have beaten him at either weight, he is the better boxer.
