The Ward-Dawson fight shows us what Dawson versus prime Hopkins would look like

I don't even remember Hopkins hittin him in the face

 

Hopkins never fought at 168.

 

Bernard is no Ward and Dawson is no Bernard's former opponent but I agree that either by decision or inside twelve, Hopkins would steal it.

 

I see a fresher Hopkins using similar tactics to beat Chad.

 

More or less. Though B-Hop remains an excellent defender and spoiler, his offensive ability doesn't even seem to be half as good as it was in his prime. He can still look very good against straight up and down, come forward fighters who walk right into his traps and allow him to counter, but he's woefully inadequate (compared to his earlier self) at forcing the issue these days. If you can make the recent version of Hopkins come after you, it's your fight to lose, because he just can't do that anymore. Dawson's length, speed, and competent defense allowed him to do this and Hopkins couldn't really do anything but settle to spoil. He'd have beaten Chad in very similar fashion had he been primed.

 

Please, Hopkins looked like he does in any fight, except he was actually fighting a well-rounded opponent. Hopkins picks his opponents more carefully than anyone in boxing over the last 20 years.

 

Prime Hopkins never fought at 168lb and didn't fight like Ward does now, not to mention there are several active fighters who would have beaten the weight drained Dawson of Saturday night.