Diaconu Out Against Dawson

[Shane_Erich]

Says Dawson and Shaw. Not quite sure why yet. What the hell is it with all these cancellations??

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[kg0208]

Says Dawson and Shaw. Not quite sure why yet. What the hell is it with all these cancellations??

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Damn....I was looking forward to that fight. Dawson should take someone else apart, then go right after Hopkins.

[KayEpps]

I agree - a lot of good fights being made - then all the cancellations start showing up. It's a damn shame.

Dawson can still make a statement by facing Glen Johnson - he's avaliable - but I doubt if he takes that route.

[lillarry]

Damn, I wanted to see Dawson showcase his skills. :patsch

[Amsterdam]

Damn....I was looking forward to that fight. Dawson should take someone else apart, then go right after Hopkins.

Hopkins fighting Dawson?:lol:

Yeah right.

[kg0208]

Hopkins fighting Dawson?:lol:

Yeah right.

If Hops backs out, turns him down, whatever, then Dawson at least can say he was turned down. Many still see Hopkins as the true LHW champion. Dawson going after him and getting turned down would look bad on Hopkins, unless Hopkins fought a HW champion next.

[Brickhaus]

This stinks. It especially stinks for Showtime, who now have no fight to put up on their free trial weekend. I doubt anyone of consequence would be available to fight Dawson on such short notice. Maybe they can get the Mora/Ouma fight back on, although Mora's already committed to fighting on ESPN, and that's not as good as Dawson/Diaconu.

[Lampley]

Terrible news. Showtime is going through total shit luck.

That's their free weekend, too. I wonder what they'll do.

[Amsterdam]

If Hops backs out, turns him down, whatever, then Dawson at least can say he was turned down. Many still see Hopkins as the true LHW champion. Dawson going after him and getting turned down would look bad on Hopkins, unless Hopkins fought a HW champion next.

I agree, I just meant that Hopkins will definitley not even consider Dawson.:lol:

He'll go for the Jones-Tito winner at best, no young hungry guys, no way. I don't consider Hopkins the LHW champion at all, Erdei is the lineal and Dawson is the best.

[Lampley]

I agree, I just meant that Hopkins will definitley not even consider Dawson.:lol:

He'll go for the Jones-Tito winner at best, no young hungry guys, no way. I don't consider Hopkins the LHW champion at all, Erdei is the lineal and Dawson is the best.

I mostly agree. Dawson's win over Adamek was more impressive than Hopkins dominating a faded Tarver or scraping by a bloated Wright. There is no true LHW champion, in my mind.

[PolishPummler]

I agree, I just meant that Hopkins will definitley not even consider Dawson.:lol:

He'll go for the Jones-Tito winner at best, no young hungry guys, no way. I don't consider Hopkins the LHW champion at all, Erdei is the lineal and Dawson is the best.

The LHW Championship is vacant IMO.

Hopkins is very carefully crafting his run at LH while fighting NOn LH's.

Erdei's Lineal status has been gone for a while.He rarely fights and when he does it is against complete NOBODIES.From what i have read also he should have lost 2 Garay twice.

[kg0208]

I mostly agree. Dawson's win over Adamek was more impressive than Hopkins dominating a faded Tarver or scraping by a bloated Wright. There is no true LHW champion, in my mind.

:good I think Dawson represents a lesser version of Jones for Hopkins. Fast, athletic with enough skill to get annoying. Too high a workrate, and frankly, too tall.

[BITCH ASS]

Ya'll are fuckin crazy.

Hopkins did 5 years in the pen and you think he's afraid of no chin, not experienced enough Dawson?

Hopkins would scare the bitch out of Dawson.

[IntentionalButt]

Says Dawson and Shaw. Not quite sure why yet. What the hell is it with all these cancellations??

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What the fuck? :twisted:

I'm still steamed about Guzman-Katsidis falling through, and I'm surprised more people aren't.

[Amsterdam]

I mostly agree. Dawson's win over Adamek was more impressive than Hopkins dominating a faded Tarver or scraping by a bloated Wright. There is no true LHW champion, in my mind.

Totally agreed. Dominating the then undefeated Adamek and then going right after the undefeated Diaconu also showed drive and hungryness.

I always make claim that the 'set elite' circles who fight within each other are not always the best due to intangible differences. Wright is a big name, but you can garauntee that Diaconu would have given Hopkins more trouble at this point just on size and constant pressure, Wright is nothing at post-MW, in fact, his record at MW is not impressive either when you include a draw to Taylor, a struggle with Sam Soliman and the Quartey bout...

Aside from Taylor, where is the big MW that he fought? Now what does that count at LHW 2 divisions up? Not much.

[kg0208]

Ya'll are fuckin crazy.

Hopkins did 5 years in the pen and you think he's afraid of no chin, not experienced enough Dawson?

Hopkins would scare the bitch out of Dawson.

Sorry, that doesn't mean anything.

Knowing you might lose doesn't mean he is afraid of the fighter. It means he is a business man and wants to keep his belt.

He isn't gonna scare Dawson. Why would you think that? Cuz of how tough Hopkins is? No one's gonna care about that....that thug crap doesn't scare elite level boxers.

[Amsterdam]

:good I think Dawson represents a lesser version of Jones for Hopkins. Fast, athletic with enough skill to get annoying. Too high a workrate, and frankly, too tall.

Not quite mate. Dawson is very fast, but he's not Calzaghe fast(Jones is not around) and he doesn't explode on guys like Roy did.

Dawson is more or less a larger 'Mayweather style' with decent pop and good speed, but the height and workrate are there just like you said.

Hopkins isn't touching this one.

[kg0208]

Not quite mate. Dawson is very fast, but he's not Calzaghe fast(Jones is not around) and he doesn't explode on guys like Roy did.

Dawson is more or less a larger 'Mayweather style' with decent pop and good speed, but the height and workrate are there just like you said.

Hopkins isn't touching this one.

Not comparing him to Jones style wise, I am saying he is a mixture of speed and athleticism Hopkins won't like with his deliberate style. Think about it, Hopkins has NEVER liked guys like this, and rarely fights them. And Dawson is skilled enough to use his athletic advantages to a great degree...

Nah, he isn't as fast as Jones, hell, he doesn't hit as hard as Jones either.

[Amsterdam]

Not comparing him to Jones style wise, I am saying he is a mixture of speed and athleticism Hopkins won't like with his deliberate style. Think about it, Hopkins has NEVER liked guys like this, and rarely fights them. And Dawson is skilled enough to use his athletic advantages to a great degree...

Nah, he isn't as fast as Jones, hell, he doesn't hit as hard as Jones either.

Like I said, Calzaghe blitzes him speed wise. Dawson is very quick, but his legs are not like a Calzaghe or Jones.

What Dawson would do however is pick Hopkins off from the outside in a very nasty way and would throw many combinations, landing a bit out of each one. Dawson may stop a tired Hopkins down the line even, at this point it's a mismatch.

If Wright's backing you up and making it close, Dawson's reach and superior speed will own you over, Hopkins has little to no chance against Dawson and it'll never happen, just like we have agreed, hopefully we all get on the ranking committee.:D

Hopkins at this point is just a novelty sell, because he can beat selected 'name' fighters at age 42 and is still in great shape, but he is no longer an ELITE in his division IMO.

[Lampley]

Not quite mate. Dawson is very fast, but he's not Calzaghe fast(Jones is not around) and he doesn't explode on guys like Roy did.

Dawson is more or less a larger 'Mayweather style' with decent pop and good speed, but the height and workrate are there just like you said.

Hopkins isn't touching this one.


Dawson is no Jones, true.

However, my Dawson vs. Hopkins analysis relies heavily on the two fights Hopkins had against Taylor.

Chad is bigger and more complete than Taylor, in my opinion, and his workrate makes a Hopkins victory very unlikely. Anyone with speed, skills and workrate can threaten Bernard at this stage in his career. Maybe the only advantage Taylor has over Dawson against Hopkins is the fact that he's conventional, while Hopkins owns southpaws.

Still, Dawson 8-4 UD Hopkins.

[Amsterdam]

Dawson is no Jones, true.

However, my Dawson vs. Hopkins analysis relies heavily on the two fights Hopkins had against Taylor.

Chad is bigger and more complete than Taylor, in my opinion, and his workrate makes a Hopkins victory very unlikely. Anyone with speed, skills and workrate can threaten Bernard at this stage in his career. Maybe the only advantage Taylor has over Dawson against Hopkins is the fact that he's conventional, while Hopkins owns southpaws.

Still, Dawson 8-4 UD Hopkins.

All facts, but I don't see where Hopkins is going to win 4 rounds, a stoppage is very likely, he was tiring vs. a bloated Wright and the Dawson's of the world are entirely different animals all together.

Hopkins has a great right hand, but he cannot fire it off like he used to be able to do and Dawson will just spank him round after round, Hopkins will eat a lot of jabs.

It's funny how people say 'Hopkins will own the inexperienced Dawson', but fail to realise he couldn't own a lesser fighter in Jermain Taylor.:yep

But again the 'romanticism' of celebrated fighters/atg's.

[Lampley]

All facts, but I don't see where Hopkins is going to win 4 rounds, a stoppage is very likely, he was tiring vs. a bloated Wright and the Dawson's of the world are entirely different animals all together.

Hopkins has a great right hand, but he cannot fire it off like he used to be able to do and Dawson will just spank him round after round, Hopkins will eat a lot of jabs.

It's funny how people say 'Hopkins will own the inexperienced Dawson', but fail to realise he couldn't own a lesser fighter in Jermain Taylor.:yep

But again the 'romanticism' of celebrated fighters/atg's.

I foresee Hopkins winning a few rounds due to Chad fighting very cautiously, with Hopkins stalking and winning a few early rounds based on inactivity.

Sort of a Jones/McCallum scenario, when a shot Bodysnatcher was able to nick a few rounds against a very respectful Jones.

It's very bold to predict Hopkins getting stopped. I think he'd piss away every round before he risked that happening.

[lillarry]

A fight with Hopkins at this point is a lose/lose situation for Dawson. If you beat Hopkins, People will say that you beat a old version of Hopkins. If you lose, people will call Dawson a overrated fighter who was exposed by the old warrior. For the good of the sport, I wish Hopkins would retire

[JETSKI]

Actually kinda glad this fell through, if its true. Now there is nothing to compete head to head on the same night with Taylor vs Pavlik. Being that I'm going to AC for JT vs KP, I would have missed Diaconu's thrilling upset of Chad & that was pissing me off. Now I can fully concentrate on Kelly becoming the next Middlewt. Champ with no distractions.

If this fight is off, they'll get around to doing it someday. Diaconu isn't going anywhere. He'll still be a top contender for Dawsons crown.

:cool:

[IntentionalButt]

A fight with Hopkins at this point is a lose/lose situation for Dawson. If you beat Hopkins, People will say that you beat a old version of Hopkins. If you lose, people will call Dawson a overrated fighter who was exposed by the old warrior. For the good of the sport, I wish Hopkins would retire

People have been awfully forgiving of breaking the promise to Mrs. Hop. :yep

It was one thing when he was going to challenge Maskaev as a novelty act (although Roy beat him to the punch). This "I'm not going away but I'm not here to break a nail" bullshit isn't helping his legacy any.

[Lampley]

The timing of this is all wrong. A little earlier, and maybe Showtime could have brought in Diaconu to fight Tarver in December. That's a KO I think Diaconu could get, and then a Dawson/AD matchup would be a much bigger fight.

[PolishPummler]

We had a party bus on Saturday Night for a bachelor party and we were discussing going to this fight in Sacramanto but i guess it wont happen.

[Lampley]

People have been awfully forgiving of breaking the promise to Mrs. Hop. :yep

It was one thing when he was going to challenge Maskaev as a novelty act (although Roy beat him to the punch). This "I'm not going away but I'm not here to break a nail" bullshit isn't helping his legacy any.

I have nothing but respect for Hopkins, but he is definitely in the way now. I'm going to be pissed if that's the direction Calzaghe goes if he beats Kessler.

[Rumsfeld]

I'd love to see Adamek or Hopkins step in as a late replacement. Unlikely, if not impossible, I know, but one can still hope.

Hopkins would rip the young gun to shreds.

:smoke

[BITCH ASS]

How can ya'll disrespect Hopkins this much?

Clearly, he doesn't need speed or power to dominate his opponents. He uses angles, and his gameplan is to take away the best weapon his opponent offers him.

Isn't Dawson also a Southpaw?

[PolishPummler]

How can ya'll disrespect Hopkins this much?

Clearly, he doesn't need speed or power to dominate his opponents. He uses angles, and his gameplan is to take away the best weapon his opponent offers him.

Isn't Dawson also a Southpaw?

If HOPS is supposed to be the man at LH he needs to start acting like it!

[BITCH ASS]

If HOPS is supposed to be the man at LH he needs to start acting like it!

What should he do next?

[PolishPummler]

What should he do next?

Um fight a Lightheavy.

[kg0208]

How can ya'll disrespect Hopkins this much?

Clearly, he doesn't need speed or power to dominate his opponents. He uses angles, and his gameplan is to take away the best weapon his opponent offers him.

Isn't Dawson also a Southpaw?

Angles against guys who are in his age range, have slown down and have lower work rates. It's not disrespect, its the reality of the situation.

Even Steward pointed out after the Wright-Hopkins fight that neither could hang with the young guns anymore.

[huki]

God damnitt.. I was about to buy tickets to this too. Fuck, now we have to wait even longer for the Diaconu hype to end. This is the worst month in boxing ever.

[Axe]

That's really too bad.

WBA champ Stipe Drews was supposed to face Dawson for the right to become Adamek's mandatory last year, but pulled out against Bad Chad...three times!

Adamek was man enough to face Chad and we saw Chad shine in a very good fight for the fans.

But now Diaconu pulls out. Dawson is so good in the ring it is hurting him outside of it.

[BITCH ASS]

Um fight a Lightheavy.

You have a point, but even if that is the case, I'd rather see him fight the winner of Calzaghe-Kessler, or Pavlik.

I'm not saying that Pavlik is necessarily going to win, although I may be leaning towards him. I'm not sure yet, but I don't want to see him fight Taylor again.

Shit, maybe Hopkins should try to fight Dawson.

Those fights won't be made for a long time, so fuck it.

This is especially true since Dawson doesn't have an opponent anymore.

[Rumsfeld]

How can ya'll disrespect Hopkins this much?

Clearly, he doesn't need speed or power to dominate his opponents. He uses angles, and his gameplan is to take away the best weapon his opponent offers him.

Isn't Dawson also a Southpaw?

Agreed across the board.

Dawson, I believe, has the potential to become a truly great fighter. But favoring him against a crafty vet like Hopkins?

I don't know about that.

After all, Hopkins has this uncanny ability of making his opponents fight his fight, and I reckon he'd show the young buck a thing or two he's never before encountered.

Plus, I'm not convinced that Hopkins couldn't stop Dawson.

[PolishPummler]

You have a point, but even if that is the case, I'd rather see him fight the winner of Calzaghe-Kessler, or Pavlik.

I'm not saying that Pavlik is necessarily going to win, although I may be leaning towards him. I'm not sure yet, but I don't want to see him fight Taylor again.

Shit, maybe Hopkins should try to fight Dawson.

Those fights won't be made for a long time, so fuck it.

This is especially true since Dawson doesn't have an opponent anymore.

Good fights that i wouldnt mind seeing also.The problem is that he isnt proving anything as the man at LH by taking these fights.

Im not fooled by the "Ring" belt in this division...it means NOTHING more than them wanting the "most popular" fighters holding there belt.

[BITCH ASS]

Angles against guys who are in his age range, have slown down and have lower work rates. It's not disrespect, its the reality of the situation.

Even Steward pointed out after the Wright-Hopkins fight that neither could hang with the young guns anymore.

You can say that, but Hopkins doesn't need to be fast.

He uses rough tactics and clinching to break his opponents down. Then he takes away what they use best.

The only one that looked slow for that Winky fight was Winky, but I think that had a lot to do with him too far removed from his optimal weight class, (154, 160?).

Besides, that was a slow paced fight dominated by clinching.

[kg0208]

You can say that, but Hopkins doesn't need to be fast.

He uses rough tactics and clinching to break his opponents down. Then he takes away what they use best.

The only one that looked slow for that Winky fight was Winky, but I think that had a lot to do with him too far removed from his optimal weight class, (154, 160?).

Besides, that was a slow paced fight dominated by clinching.

Hopkins has had a low workrate since the Taylor fights. He uses rough tactics, but Dawson is 6'3 and doesn't have to get close enough to him to hit him for Hops to employ that as a strategy.

Hopkins has never been fast, but he doesn't fight fast opponents very often and I feel that they trouble him.

[andyZOR]

The LHW Championship is vacant IMO.

Hopkins is very carefully crafting his run at LH while fighting NOn LH's.

Erdei's Lineal status has been gone for a while.He rarely fights and when he does it is against complete NOBODIES.From what i have read also he should have lost 2 Garay twice.

True.