Dawson vs. Hopkins

[Lampley]

Dawson doesn't need to get into the habit of fighting too many old guys (assuming he gets Tarver this fall), but as long as Hopkins keeps winning, a potential fight between those two could be the decisive one for LHW supremacy.

For me, Dawson poses the same problems Taylor did to Bernard (youth, workrate, size), only he's faster, more skilled and more intelligent. The one negative may be that Dawson is a southpaw, and Hopkins seems to have those guys down pat.

Still, I think Chad keeps Bernard at bay with the jab, and simply outhustles him for an 8-4 decision.

[King Dan]

I always felt that Tarver was a tough fight for Dawson, but fighting Hopkins really wouldn't be a good idea right now for Chad.

Bernard is too good in too many departments.

Chad needs to season himself at this high level.

A fight with Tarver or even a fight with guys like Glen Johnson or Clinton Woods is most likely a win for Dawson.

Hopkins is at best for Chad, a 50/50 fight.

[Executioner]

I think this would be a bad move for Hopkins.

[Lampley]

I always felt that Tarver was a tough fight for Dawson, but fighting Hopkins really wouldn't be a good idea right now for Chad.

Bernard is too good in too many departments.

Chad needs to season himself at this high level.

A fight with Tarver or even a fight with guys like Glen Johnson or Clinton Woods is most likely a win for Dawson.

Hopkins is at best for Chad, a 50/50 fight.

You think? Hopkins has looked good against a shot Tarver and a declining, puffed up Winky, but why would Dawson struggle more against Hopkins than Taylor?

I view Chad as superior to Taylor, most importantly in this fight that he seems to understand what he needs to do to win. He was very defense-conscious versus Adamek (until he got cocky), but bumrushed Ruiz and Gardner. I realize those guys aren't Hopkins, but he has shown an adaptability Taylor apparently lacks.

Along with his reach, speed and workrate advantages, I think he beats Hopkins clearly.

But I respect your opinion.

[King Dan]

Oh, by the way, I've been watching Chad since he was 18.

I was at his pro debut August of '01 at Mohegans Sun, before the Arena! And was at a few of his training sessions at Ring One in New Haven, CT before he turned pro and well after.

[King Dan]

You think? Hopkins has looked good against a shot Tarver and a declining, puffed up Winky, but why would Dawson struggle more against Hopkins than Taylor?

I view Chad as superior to Taylor, most importantly in this fight that he seems to understand what he needs to do to win. He was very defense-conscious versus Adamek (until he got cocky), but bumrushed Ruiz and Gardner. I realize those guys aren't Hopkins, but he has shown an adaptability Taylor apparently lacks.

Along with his reach, speed and workrate advantages, I think he beats Hopkins clearly.

But I respect your opinion.

Tell you what, it wouldn't shock me if Dawson won a close decision where he hung tough with Hopkins and did enough to win. I would be elated!

I would be in utter amazement if he completely dominated Hopkins 8 rounds to 4 or 9-3.

I'm just so f*cken happy that I read everyone thinks he's a future p4p great :good , except those that think his chin is sh*t. :-( Retarded.

[Axe]

I think you're looking too far ahead.

I'm a big Dawson fan but he should not look past Tarver, who is still a top 5 Lightheavyweight.

[Danny Ocean]

hopkins ud

[Lampley]

I think you're looking too far ahead.

I'm a big Dawson fan but he should not look past Tarver, who is still a top 5 Lightheavyweight.

Oh, I agree. Tarver still has a punch, although I don't think he can win a decision without seriously hurting Dawson. He may split some early rounds with Chad, but Antonio will tire over the second half of the fight. I still say there's a reasonable chance Dawson stops the fatigued Tarver late.

[El Bombasto]

Dawson still seems a little green to me. I wonder how he would handle Hopkins's rough-housing tactics. Give it a year, maybe after the Tarver fight, and it's 50-50

[Lampley]

You guys may all be right, but no one has tried to explain how Taylor could fight Hopkins evenly over two fights, while Dawson wouldn't.

If I were taking the pro-Hopkins position, I might say that 1) Dawson is a lefty, which Hopkins owns, and 2) Hopkins appears rejuvenated after his move to 175.

But I still don't see the experience or roughhousing being a problem, because Chad will use his legs and reach, whereas neither Tarver nor Wright could do that (legs, in Tarver's case). No one defeats Hopkins easily, but I think Chad will consistently nick rounds due to higher numbers of thrown and landed punches, and thus take the clear win.

But first things first, Chad does need to finish Tarver.

[Lampley]

I included this so King Dan will know I'm addressing him.

Since you've followed Chad for so long, you might know the answer to this question. I've seen at least a couple references to Dawson holding some sort of grudge against Jermain Taylor, and that he'd really like to fight him. What's up?

[Axe]

Oh, I agree. Tarver still has a punch, although I don't think he can win a decision without seriously hurting Dawson. He may split some early rounds with Chad, but Antonio will tire over the second half of the fight. I still say there's a reasonable chance Dawson stops the fatigued Tarver late.

Chad has a reputation for letting guys off the hook though. He finished up nicely last fight, but I could easily see him hurting Tarver and then going back to boxing mode for no reason. I hope both these fights come off. :good

[Axe]

Since you've followed Chad for so long, you might know the answer to this question. I've seen at least a couple references to Dawson holding some sort of grudge against Jermain Taylor, and that he'd really like to fight him. What's up?

Back when Chad was under Scully, he had to come up the hard way, and he was a scrawny teenager campaigning at middleweight. He was kind of low on money whereas fellow MW Taylor, since he was an amateur star, was raking in money as a prospect. Chad has basically calling Taylor out since his debut, to no avail. Nowadays he doesn't need Jermain anymore.

[Lampley]

Chad has a reputation for letting guys off the hook though. He finished up nicely last fight, but I could easily see him hurting Tarver and then going back to boxing mode for no reason. I hope both these fights come off. :good

Well, I think the trainer change will fix that. Hell, Floyd was pushing for him to try and get a stoppage against Adamek, and Chad's posturing got him a seat on the canvas! We'll see how this develops.

I really do hope both of these fights come off, and then a bout against the winner of Kessler/Calzaghe or Taylor/Pavlik at a catchweight.

[Lampley]

Back when Chad was under Scully, he had to come up the hard way, and he was a scrawny teenager campaigning at middleweight. He was kind of low on money whereas fellow MW Taylor, since he was an amateur star, was raking in money as a prospect. Chad has basically calling Taylor out since his debut, to no avail. Nowadays he doesn't need Jermain anymore.

Cool. Thanks! I'd still like to see that fight, though, if Jermain gets his act together.

[Axe]

Cool. Thanks! I'd still like to see that fight, though, if Jermain gets his act together.

To be honest, I think it's less competetive than either Dawson-Tarver or Dawson-Hopkins would be.

[Lampley]

To be honest, I think it's less competetive than either Dawson-Tarver or Dawson-Hopkins would be.

Quite possibly. I'm just saying that because those two guys are among my favorites, and the event of it all would have me totally jacked up about it.

[Pimp C]

Great fight and I think Dawson should be going after Hopkins instead of Tarver. I still can't pick against Hopkins and believe Hopkins being the savvy vet would find a way to win against the somewhat still green Dawson.

[Executioner]

To be honest, I think it's less competetive than either Dawson-Tarver or Dawson-Hopkins would be.

I agree. Dawson pounds Taylor en route to an 11th round stoppage. :yep

[brooklyn1550]

Great fight and I think Dawson should be going after Hopkins instead of Tarver. I still can't pick against Hopkins and believe Hopkins being the savvy vet would find a way to win against the somewhat still green Dawson.

:good

[Lampley]

Some things change, and some things don't. I thought more highly of Dawson when I started this thread back in 2007, but it's interesting how all the stuff discussed hypothetically back then has come to fruition (except Dawson/Taylor).

[Dorfmeister]

I wouldn't be surprised but if the Chad that steps up is the one who let Glen punch back close with short roundhouse hooks in rounds 3 and ten in repeat fashion, it won't go 8-4 to Dawson. B'sides, everybody can't be hysterical about Hopkins achievement against Pascal, a smashing majority put their money on the very much alive underdog!

[ryan_c]

Hopkins vs Dawson will look like Hopkins vs Taylor fight. Dawson will win this fight.