Bernard Hopkins vs Chad Dawson II

[Quixall]

Just wizzed through the Hopkins - Dawson II fight in about 10 mins lol.................

Just couldn't be bothered to watch the whole fight. It was clear from the outset that father time had caught up with Hopkins and that Dawson would get the victory. Another fight where one judge had it even and another 117-111 for Dawson

This is surely Hopkins' last fight, unless he wants to go down the same route as Roy Jones. He is at that stage where he would give anyone a fight but almost certainly lose. I think Hopkins should retire now and enjoy his legacy.

[Bennyblanco]

I hope it's his last fight, he just seems to stink the place out with his holding and negative tactics. Got a feeling FW will be trying his best to get him over here for a fight with cleverley.

The Seth Mitchell - chaz Witherspoon fight was alot better. Mitchell's got a good chin and can bang

[Wrists]

Does anyone else think Dawson is fact not very good??

I reckon Clev and Bellew are just as good

Genuinely think Dawson is massively overated

[Quixall]

Does anyone else think Dawson is fact not very good??

I reckon Clev and Bellew are just as good

Genuinely think Dawson is massively overated

I think he is over-rated in that it's easy to look good against a 47 year old fighter. I don't think that Dawson is anything special but i think he would have too much for Cleverley and way too much for Bellew IMO

[Quixall]

I hope it's his last fight, he just seems to stink the place out with his holding and negative tactics. Got a feeling FW will be trying his best to get him over here for a fight with cleverley.

The Seth Mitchell - chaz Witherspoon fight was alot better. Mitchell's got a good chin and can bang

Just seen the Witherspoon - Mitchell fight.............

Neither guy looks exceptional and neither guy would have a prayer against a Klitschko IMO

[Bennyblanco]

Does anyone else think Dawson is fact not very good??

I reckon Clev and Bellew are just as good

Genuinely think Dawson is massively overated

I think dawsons good, just made to look bad by Hopkins.

Dawson called out Andre ward after, the ward tweeted 'let's get it on'

[Chris W 1982]

Dawson is the best light heavyweight in the world by some distance for me.

[Quixall]

Does anyone else think Dawson is fact not very good??

I reckon Clev and Bellew are just as good

Genuinely think Dawson is massively overated

I think dawsons good, just made to look bad by Hopkins.

Dawson called out Andre ward after, the ward tweeted 'let's get it on'

Not too sure if Ward is ready to move up to 175lbs or even fight at a catch weight. If he did, he would beat Dawson.

[reggaereggae]

Hopkins is a dreadful fighter to watch. He is also exceedingly dirty.

[Quixall]

Dawson is the best light heavyweight in the world by some distance for me.

You say that, but who else is there in that division ?

Travoris Cloud and Jean Pascal, hardly a loaded division, so whilst your opinion may be correct, it doesn't mean much.

[Quixall]

Hopkins is a dreadful fighter to watch. He is also exceedingly dirty.

Bernard always performs outside of the ring better than he does in it, in terms of entertainment value........

He has reached the end of the road. The only thing i can see him going for is a cruiserweight title !!

Watch this space.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Hopkins has been stinking the joint out since the Pavlik fight, which he was incredible in, but then he was up against a walking punchbag.

Nobody EVER looks good against old popkins, so lets give Dawson a break.

I'd like to see Dawson and Pascal rematch, then we need to see the division unified.

Time for Hopkins to go, he hasn't got the stamina any more to fight a clean fight at top level, so may as well call it a day.

[Wrists]

Fair point James, though I still think Dawson is average.

Ward is the future at 175 I reckon

Calzaghe could come back now and beat them all

[observer1]

Hopkins has been stinking the joint out since the Pavlik fight, which he was incredible in, but then he was up against a walking punchbag.

Nobody EVER looks good against old popkins, so lets give Dawson a break.

I'd like to see Dawson and Pascal rematch, then we need to see the division unified.

Time for Hopkins to go, he hasn't got the stamina any more to fight a clean fight at top level, so may as well call it a day.

You can't stay he "stunk up the joint" in the Pascal bouts (Or even the Orneleas bout)..

That said, nearly everyone backed Dawson to win. Apart from the die-hard Hopkins fans, it was obvious to everyone Dawson would be able to finally edge a victory over old man Hops.

Dawson does NOT like things to get physical. I feel a few years earlier, a [relatively] younger Hopkins takes Dawson.

As it stands, Pascal and Ward dismantle Dawson.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Fair point James, though I still think Dawson is average.

Ward is the future at 175 I reckon

Calzaghe could come back now and beat them all

Dont think Calzaghe would beat Ward, not now, and I'm not sure in his prime either. Crafty counterpuncher Reid gave him a lot of trouble, and I think Ward is a LOT better at that game than Reid, who was pretty slow by comparison.

I am not sure if Ward is going to be big enough for 175, he isn't a particularly big 168 lber, Jones Jr was considered a fairly small 175 lber, and he was absolutely massive at 168 compared to Ward.

I think Ward is an incredible talent, and he's a lot tougher than he looks, as he looks quite sleight for a fighter, but he can rough it up.

I think Ward will need to get a good nutritionist on board if he is going to compete at 175, Dawson is a MUCH bigger man naturally.

I think Ward should get some more fights under his belt before he moves up - he's still maturing as a physical specimen, and as a fighter, he's not even had that many fights yet. Maybe 4-5 defences and THEN move up, he should clear out 168 before moving up, IMHO.

Ok, yes, maybe unfair to say Hopkins stank the joint out against Pascal - they were decent fights, but as he has aged, Hopkins has done as much grappling as punching, and in fact, latterly, more grappling than anything else.

[Deserter]

Fair point James, though I still think Dawson is average.

Ward is the future at 175 I reckon

Calzaghe could come back now and beat them all

Dont think Calzaghe would beat Ward, not now, and I'm not sure in his prime either. Crafty counterpuncher Reid gave him a lot of trouble, and I think Ward is a LOT better at that game than Reid, who was pretty slow by comparison.

I am not sure if Ward is going to be big enough for 175, he isn't a particularly big 168 lber, Jones Jr was considered a fairly small 175 lber, and he was absolutely massive at 168 compared to Ward.

I think Ward is an incredible talent, and he's a lot tougher than he looks, as he looks quite sleight for a fighter, but he can rough it up.

I think Ward will need to get a good nutritionist on board if he is going to compete at 175, Dawson is a MUCH bigger man naturally.

I think Ward should get some more fights under his belt before he moves up - he's still maturing as a physical specimen, and as a fighter, he's not even had that many fights yet. Maybe 4-5 defences and THEN move up, he should clear out 168 before moving up, IMHO.

Ok, yes, maybe unfair to say Hopkins stank the joint out against Pascal - they were decent fights, but as he has aged, Hopkins has done as much grappling as punching, and in fact, latterly, more grappling than anything else.

Good post and agree with a huge amount of it. Would loved to have seen prime Calzaghe versus Ward - real 'pick'em' fight for me and would have been a great benchmark to ascertain how good Joe really was.

[elephant man]

Nobody EVER looks good against old popkins, so lets give Dawson a break.

But Dawson doesnt look good against anybody. He stinks the joint out against Tarver, Johnson and Hopkins. When he faces a guy his age, he loses. Hes talented but incredibly dull.

[jameswilson]

Dawson's apparently called Andre Ward out. That can be another fight involving 2 guys with absolutely zero charisma, who fight in an unbelievably boring way that will no doubt pack the stadium full of thick patriotic Americans who can hail them as the greatest thing since sliced bread. A re-run of Tim Bradley v Devon Alexander if you will.

[Final round]

Hopefully Hopkins wont get a big fight ever again, he's almost theatrical in the ring these days..a pantomime villain.
I was impressed with the way Dawson kept his composure with a nasty cut to see off the old fraud.

Just off to watch Calzaghe/Hopkins.

[Horse]

Is Warren going to try to make Cleverly vs Hopkins? I hope he does.

[Adamj1987]

Is Warren going to try to make Cleverly vs Hopkins? I hope he does.

i hope not

[crusader]

Does anyone else think Dawson is fact not very good??

I reckon Clev and Bellew are just as good

Genuinely think Dawson is massively overated

Why? Dawson has beaten much better opposition, and usually by wide margins. Nothing suggests that he would be hurt by Kuziemski, look unimpressive against a clubfigher like Karpency, or struggle with Euro/domestic level fighters like Mackenzie, Asijife, and Mohamedi.

[crusader]

Does anyone else think Dawson is fact not very good??

I reckon Clev and Bellew are just as good

Genuinely think Dawson is massively overated

I think he is over-rated in that it's easy to look good against a 47 year old fighter. I don't think that Dawson is anything special but i think he would have too much for Cleverley and way too much for Bellew IMO

It is easy to look good against many 47 year olds, but Hopkins is not one of them; he is a world class boxer who fights in a very negative and often dirty manner. No one has impressed against him, so it's unfair to criticize Dawson--who won clearly---as you have.

[Quixall]

Does anyone else think Dawson is fact not very good??

I reckon Clev and Bellew are just as good

Genuinely think Dawson is massively overated

I think he is over-rated in that it's easy to look good against a 47 year old fighter. I don't think that Dawson is anything special but i think he would have too much for Cleverley and way too much for Bellew IMO

It is easy to look good against many 47 year olds, but Hopkins is not one of them; he is a world class boxer who fights in a very negative and often dirty manner. No one has impressed against him, so it's unfair to criticize Dawson--who won clearly---as you have.

I have heard this so many times. No-one looks impressive against Hopkins, blah blah blah, the guy is 47 years and fighters like Dawson should be putting out those kind of dispalys against him. I don't think Dawson is special because he beat a fast fading Hopkins. He beat him by around 7 to 8 rounds which is what i would expect from that sort of age disparity. Teddy Atlas said this a while back, that you have to question how good these fighters are, who can't deal with a guy in his late forties. Hopkins is very good for his age and his PR before fights makes it seem that he hasn't altered since he fought in his middle 30's but he has aged a lot and isn't fighting like he did back then. So once you see past the bullshit, it is a 47 year old guy your fighting against and yes, you should be dominating a fight like that if your worth your salt and seen as being one of the best if not the best in your espective division. Hence my comments, that it's easy to look good against an old guy and beat him by seven or eight rounds and make it a relatively easy night, which it was for Dawson.

[crusader]

I think he is over-rated in that it's easy to look good against a 47 year old fighter. I don't think that Dawson is anything special but i think he would have too much for Cleverley and way too much for Bellew IMO

It is easy to look good against many 47 year olds, but Hopkins is not one of them; he is a world class boxer who fights in a very negative and often dirty manner. No one has impressed against him, so it's unfair to criticize Dawson--who won clearly---as you have.

I have heard this so many times. No-one looks impressive against Hopkins, blah blah blah, the guy is 47 years and fighters like Dawson should be putting out those kind of dispalys against him. I don't think Dawson is special because he beat a fast fading Hopkins. He beat him by around 7 to 8 rounds which is what i would expect from that sort of age disparity. Teddy Atlas said this a while back, that you have to question how good these fighters are, who can't deal with a guy in his late forties. Hopkins is very good for his age and his PR before fights makes it seem that he hasn't altered since he fought in his middle 30's but he has aged a lot and isn't fighting like he did back then. So once you see past the bullshit, it is a 47 year old guy your fighting against and yes, you should be dominating a fight like that if your worth your salt and seen as being one of the best if not the best in your espective division. Hence my comments, that it's easy to look good against an old guy and beat him by seven or eight rounds and make it a relatively easy night, which it was for Dawson.

You've heard it many times because it's true. It's difficult to impress against Hopkins, so Dawson merits praise if you think that he looked good last night.

Age is simply a number; if a 47 year old succesfully competes at the highest level his age doesn't make him easy to beat. You can't apply a general statement to every fighter.