DAWSON VS HOPKINS: YOUTH VS EXPERIENCE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 12 Oct 2011
When Chad Dawson steps into the ring at the famed Staples Center on Sunday, Manila Time, for his battle with the ageless wonder Bernard ?The Executioner? Hopkins it will be a classic encounter between youth and experience.
The 29 year old Dawson with a record of 30-1 with 17 knockouts faces the oldest fighter to win a world title in 46 year old Hopkins who boasts of a record of 52-5-2 with 32 knockouts.
The Hopkins-Dawson WBC and Ring Magazine light heavyweight championship fight will be shown on ?BIGTIME BAKBAKAN? over AKTV IBC 13 at 9:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Known as the ?Executioner? Hopkins is most adept at executing a fight plan that effectively throttles his opponents and hardly gives them room to punch as he holds and grapples with them and employs every trick in the trade to frustrate his opponents.
However, former world champion Dawson isn?t impressed saying ?We have a great game plan. I don?t see Bernard getting past it. He added ? I am ready to show the world I am still ?Bad? Chad Dawson.?
After his final media workout Dawson who lost the title to Jean Pascal who in turn was beaten by Hopkins said ?I don?t want to give too much [of my game plan] away. I need to stay busy and not let Hopkins do what he does when he goes in with the razzle dazzle moves.?
Dawson said he would use his stiff left jab ?to break Hopkins down. I am going to be smart. I want to be a master boxer. It is about going out and showing your skills.?
Happy to be reunited with trainer John Scully, Dawson said Scully ?knows me better than any trainer. I have worked with him the longest. I can turn it on when I want to and that is something John Scully brings out of me. This is my time to shine. Scully is going to make a difference. The last two or three fights, I haven?t truly been myself. I know I put the work in. I am at my best when Scully is with me. ?
Former world champion Ronald Winky Wright who is also part of Dawson?s training team has kept telling him he earned his title shot.
Dawson is excited about fighting in the same arena where NBA superstar Kobe Bryant usually shows his dexterity but which currently has been put on hold because of the standoff in talks between the players and team owners. He told the media ?This is exciting. I am going to be in the same arena where Kobe plays. This is what every fighter dreams of. I am blessed to be in this position and I am happy to be here. ?
Dawson claims he is in great shape stressing. I had a great training camp. I had great sparring partners. I am ready. I will be a problem for Bernard and I think he knows that.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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