CHAD DAWSON WINS BY 2ND ROUND TKO OVER AGEING HOPKINS
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 16 Oct 2011
Youth prevailed over experience when 29 year old Chad Dawson hammered the ageing and worn out Bernard ?The Executioner? Hopkins to win the WBC light heavyweight title in a somewhat bizarre ending, scoring a TKO at 2:48 of the second round at the famed Staples Center in Los Angeles.
The 29 year old Dawson improved his record to 31-1 with 18 knockouts and may have ended the career of 46 year old Hopkins whose record fell to 52-6 with 32 knockouts.
The battle for the WBC and Ring Magazine light heavyweight title will be telecast at 9:00 p.m. tonight on ?Bigtime Bakbakan? over ALTV IBC 13 right after the PBA games.
Dawson started off behind a solid left jab followed by occasional combinations while Hopkins resorted to his trademark trick of trying to clinch and wrestle but he appeared to be far too slow even to do that effectively.
Dawson continued to work behind the jab and caught a slow and tired-looking Hopkins time and time again. Hopkins shoved Dawson hard to the canvas and in typical fashion tried to run after the challenger who retaliated by nailing Hopkins with some solid shots.
A big right by Dawson forced Hopkins to back off. The challenger then rips another right hand before Hopkins falls to the canvas after Dawson shrugs him off his back.
Hopkins wasn?t keen on getting up and many ringsiders felt he was hoping that a foul would be called on Dawson but referee Pat Russell didn?t call a foul and Hopkins, with a possible shoulder injury, lost by a 2nd round TKO. The California State Commission upheld the referee?s decision.
Dawson claimed that Hopkins was faking the injury and said he would not give him a rematch but instead would want to stake his newly won WBC light heavyweight title against Jean Pascal who won the title from him via an 11th round technical decision on August 14, 2010 before Pascal lost the crown to Hopkins by a twelve round unanimous decision last May 27. .
Before the fight Dawson said ?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.?
The challenger did exactly what he promised and that was to use his stiff left jab to break Hopkins down. I am going to be smart. I want to be a master boxer. Its about gping 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 was 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 claimed he was in great shape and stressed ?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.?
Photo: Bernard Hopkins, center, is tended to by Dr. Tony Hicks, right, after he was pushed out of the ring by Chad Dawson in the second round of a light heavyweight boxing match in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011. Dawson won by TKO in the second round after Hopkins wasn't able to continue due to his shoulder injury. (AP Photo/Jae Hong).
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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