Hopkins vs Dawson: Emanuel Steward Points Out Dawson's Mental Flaws
by Scott Christ on Sep 26, 2011 8:12 AM EDT
in Boxing News Analysis
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BoxingScene.com talked with trainer Emanuel Steward, who parted ways recently with Chad Dawson just ahead of Dawson's October 15 fight with light heavyweight world champion Bernard Hopkins, the biggest fight of Dawson's career. And while Steward believes that Dawson is a bad style matchup for Hopkins, he's not sure that Dawson will truly be ready for Hopkins' fight:
"The biggest thing going up against him is not having that consistent focus, and that's what Bernard is about. Joe Calzaghe [who defeated Hopkins in 2008] is a fighter who stays focused and stays in a rhythm for the whole twelve rounds. He never loses focus. Chad fights in spots, stops and then fights in spots."
Dawson (30-1, 17 KO) is working with John Scully, a fine trainer who has worked with Dawson in the past, and Winky Wright, a southpaw with experience against Hopkins, is also helping out.
But it's just such a risk to take to switch trainers so close to a fight. Steward says that Dawson's "mind is in a different zone than most fighters," that he cares most about being home, close to his family. It's certainly an admirable trait, but compared to some guys, maybe it makes him soft. Maybe he just doesn't care as much about his career as a guy like Bernard Hopkins. And maybe, even being 46 and Chad Dawson being wrong for him style-wise, that's what gives B-Hop the edge again.
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I hope Hopkins walks all over him, and I think he will.
There is no safety in numbers, or in anything else--James Thurber, 1939
by BoxAnne on Sep 26, 2011 10:16 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Hopkins doesnt fight without being prepared
And I doubt that changes here. Hopkins will frustrate Dawson with his junkyard-dog style of boxing. I wonder if Hopkins might even stop Dawson late.
"That was very funny about the old man basketball skills. One is lucky to escape injury when playing against those crafty, crusty sumbitches. And it’s just demoralizing when they demonstrate yet again how to use the backboard from range." - Charlie Custer
by SmittytheCutman on Sep 26, 2011 1:52 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I see this kinda like Floyd and Ortiz… Ortiz had the skillset to threaten the slicker fighter, but not the patience or the mental strength to keep his composure and concentration when things aren’t necessarily going his way.
Dawson just seems like the kind of fighter who’ll crumble and go into a shell if Hopkins starts making him look silly.
by Verklemptomaniac on Sep 26, 2011 2:10 PM EDT reply actions
Think Steward is spot on
Dawson has the skills, but doesn’t know how to utilise them fully for the full 12
Skills....with the Will, SS
"Silence is golden when you can't think of a good answer"
---- Muhammed Ali
Why is this a PPV fight?
Neither have a large followings and these PPV numbers are going to be very low, I say somewhere south of 100k buys. This fight should have been in AC or CT sorry Bad Chad and B. Hopkings wouldn’t mind seeing this on HBO but no way would I even think about getting a PPV for this one.
I wonder who Steward will be pulling for
"Winning is Everything"
Failure is not an Option
If you're not first, you're last
Good question
Manny is IMO a living legend. He may stumble over the language but he is a straight shooter who sees and knows more than most of will in a lifetime.
I think he respects both men. My guess is that he knows this is Bernard’s fight to lose.
The one thin g that really striuck me was how he did not make a value judgement about Chad’ preference toward family over complete and utter dedication to the sport.
Dawsom=n bores me as a fighter but I now admire him as a man.
On the other hand, bernard has one maybe two focuses. Boxing…and boxing business. And so I see him beating Chad.
"Silence is golden when you can't think of a good answer"
---- Muhammed Ali
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