Are you still a believer in Chad Dawson? Since his move to HBO in 2008, those who saw a future star began dwindling after Dawson’s lackluster rematch wins over Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson. The problems came to a head last summer when Dawson defended the WBC light-heavyweight title against Jean Pascal. Dawson, looking uninspired and listless for most of the bout, dropped an 11th round technical decision and with it the remaining few who thought he could still become a Pound 4 Pound star.
After foregoing his rematch clause to let Pascal and Hopkins battle twice, Chad Dawon now finds himself at redemption’s door when he faces Hopkins for the WBC title he lost on October 15. Both have been here before. Hopkins has made it a late career trait to befuddle and embarrass younger fighters. Over the last three years, Dawson has removed the two other elder statesman, Glen Johnson and Antonio Tarver, from the division. While a win adds a notch to Hopkins’s already Hall of Fame career, a victory means much more to Dawson, who at 29 had yet to build a legacy. Dawson explains to Beats, Boxing & Mayhem why he’s up for the challenge.
Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: You are on record as stating you’ll be the man to end Hopkins’s career. Historically, no one, even in winning, looks good against Hopkins. Where is this confidence coming from?
Chad Dawson: Well, first of all this is a fight I’ve wanted for about 2-3 years now. I’ve been calling Bernard out and trying to get him to take the fight. I think it’s real funny he took the fight with Pascal after I lost. With my speed, youth and all-around game, I think Bernard can bring the best out of me. I always show up for every big fight. I’ve never been down or in a situation where I lost my composure. When I fought Antonio Tarver the first time, it was one of my best performances. The first one against Glen Johnson was an exciting fight. Glen brought things out of me people had never seen before. I see the same thing happening with the Hopkins fight.
Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: You’ve been talking about having to be more aggressive and throw combinations like you used to do. What caused you to get away from those skills?
Dawson: Honestly, I got bored with boxing. I had been going through different trainers, but none of them has what John Scully has to bring the best out of me. Scully knows what I can do in the ring and what it takes to bring that out of me. That’s going to be a big factor in this fight and on October 15 you’re going to see a different Chad Dawson. They’re going to see the Chad Dawson who fought Glen Johnson the first time with the heart, hunger, combination punching, using my legs and counter punching. The whole package.
Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: Is there any particular physical things that Scully does that gets you more motivated? Or is it mental?
Dawson: It’s both. When we spar everything has to be combinations. We’re not throwing 1-2s or 3-4s; it has to be 5-6 punch combinations. We’re trying to get my punch count up. We’re doing great drills on the bag. My strength and conditioning coach who’s been with me the last 4-5 years is here. I haven’t felt this good in a long time. It’s the best training camp I’ve had in years with sparring. Every day is great and I feel like a totally new man.
Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: What’s your take on how Hopkins did in his last two fights with Pascal?
Dawson: He’s been taking a lot of punches.. One thing I can definitely say about Bernard is it won’t be hard for me to get to him. Pascal put him down two times in the early rounds. Even in the second fight Pascal had him hurt in the 12th round. I’m coming to be table and want to be the Chad Dawson from 2005-2006. The young guy with the hunger, aggression and everything. I know I can be the first person to knock Bernard out. I don’t think he understands what he’s got himself into with this fight. I’m back and I’ve got John Scully with my team. I’ve been ready for this fight the last 2-3 years. I’ve finally got it. Like I’ve said, I’ve always shown up in big fights and never backed down from anybody. You’ve seen Bernard quit before; I’ve never quit in the ring. I’m looking to retire Bernard Hopkins for good.
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Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: With Winky Wright also giving advice in your camp, did he warn you about Hopkins’s head butts and other tricks?
Dawson: We’ve been working on that. We know what Bernard is going to do with his dirty tricks. Winky has been great with that regarding the head butts. We want to outbox and outsmart him by using my legs and my speed. Everything he does great we want to take away from him. He keeps his punch output around 30 punches. We’re just going to go in there and take care of business and handle Bernard Hopkins in great fashion. We don’t want to go out there and get into a slugging fest, which I still think would be to my advantage. We want to outsmart him and make him look stupid.
Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: Regarding Bernard’s best assets, when I spoke to him he said his ring IQ is much better than yours. How can you take away that asset?
Dawson: Forget his ring IQ. We just have to go in there and fight. You have to throw punches to win a fight. At this stage Bernard doesn’t throw a lot of punches. I’ll give him one thing in that he does pick his punches very well. When he does punch, he does make it count. In that aspect we’re looking to take that away from him and capitalize on everything he does bad. Whatever he does, I’ll have an answer for it.
Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: How’s your weight at this point?
Dawson: I know my body and I’m looking good. I’m at about 182 pounds right now and right on schedule. The night of the fight I’ll probably be about 187-188 pounds. No higher than 190.
Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: You mind giving us a list of your favorite fighters?
Dawson: Oh yeah, definitely. All-time you got Marvin Hagler. I’ve been watching Floyd Mayweather Jr. for years. He’s one of my favorite fighters. I got to go with Sugar Ray Leonard. I definitely watch the Klitschkos. They’re not very exciting, but they’re great technicians in boxing. I like the older fighters, too. Me and John Scully have been watching and always talking about Larry Holmes: great jab and boxer. I think you’ll see a lot of that Larry Holmes style in this fight.
“Believe It Or Not!: Hopkins vs. Dawson” is a 12-round bout for Hopkins’ WBC and Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight World Championship Titles taking place on Saturday, Oct. 15 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Calif. and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 