By Mitch Abramson
 
Chad Dawson admitted that his career had stagnated and that he had become a “bored” fighter before hooking up with current trainer John Scully, he said during a conference call with the media on Wednesday. Dawson has often been criticized for not seizing the moment in fights and throwing enough punches, a tendency he seemed to imply was a result of his prior training.

Dawson has gone through a myriad of trainers in his decade-long career, in an attempt to find a good fit. He believes he's found it in Scully. The two hooked up six weeks ago after Dawson left Emanuel Steward. Dawson was a rising star until his lackadaisical effort against Jean Pascal last year that resulted in a technical decision loss. Dawson, in a fight that can resuscitate his career, faces Bernard Hopkins on Oct. 15.

“I lost the passion,” Dawson said. “I felt like if I had Scully in my corner it wouldn’t have happened. My performance, I felt started to get a little lazy. I think Scully has what it takes to bring it out of me. People say that I use trainers, that I push trainers from here to there, but on Oct. 15 people will see, they’ll get to see the hungry Chad Dawson, they’ll see the fire in my eyes.”

Mitch Abramson covers boxing for the New York Daily News and BoxingScene.com