By Chris LaBate
Mandatory challenger Chad Dawson (30-1, 17 KOs) is ready for anything that Bernard Hopkins (52-5-2, 32 KOs) brings to the table on October 15th at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Dawson, 29, expects to capture the veteran's WBC light heavyweight title. Hopkins has already started the mindgames, which Dawson is ignoring. If Hopkins wants to box, Dawson will box. But if Hopkins wants a toe to toe war, then Dawson will go there too.
"Antonio Tarver tried mindgames and they didn't work. Hopkins is trying mindgames and it's not going to work. At the end of the day, we have to get in the ring and fight. I'm ready for whatever Hopkins is going to bring to the table. If he wants it to be a brutal fight, it can be a brutal fight," Dawson told BoxingScene.com's Ryan Songalia.
Dawson does expect Hopkins to use some of those veteran tricks that seem to upset the 46-year-old's opponents in every fight.
"There is nothing that Bernard Hopkins can do to upset what I'm going to do. I have every advantage....faster, quicker, stronger, faster hands. What can Bernard do but get dirty. He has to resort to being a dirty fighter, by grabbing and holding and rabbit punches," Dawson said.