By Ryan Burton
Former light heavyweight champion "Bad" Chad Dawson appeared on the most recent edition of "The Boxing Lab," which is BoxingScene.com's official audio show. Dawson faces WBC champion Bernard Hopkins on Saturday at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles in the main event of a pay-per-view card that is being distributed by HBO.
Dawson really opened up during the show and touched on a lot of topics. He said that he brought Winky Wright into his camp because of Wright's experience in facing Hopkins. Dawson also said that the reason why he brought John Scully back as his trainer is because of the success he enjoyed while being guided by Scully.
"We brought Winky on as an advisor. He has been in the ring with Bernard and knows all of his dirty tricks," stated Dawson.
The Connecticut native went on to say that he and former trainer Emanuel Steward are still on good terms.
"Manny Steward and I didn't have a bad break up. He is a great trainer and I appreciate everything he did for me but I want to be a different Chad Dawson so I felt that it was right to go back to John (Scully) because I have never not had success with him."
I asked Chad if the key to the fight will be maintaining a high workrate in order to make sure that he wins the majority of the rounds. Dawson agreed and also that he needs to make Hopkins look his age. Dawson isn't known for his knockout power but revealed that he does hope to be the first person to knock Hopkins out.
"Not only do I have to outwork Hopkins but I have to make him look 47-years-old. I am 29-years-old and I need to use my youth and make him look his age. I think I will have the opportunity to be the first person to stop Bernard. I have an opportunity to become a star and if I stop Bernard I will be one. I am focused on taking advantage of my opportunity," Dawson told The Boxing Lab.
Hopkins is known to fight in spurts. Hopkins has evolved his style and adapted it to his age. Dawson feels his team has the perfect game plan in place and that it will show on the scorecards.
"The one thing that keeps playing in my head is that I think Bernard Hopkins can not hold a candle to me. We plan on drowning him. We plan on winning every round convincingly."
Send questions or comments to ringsidewriter@gmail.com Follow Ryan on Twitter @ringsidewriter and tune in to The Boxing Lab, Boxingscene's official audio on Tuesdays. The show is hosted by Ernie Gabion, Luis Sandoval and Ryan Burton.
