Calzaghe and Dawson: a double standard about fighting old opponents

[RRICAN]

Dawson definately lost me as a fan ducking fighters is a quality i dont respect in a "fighter". 26 y/o fighting 40+ fighters when he has better oposition is a total disrespect to the fans of the sport...*****!!!!!

[dwidsid3d]

People, your missing the point.Calzaghe started fighting as apro at 21,he himself was no longer in his prime (37) when he fought a 39 year old Jones and b-HOP.Dawson is IN his PRIME NOW!!!

[The Hammer]

calzaghe gets unfair critisim.he cleared up the SMW division winning all the belt and at the end of his career stepped up to fight 2 ATGS and thats wrong apparently,whereas dawson a young fresh champion can beat up these old guys and its ok,ridiculous double-standards

Yes.

And the same people that bashed Calzaghe for fighting old opponents, like Benny Leonard and danc1984 are defending Dawson. Are they being fair?

[Patheticfraud?]

Interesting how Joe Calzaghe took so much abuse on this forum for fighting two old fighters, Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr.

Chad Dawson will now have FOUR fights in a row against 40 year olds, but the same people who were so hard on Calzaghe are not saying anything - in fact they are making excuses for Dawson.

The age 26 Dawson dropped TWO titles to avoid mandatories with prime opponents (Adrian Diaconu and Tavoris Cloud) in order to fight 40 year olds. As well, he avoided Diaconu in June 2007 and fought clubfighter Jesus Ruiz, and again avoided him early in 2008 to take the first fight with Johnson.

Calzaghe was old himself, he had been an amateur in the late 80s and pro since the early 90s and now is retired, while Dawson is in his 20s.

Why did Calzaghe take so much criticism, while Dawson gets away with it? I'm sure for pointing this out, I will receive a lot of criticism myself - but no one said much about those like bsrizpac who expressed their extreme displeasure with Calzaghe day after day in this forum .

Is there a double standard?

Yeah but Dawson didn't piss away his whole career fighting WBO mandatory opponents at best.

[Lead Cenobite]

Yeah but Dawson didn't piss away his whole career fighting WBO mandatory opponents at best.

It is clear to the Lord of Hell that Dawson is younger than Joe and has some time to continue fighting. The thread starter's comparison does not make sense to I.

What is Dawson's current age and Joe's age when he fought those opponents?

[The_Visitation]

What is Dawson's current age and Joe's age when he fought those opponents?

Joe was 36 on both occasions. B-Hop was 43 and Jones 39. Chad is 26. Jones is, and was, past it but with B-Hop the whole age thing is irrelevant anyway.. he was even older when he took Kelly Pavlik to school.

To me the double standard is obvious, but I do have some sympathy for Chad. He has never been a 'popular' fighter, and is yet to have the big payday he really is entitled to. Calzaghe retired, and B-Hop won't fight him. Kessler at catchweight or SMW didn't happen. And however worthy they may be, neither Cloud nor Diaconu even resemble 'big money' fights, and Johnson is the best he can get at LHW - and many, including me, think a rematch should happen anyway; regardless of how old Johnson may be it could be a terrific fight.

Chad is unlucky in that, in addition to having all the charisma of a cold rice pudding, he is in the wrong division at the wrong time. Compare with, say, Carl Froch who has nowhere near the talent and not a lot more charisma (despite other attributes) yet after winning his title against a considerably easier opponent than Adamek found his first mandatory was no young and dangerous up-and-comer, but an aging Jermaine Taylor. And now everyone wants to fight him in a division packed with excellent boxers, and Froch is seriously considering tax exile!

[Deja_Vous]

Dawson definately lost me as a fan ducking fighters is a quality i dont respect in a "fighter". 26 y/o fighting 40+ fighters when he has better oposition is a total disrespect to the fans of the sport...*****!!!!!

I bet you respect Calzhage.

I dont respect low-blow artist that QUIT...like Cotto.

[Deja_Vous]

I heard the same thing on Showtime. The commentators were commenting on it during the fight with Cunningham- don't have sources but they made a statement similar to at least Adamek is not weight drained like he was for the Dawson fight. They gave weight issues as the reason for moving up to cruiser.

Stop making excuses.

Adamek couldn't beat Dawson no matter what.

He ran to cruiser because he knows he'll never beat Chad.

He's too small at cruiser to say he was drained at 175

[Lead Cenobite]

Joe was 36 on both occasions. B-Hop was 43 and Jones 39. Chad is 26. Jones is, and was, past it but with B-Hop the whole age thing is irrelevant anyway.. he was even older when he took Kelly Pavlik to school.

To me the double standard is obvious, but I do have some sympathy for Chad. He has never been a 'popular' fighter, and is yet to have the big payday he really is entitled to. Calzaghe retired, and B-Hop won't fight him. Kessler at catchweight or SMW didn't happen. And however worthy they may be, neither Cloud nor Diaconu even resemble 'big money' fights, and Johnson is the best he can get at LHW - and many, including me, think a rematch should happen anyway; regardless of how old Johnson may be it could be a terrific fight.

Chad is unlucky in that, in addition to having all the charisma of a cold rice pudding, he is in the wrong division at the wrong time. Compare with, say, Carl Froch who has nowhere near the talent and not a lot more charisma (despite other attributes) yet after winning his title against a considerably easier opponent than Adamek found his first mandatory was no young and dangerous up-and-comer, but an aging Jermaine Taylor. And now everyone wants to fight him in a division packed with excellent boxers, and Froch is seriously considering tax exile!

So are you saying Joe's age is an excuse to the performances?

[Dave Rado]

Hopkins was not the best lightheavyweight.

He was ranked as the best and was the lineal and Ring champion.