Comments Thread For: Bernard Hopkins-Chad Dawson: Pre-Fight Report Card

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

By Cliff Rold - A decade ago, 60-40 wouldn’t cut it for Roy Jones. A Showtime promise of three fights, to have included Harry Simon and Joe Calzaghe, wasn’t enough to override the desire to ride out a contract with Don King and shoot for top dollars with De La Hoya.

Following his win over Felix Trinidad in 2001, Bernard Hopkins was tough to pin down and many wondered aloud if he was the lottery winner who lost the ticket. What fools Hopkins made of the world. Questions of his competition between Trinidad and De La Hoya all those years ago are good for a chuckle now.

It turns out Hopkins was just saving himself for later.

How to explain a man who goes on his most consistent run of top threats from the age of 40 forward? It’s remarkable. An undefeated Jermain Taylor (twice) ended his historic Middleweight title run in 2005. The judges said he lost his title and took it from him. Matters in the ring said otherwise. [Click Here To Read More]

[UglyPug]

Good overall article, and synopsis of their careers and the upcoming fight.. . . Got a few bones to pick with you as usual Roaldie, but you usually do well in your retort by clarifying and supporting. . . First I will address the grades and the pick, and second I will address Hopkins career; as brilliant as it is, upon strict scrutiny, it has some question marks.

A few minor issues with the grades: I don't think Dawson deserves an "A" for speed; in fact, I think he is more along the B area, on par with Hopkins. I would say Pascal is an "A" for speed and he made Dawson look slloooooowww. . . Like plodding, statute slow. I honestly believe Hopkins possesses the same speed, or his timing will make it at least appear they have the same speed. . . Also, HOW IS HOPKINS NOT AN A+ for intangibles? That's his saving grace! His ability to adjust, "read and react", and just downright "win at all costs." Other than that - Grades look good. The pick I can't argue with - I think Hopkins will pick him apart with lead right hands, and wipe his nose with a hybrid jab/left hook FTW. . . But your prediction isn't out of the question . . . I do think it will be boring, though.

You failed to mention how Hopkins MW reign was on par to the current Klitschko's reign in terms of competition. I mean, he fought the SAME GUYS SEVEN TIMES! Robert Allen THRICE (WHO?), Antwun Echols Twice (who the deuce?), and finally, what really stands out, is his draw with Segundo Mercado, although he did stop him in the rematch. . . But still, Segundo finished his career at 19-10-3?!

You are spot on in that the latter half of his career is what REALLY DEFINES HIM. . . But how much credit can you give him for beating Winky Wright @ 170?! And Oscar and Trinidad well above their natural weights? Pavlik jumped up a whopping ten pounds for the first time in his career. . . He's really not even .500 when he fights world class guys at their natural weights. . . Calzaghe's first fight at LHW he lost, TWICE to JT, and to Roy Jones (when it mattered).

[crold1]

Good overall article, and synopsis of their careers and the upcoming fight.. . . Got a few bones to pick with you as usual Roaldie, but you usually do well in your retort by clarifying and supporting. . . First I will address the grades and the pick, and second I will address Hopkins career; as brilliant as it is, upon strict scrutiny, it has some question marks.

A few minor issues with the grades: I don't think Dawson deserves an "A" for speed; in fact, I think he is more along the B area, on par with Hopkins. I would say Pascal is an "A" for speed and he made Dawson look slloooooowww. . . Like plodding, statute slow. I honestly believe Hopkins possesses the same speed, or his timing will make it at least appear they have the same speed. . . Also, HOW IS HOPKINS NOT AN A+ for intangibles? That's his saving grace! His ability to adjust, "read and react", and just downright "win at all costs." Other than that - Grades look good. The pick I can't argue with - I think Hopkins will pick him apart with lead right hands, and wipe his nose with a hybrid jab/left hook FTW. . . But your prediction isn't out of the question . . . I do think it will be boring, though.

You failed to mention how Hopkins MW reign was on par to the current Klitschko's reign in terms of competition. I mean, he fought the SAME GUYS SEVEN TIMES! Robert Allen THRICE (WHO?), Antwun Echols Twice (who the deuce?), and finally, what really stands out, is his draw with Segundo Mercado, although he did stop him in the rematch. . . But still, Segundo finished his career at 19-10-3?!

You are spot on in that the latter half of his career is what REALLY DEFINES HIM. . . But how much credit can you give him for beating Winky Wright @ 170?! And Oscar and Trinidad well above their natural weights? Pavlik jumped up a whopping ten pounds for the first time in his career. . . He's really not even .500 when he fights world class guys at their natural weights. . . Calzaghe's first fight at LHW he lost, TWICE to JT, and to Roy Jones (when it mattered).

Hey Pug, Cheers...here's my take:

Dawson is an A; Pascal is just faster. Pascal has some of the fastest hands in the sport. That he lacks in other areas is for sure, but his burst speed is silly good IMO. Hopkins is not as fast as Dawson. His timing is better but I don't think Chad gives as much to time as Pascal. We'll see. Hopkins probably should have been an A+ for intangibles but some of his theatrics take away for me (i.e. the Calzaghe low blows; the Jones rematch flops).

There was no need to mention anyone else in terms of his reign. It had its weaknesses, but Echols was a tough out when Hopkins fought him. The draw with Mercado was a fulcrum point. He went on the road, to ridiculous altitude, and earned a draw off the floor (legit) twice. He utterly ruined Mercado in the rematch. Mercado could never take a shot after that. Not a great fighter, but decent enough at the time. Trinidad was clearly a Middleweight by the time he got to Hopkins and a beast at the time. He walked through Joppy in a way no ever did, before or since (including X who tried and failed to stop Joppy in spite of swelling his head). Joppy was no HOFer but he was a competent pro. There is nothing like a Tito on the record of either of the Heavyweight bros.

I give Hopkins credit for Wright because he won on technique more than size. He forced Winky out of his comfort zone and took his jab away. Hard work. Pavlik was a big Middle and easily could have been at 168. Hopkins won every round on skill as an underdog. On Taylor, thought he earned the win and the draw and found the decisions laughable.

Just my take. Hope we get a good fight.