Comments Thread For: Miranda's Trainer Confirms Dawson Drilled in Sparring

[EDD1]

This information unfairly detracts from Andre's win if people are implying that he was not at his best on fight night....

[subtle]

Quitter got floored by a jab. Don't care if he was drained, he's a quitter.

[reeny]

Boring Fight

He might as well had quit he wasn't doing nothing, I lost all respect for Dawson watching what turned out to be the most boring fight of the year for me. Maybe I am spoiled because I know boxing and wasn't even impressed with Ward well he didn't have much to work with. To Chad find another job Boxing ain't for you no more Mister Paper Chin:****block:****block

[yeks]

dawson just choose the paycheck and maybe underestimated ward on doing so.

i saw him being drilled by legit LHW and didn't go down.

[BattlingNelson]

This isn't true at all.

What's untrue???

[Light_Speed]

dawson just choose the paycheck and maybe underestimated ward on doing so.

i saw him being drilled by legit LHW and didn't go down.

The only reason he didn't go down against Pascal was because he grabbed Pascal's legs and was about to tackle him like he did to Hopkins.

[Tmann400]

Even as a Ward fan, if I thought Dawson was affected by the weight, I would call it. But, I truly believe he wasn't affected much, if at all. And, here's why

Dawson performed in the same exact lackadaisical manner that he did against Ward. Coincidentally Dawson has lost both times, against young, fast handed, prime fighters. The reason he lost so much more lopsidedly to Ward is because of the obvious reason, that Ward is a much better overall fighter then Pascal. He's better technically, has a bigger punch variety/arsenal, better defensively, and last but certainly not least, is much more active and much more consistent overall round by round then Pascal, who fights in spurts. So, weight obviously wasn't an issue against Pascal given the fact it took place at 175. That's reason no. 1.

No.2, Dawson, his conditioning coach and Scully all claimed the weight was a non issue. Dawson's conditioning coach (Who he's been with for a long time mind you) stated that "Making 175 is easy for them, so making 168 is the LAST thing that should worried about, or be a problem" Scully stated "People are putting too much emphasis on the weight, when it's not an issue like they're making it out to be" Dawson in interviews when asked about it, actually seemed to be irritated, and would sternly state that the weight was a non issue. Also, Dawson stated that to make 175 he doesn't even diet or really have to watch what he eats, so this was really the first time he dieted to make weight. Not to mention, here's an interview that took place over a month before the fight, where Dawson claims he's already down to 178.

Could all of them be lying? Who knows. But, when piecing all the scenarios together, I don't think so. Not to mention, at the weigh in, Dawson hit the weight right on the money, and he looked fine in doing so. He didn't look drained, he didn't look gaunt, he looked confident and relaxed, and on fight night he re-hydrated to the weight he normally re-hydrates to, 185. He looked like he healthily made the weight. Just go look at the weigh in for his fight with Ward and his fights with Hopkins and Pascal, and see for yourself. He looks a bit smaller, but he looks just as healthy. If ANYTHING, IMO, he looked more cut and lean making 168, which would make sense given how he doesn't even diet to make 175 as he claims.

So, I'm sorry, it doesn't make sense to me how you can make a weight EASILY without dieting or really watching what you eat, but dropping a few more pounds WITH proper dieting, with a conditioning coach, and with a 8-10 week training camp drains you? Sorry, I'm not buyin' it.

Either way, I've always respected Dawson and hiss talent and skill set, I've never been a fan necessarily, but I've enjoyed watching him fight and have supported him in the past. But, IMO, the true fact of the matter and the reason he got beaten so badly is for the simple fact that Ward is just the superior fighter. And, once Ward established his jab, and was able to get over Dawson's right hand with his jab and left hook, and was getting through with the right hand to the body, you LITERALLY saw Dawson quickly start to become introverted and went into a defensive survival mode. He didn't "Lose energy all of the sudden" He went into a shell once Ward started hitting him with clean punches, and was getting in close on him.

Dawson actually looked very sharp early on, and was going for the right hook in the 2nd round, but as you saw Ward was smothering it, and THAT'S when Ward completely neutralized not only Dawson's right jab, but his ENTIRE right hand altogether, and Ward had COMPLETELY neutralized Dawson's jab, just refer to the punch stats.

Once Dawson realized how hard it was to get off his punches on the very illusive Ward, but was also being hit cleanly in return, something broke inside of him, and an elite fighter with an amazing ring IQ and ring awareness like Ward picked up on it right away, and he stepped up the gears, and that's when Dawson got in very big trouble. I think THAT'S when Dawson ACCEPTED that he was outclassed, and outmatched. Dawson said it himself, that Ward was way faster, and way stronger then he anticipated.

So, my closing thoughts on this post and overall subject: Dawson is STILL a tremendous fighter, he just happened to run into one helluva special boxer, in Andre Ward. Chad accepted defeat with no excuses, and admitted that not only was Ward a great fighter, but was way better then he previously had stated and thought, maybe people should follow suit. I'd love to see Chad avenge his loss to Pascal (Which I think he could very well do) or face Cloud. Respect, Chad. You're a tremendous talent and fighter at your physical peak, and you have a lot more to give to boxing, good luck.

For Andre Ward, as cliche as it sounds, the sky is the limit. A fighter with pure boxing skills, but can fight a multiplicity of ways effectively, has a boxing IQ and ring awareness on par with Floyd Mayweather, and his defense and ability to mold and adapt to whatever style he's facing I would say is on par as well. Also, he's showing us the only thing that has been lacking in all of his superb performances, the grandstand finish. Ward has shown us that, yes, he CAN hurt, and sure as hell knows how to and can put combinations together to finish off a world class, elite level fighter fighter.

[sicko]

But he couldn't "DRILL" Bellew so who ***in cares! Sparring is Sparring it don't mean anything, you try out new stuff in sparring you take more chances in sparring

I would still take Dawson over Miranda in a REAL MATCH...EASY!

[Juanma9]

This information unfairly detracts from Andre's win if people are implying that he was not at his best on fight night....

Are you implying that Dawson was at his best on fight night?

[Pantera2000]

What I don't get about Boxing Scene is this topic was posted before the fight. It was a great topic that members were discussing. Out of nowhere they took the thread down for no reason. I emailed the admin and about it and he never replied.

This same topic was posted at ESB the week before the fight and has become one of the most popular threads. Makes me wonder what the Admin was thinking and what else they take down here. ****ed up if you ask me. Make me second guess where I should post my thoughts....