Boxing News Thread
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Khan: I hope Casamayor does me a favor and knocks Bradley out
By William Mackay: IBF/WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan is hoping that former two time world champion Joel Casamayor (38-5-1, 22 KO’s) beats WBO light welterweight champion Timothy Bradley (27-0, 11 KO’s) in their fight on November 12th at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Instead of hoping that Bradley will win in his tune-up fight so that Khan can fight Bradley later on down the road after Bradley gets his huge $5 million+ payday against WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao next year, Khan wants Casamayor to win. Why would Khan want Bradley to be beaten? Shouldn’t he want Bradley to stay unbeaten to that their fight in the future – if Khan ever agrees to fight him – is huge?
“Let’s hope Casamayor does me a favor and knocks Bradley out.”
Gosh, that doesn’t sound very smart. It kind of reminds me of Khan acting happy after Breidis Prescott was recently beaten by Paul McCloskey while fighting in McCloskey’s home town in Belfast, Ireland. There’s no money in a Khan-McCloskey rematch, but there would have been huge money in a Khan-Prescott rematch. Yet Khan was happy about the outcome? Why is that? And now Khan is actively hoping that Bradley gets beaten even though it would be to Khan’s benefit for Bradley to stay unbeaten through this fight and the Pacquiao if Khan wants to make big money against him in the future some time.
Bradley will beat the 40-year-old Casamayor, so Khan can stop wishing and praying for Bradley to lose because it’s not going to happen. Casamayor has lost his last two out of his last four fights and looked terrible in all four of them. He’s too old to beat a guy like Bradley, and Khan needs to recognize that. Bradley is the best fighter in the light welterweight division and will be knocking Khan out in the future unless Khan takes a beating against Lamont Peterson on December 10th.
By William Mackay: IBF/WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan is hoping that former two time world champion Joel Casamayor (38-5-1, 22 KO’s) beats WBO light welterweight champion Timothy Bradley (27-0, 11 KO’s) in their fight on November 12th at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Instead of hoping that Bradley will win in his tune-up fight so that Khan can fight Bradley later on down the road after Bradley gets his huge $5 million+ payday against WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao next year, Khan wants Casamayor to win. Why would Khan want Bradley to be beaten? Shouldn’t he want Bradley to stay unbeaten to that their fight in the future – if Khan ever agrees to fight him – is huge?
“Let’s hope Casamayor does me a favor and knocks Bradley out.”
Gosh, that doesn’t sound very smart. It kind of reminds me of Khan acting happy after Breidis Prescott was recently beaten by Paul McCloskey while fighting in McCloskey’s home town in Belfast, Ireland. There’s no money in a Khan-McCloskey rematch, but there would have been huge money in a Khan-Prescott rematch. Yet Khan was happy about the outcome? Why is that? And now Khan is actively hoping that Bradley gets beaten even though it would be to Khan’s benefit for Bradley to stay unbeaten through this fight and the Pacquiao if Khan wants to make big money against him in the future some time.
Bradley will beat the 40-year-old Casamayor, so Khan can stop wishing and praying for Bradley to lose because it’s not going to happen. Casamayor has lost his last two out of his last four fights and looked terrible in all four of them. He’s too old to beat a guy like Bradley, and Khan needs to recognize that. Bradley is the best fighter in the light welterweight division and will be knocking Khan out in the future unless Khan takes a beating against Lamont Peterson on December 10th.
Bradley: I fight real opponents and they're fighting hand picked opponents
"Erik Morales can be handed the title, but that's a paper champion if you don't fight the man,” said Bradley to his hometown paper, The Desert Sun. “I fight real opponents and they're fighting hand-picked fighters. When I come back, Morales better be ready."
"Erik Morales can be handed the title, but that's a paper champion if you don't fight the man,” said Bradley to his hometown paper, The Desert Sun. “I fight real opponents and they're fighting hand-picked fighters. When I come back, Morales better be ready."
Andre Dirrell: “When no one is blaming Abraham for what he did, or they blame me
Andre Dirrell: “When no one is blaming Abraham for what he did, or they blame me for not getting up
by Geoffrey Ciani (Exclusive Interview by Jenna J & Geoffrey Ciani) - Last week’s 144th edition of On the Ropes Boxing Radio (brought to you by CWH Promotions) featured an exclusive interview with super middleweight contender Andre Dirrell (19-1, 13 KOs) who is eyeing a late November return to the ring. Dirrell has not fought since his victory via disqualification against Arthur Abraham during Group Stage 2 of the Super Six Boxing Classic. Dirrell spoke about his future and also shared his views on a variety of topics including Lucian Bute, Carl Froch, Mayweather’s controversial win against Ortiz, his brother Anthony, and more! Here is a complete transcript of that interview:
JENNA J: Let’s go to our first guest of this week’s show. He’s making his fourth appearance to On the Ropes. We’re joined by super middleweight contender Andre “The Matrix” Dirrell. How’s everything going today, Andre?
ANDRE DIRRELL: I’m pretty good. How are you doing?
JENNA: I’m doing very well and I’m happy to have you back on the show. So the boxing world has been wondering when we’re going to see you back in the ring, I’ve heard some rumors about October or November. What’s it looking like?
DIRRELL: We are looking at November now at this point as pretty much a certainty. It’s late November now. We’ve been in talks with Al Haymon our advisor, and with my coaches as well of course. We’re pretty much looking at the end of November now.
JENNA: Okay now what kind of opponent are you targeting for your comeback since it’s been a year and a half since you’ve faced anyone in the ring?
DIRRELL: Well it is a comeback fight, so we’re looking for a pretty decent tune-up with a guy somewhere in the top twenty. I don’t want to put any names out there at this moment because we’re still fishing for some. But just to get that warm-up out of the way, you know it’s going to be a mediocre opponent somewhere around the top twenty. I’m just looking to come back and come back strong and build that confidence level back up. I’ve been working all throughout my layoff and I’ve just been on top of my game. I want to make sure I’m as sharp as ever when I come back, so it will be a tune-up fight. So there is no one special and no one we’re targeting that’s big right now at the moment.
JENNA: Okay now before there were rumors that in August you were supposed to face Sebastian Demers. What happened to that fight?
DIRRELL: Just trying to find a TV spot, that was all. That’s been the problem this whole time ever since you heard about that October date, trying to find a TV spot and trying to lock it down. But there’s been trouble there. So we’re pretty much narrowing it down to a few networks and we should have one set by fight time.
JENNA: Alright well the big news going around in the super middleweight division is obviously the postponement of the Super Six Final between Andre Ward and Carl “The Cobra” Froch. Many people are wondering if this tournament has gone on too long. You were involved in it previously. What do you think of how the tournament progressed to this point and do you think it’s a format that really doesn’t work so well because it ran so long and because of the injuries?
DIRRELL: Well the layout was great. It was supposed to be in the span of two years, and within two years we would have fought three or four times. Ward would have fought next and then whoever I would have faced in the Final, so it would have been four fights in two years. That was a great time frame, but injuries did occur, some pullouts did occur. But as far as the format and the layout, you know I think everything was picture perfect. It’s just unfortunate that things happen, just like now with Andre Ward with the cut. With this they’re looking to make it even longer. I heard they’re looking to push it to December, which is a mighty long time. But as far as I’m concerned, if everything would have went as planned, then the layout was perfect.
JENNA: Alright do you ever look at that tournament with regret and disappointment that if you had faced Andre Ward that you potentially could be in the Final right now facing Carl Froch?
DIRRELL: Well the only regret I have is fighting Carl Froch in his hometown. That’s it! I’m going to be honest. The only regret I have is fighting Carl Froch in his hometown. You know looking back at Andre Ward, every fight he’s had has been in his hometown. You know, to get put like that being the underdog, that’s pretty good. I just think I had an unfair shot at the title. So that’s the only regret I have is fighting Carl Froch in his hometown. But as far as picking up notoriety, gaining a great fan base, and just putting myself out, all in all everything worked to my advantage. Everything worked great. I loved the press I was getting. Even now to this day, I was at the Floyd Mayweather fight with Victor Ortiz and I got a lot of publicity points out there. So you know, like I said the tournament turned out great but the only regret I have—the only regret—is fighting Carl Froch in his hometown.
JENNA: Alright well Andre, we’re also on the line with my Co-Host Geoff Ciani.
GEOFFREY CIANI: Hey Andre, it’s a great pleasure to have you back on the show.
DIRRELL: It’s a pleasure to be on it.
CIANI: Thanks. Andre I’m wondering, with this long layoff that you’ve had an news that you will be coming back some time in November, what have you missed most about being in the ring?
DIRRELL: Being in the spotlight and being in the four corners! I mean I say it now and I say it every day, man. I just really, really can’t wait to get in there. I’ll be heading to Las Vegas by this weekend to start my training back. The main thing is just getting in there to spar, getting back in the four corners, and getting used to doing what I do best. I really miss it. I’m anxious to see how I look when the performance comes. I’m nervous as well about that, but all in all I just want to look good for the fans. I want to let them know that Andre Dirrell is back. I’m hoping for the best in that category. I know I’ll pull off the victory, but it’s based on how I look. I’m just hoping I look great. It’s been pretty tough man, and I’m really ready to just get in there.
CIANI: Now if you come back and you do look good in your tune-up victory in your comeback fight, what would your forecast be for 2012? What would you be looking to accomplish in 2012 if everything is smooth sailing through this next fight?
DIRRELL: Well when everything does go to plan after this fight, my first target—and I hear he’s even targeting me—but my first target would definitely be Bute. That IBF championship, I’d love to get a shot and fight Bute. If he changes his mind in that category then I’ll probably think of a few words to put in his head to get him to face me. I really want him. I’m chasing that IBF and I want to come back and I want to come back strong for the next year. Then on from there, whoever may fall into place. Me and Mikkel Kessler, we both pulled out of the tournament. We both weren’t out. We had to pull out. So we’re two remaining fighters who had a great, great, great possibility of winning the tournament. So people want to see us face each other. That will be a good matchup. I’m just coming real strong afterwards. So I just want to come real hard by next year.
CIANI: Changing things up quickly, you mentioned you were at the Mayweather-Ortiz fight. I’m just curious, a lot of fans were upset with the kind of controversial ending there, what were your thoughts on the fight, Andre?
DIRRELL: When I was watching the fight I was excited. Floyd was dominating the whole fight. I was mad at Victor Ortiz at the time for what he did. I’m sitting there watching it and watching it happening, and Floyd Mayweather at the prestigious level that he’s at, with the dominance that he has, and the way he puts on performances, you know he’s just all in all as a fighter one of the best. For Victor, an up and comer who’s 24 years old, the world knew he was pretty much going to get schooled. I knew it. I believe hype and hype alone sold the fight, because everybody knew what was going to happen. The hype sold the fight. The hype made everybody believe that Victor was going to win.
Victor got in there with all intentions of winning, but one he did what he did? I’ve never seen a head-butt like that before in my life! I was so disappointed in him. He said it was the heat of the moment. No. You got to learn how to keep your cool. The main thing I was mad at is us as fighters, you have fighters and you have boxers. You have me, I’m a boxer. You have Floyd Mayweather, he’s a boxer. You mean to tell me that if I’m doing everything right, I come, and you know I’m a boxer. I come to box you. I put hands on you, everything is working in my favor, and I’m more susceptible to danger because I’m doing what I’m supposed to do in the ring and you’re not! Well the ref didn’t let him get away with it. He did a good job in what he did, but the fans actually let you get away with this stuff.
This isn’t MMA! This ins’t UFC! This is boxing! The word for this sport is “boxing”, and that’s what Floyd was doing, that’s what I did when I fought Froch, and that’s what I did when I fought Abraham. Because I did it so beautifully I got cheated out of both fights. I was roughed up both fights and the same with Floyd. He did perfect execution and Victor did what he did. It’s just unacceptable! You know it’s all because Floyd was doing what he’s supposed to do. So I’m upset with that! Fighters have to learn to keep their cool, man. It could have turned out way worse than it did. I’m happy Floyd is okay. If you’re going to take a title from a man with that much notoriety with that level of expertise, then that’s really just unsportsmanlike, you have to learn to keep your cool. So I was glad Floyd got his payback the way he did, and I really, really, really do hope Victor learned a big lesson off that.
JENNA: Alright well Andre we just have a couple of more questions before we let you off the line. Before my Co-Host brought up your 2012 goals, you mentioned Lucian Bute. There is also Carl Froch who has a win over you. Between those two, who would you like to into the ring with more?
DIRRELL: Honestly, I would like to get in the ring with Froch more! I honestly believe in the back of my mind that Froch wants to rematch me as well. That’s a fight that’s going to linger in the back of his head, especially if he wins this tournament, man! If Froch wins that tournament that he’s definitely going to want to erase this bad little odor that he has floating over him. Everybody says, “Okay, you won the tournament but you didn’t beat Andre”. Every day I hear it. Ward and me, the fans want to see that more than anything. I want to see it happen as well. I know it’s going to happen, but we’re on good terms. We are both fighters. We are both in the weight class. So I know our day will come. We will fight. There is no doubt about that, but as far as getting back on my feet and as far as showing the world what I got and what I should have had, it will be Froch. That’s my number one priority.
JENNA: Okay now something interesting happened when you’ve been out of the ring, and that is that your brother Anthony Dirrell has shot up the rankings and is now number one in the WBC super middleweight division. What do you think about his rise and everything he’s overcome to get to this point?
DIRRELL: It’s just really a blessing to be in the position that he is in now. Now that I make my return and I push forward to come up in the rankings knowing that both of us will be on the same prestigious level, then there’s nothing better than that. Next they start comparing us to the Klitschkos. I’m telling you. We plan on dominating by next year and from then on with our careers. So it’s really a blessing for Anthony to overcome what he has and done what he’s done. Just me seeing him work, mature, and fight like he’s supposed to is a great feeling. I know he’s my little brother but he seems so much more like a big brother now at this point. He’s a hard worker, he wants it, and I see it. I’m just looking forward to him progressing and we’re going to see where this thing goes next year.
JENNA: Alright Andre, since you’ve been out of the ring you had an injury and you were out all that time. Do you think fans unfairly judged you for what happened in the Abraham fight and your layoff?
DIRRELL: My fans never unfairly judged me! My fans always gave me the support I was supposed to have because those are true fans! I do have people that are doubters that believe that I took a dive just because I didn’t want to fight Ward or basically I just took a dive because I didn’t want to finish with Abraham. Either or, those are not true fans. Those are not fans of the sport. They just want to see brutality. When no one is blaming Abraham for what he did, or they blame me for not getting up—you know that’s a big problem there! So those aren’t true fans. Those are guys who just want to see fighting, blood, guts, and gore. You know I don’t have that for you. I have pure talent, pure skills, and I’m going to carry out the sweet science of the sport with excitement. So all of my fans, they gave me the utmost support on my Twitter account and my Facebook account. I currently have over 1,000 Facebook friend requests. I can’t even keep up with it! But as far as Twitter man, they keep me uplifted every day. Every single day I check it. It’s something uplifting on there. Of course you have your few haters, but Kay Williams said it best, “If you only have 4 hateSo rs you need to be trying a way to figure out how to get to 10 by the time the year is up”. So you know, I appreciate them as well. I’m just really working on coming back and coming back strong no matter what the naysayers say. I want to keep my fans uplifted as well as they keep me uplifted.
JENNA: Okay Andre, well we’re definitely looking forward to seeing you back in there. Is there anything else you want to say to anyone out there?
DIRRELL: Well all in all, just my fans and the whole world of boxing. Just keep my name out there. Everybody out there that’s been looking up to me and working hard to make sure I get back in that ring and do what I’m supposed to do and just keep my spirits lifted. I just want to really pretty much thank everybody, all of my fans!
JENNA: Okay well Andre it was an absolute pleasure having you once again return to On the Ropes, and as I mentioned before we’re looking forward to seeing you back in the ring and seeing what you’re going to do.
DIRRELL: Thanks a million! I really appreciate you guys for having me.
CIANI: Thanks Andre. Best of luck!
DIRRELL: Thanks a lot.
Andre Dirrell: “When no one is blaming Abraham for what he did, or they blame me for not getting up
by Geoffrey Ciani (Exclusive Interview by Jenna J & Geoffrey Ciani) - Last week’s 144th edition of On the Ropes Boxing Radio (brought to you by CWH Promotions) featured an exclusive interview with super middleweight contender Andre Dirrell (19-1, 13 KOs) who is eyeing a late November return to the ring. Dirrell has not fought since his victory via disqualification against Arthur Abraham during Group Stage 2 of the Super Six Boxing Classic. Dirrell spoke about his future and also shared his views on a variety of topics including Lucian Bute, Carl Froch, Mayweather’s controversial win against Ortiz, his brother Anthony, and more! Here is a complete transcript of that interview:
JENNA J: Let’s go to our first guest of this week’s show. He’s making his fourth appearance to On the Ropes. We’re joined by super middleweight contender Andre “The Matrix” Dirrell. How’s everything going today, Andre?
ANDRE DIRRELL: I’m pretty good. How are you doing?
JENNA: I’m doing very well and I’m happy to have you back on the show. So the boxing world has been wondering when we’re going to see you back in the ring, I’ve heard some rumors about October or November. What’s it looking like?
DIRRELL: We are looking at November now at this point as pretty much a certainty. It’s late November now. We’ve been in talks with Al Haymon our advisor, and with my coaches as well of course. We’re pretty much looking at the end of November now.
JENNA: Okay now what kind of opponent are you targeting for your comeback since it’s been a year and a half since you’ve faced anyone in the ring?
DIRRELL: Well it is a comeback fight, so we’re looking for a pretty decent tune-up with a guy somewhere in the top twenty. I don’t want to put any names out there at this moment because we’re still fishing for some. But just to get that warm-up out of the way, you know it’s going to be a mediocre opponent somewhere around the top twenty. I’m just looking to come back and come back strong and build that confidence level back up. I’ve been working all throughout my layoff and I’ve just been on top of my game. I want to make sure I’m as sharp as ever when I come back, so it will be a tune-up fight. So there is no one special and no one we’re targeting that’s big right now at the moment.
JENNA: Okay now before there were rumors that in August you were supposed to face Sebastian Demers. What happened to that fight?
DIRRELL: Just trying to find a TV spot, that was all. That’s been the problem this whole time ever since you heard about that October date, trying to find a TV spot and trying to lock it down. But there’s been trouble there. So we’re pretty much narrowing it down to a few networks and we should have one set by fight time.
JENNA: Alright well the big news going around in the super middleweight division is obviously the postponement of the Super Six Final between Andre Ward and Carl “The Cobra” Froch. Many people are wondering if this tournament has gone on too long. You were involved in it previously. What do you think of how the tournament progressed to this point and do you think it’s a format that really doesn’t work so well because it ran so long and because of the injuries?
DIRRELL: Well the layout was great. It was supposed to be in the span of two years, and within two years we would have fought three or four times. Ward would have fought next and then whoever I would have faced in the Final, so it would have been four fights in two years. That was a great time frame, but injuries did occur, some pullouts did occur. But as far as the format and the layout, you know I think everything was picture perfect. It’s just unfortunate that things happen, just like now with Andre Ward with the cut. With this they’re looking to make it even longer. I heard they’re looking to push it to December, which is a mighty long time. But as far as I’m concerned, if everything would have went as planned, then the layout was perfect.
JENNA: Alright do you ever look at that tournament with regret and disappointment that if you had faced Andre Ward that you potentially could be in the Final right now facing Carl Froch?
DIRRELL: Well the only regret I have is fighting Carl Froch in his hometown. That’s it! I’m going to be honest. The only regret I have is fighting Carl Froch in his hometown. You know looking back at Andre Ward, every fight he’s had has been in his hometown. You know, to get put like that being the underdog, that’s pretty good. I just think I had an unfair shot at the title. So that’s the only regret I have is fighting Carl Froch in his hometown. But as far as picking up notoriety, gaining a great fan base, and just putting myself out, all in all everything worked to my advantage. Everything worked great. I loved the press I was getting. Even now to this day, I was at the Floyd Mayweather fight with Victor Ortiz and I got a lot of publicity points out there. So you know, like I said the tournament turned out great but the only regret I have—the only regret—is fighting Carl Froch in his hometown.
JENNA: Alright well Andre, we’re also on the line with my Co-Host Geoff Ciani.
GEOFFREY CIANI: Hey Andre, it’s a great pleasure to have you back on the show.
DIRRELL: It’s a pleasure to be on it.
CIANI: Thanks. Andre I’m wondering, with this long layoff that you’ve had an news that you will be coming back some time in November, what have you missed most about being in the ring?
DIRRELL: Being in the spotlight and being in the four corners! I mean I say it now and I say it every day, man. I just really, really can’t wait to get in there. I’ll be heading to Las Vegas by this weekend to start my training back. The main thing is just getting in there to spar, getting back in the four corners, and getting used to doing what I do best. I really miss it. I’m anxious to see how I look when the performance comes. I’m nervous as well about that, but all in all I just want to look good for the fans. I want to let them know that Andre Dirrell is back. I’m hoping for the best in that category. I know I’ll pull off the victory, but it’s based on how I look. I’m just hoping I look great. It’s been pretty tough man, and I’m really ready to just get in there.
CIANI: Now if you come back and you do look good in your tune-up victory in your comeback fight, what would your forecast be for 2012? What would you be looking to accomplish in 2012 if everything is smooth sailing through this next fight?
DIRRELL: Well when everything does go to plan after this fight, my first target—and I hear he’s even targeting me—but my first target would definitely be Bute. That IBF championship, I’d love to get a shot and fight Bute. If he changes his mind in that category then I’ll probably think of a few words to put in his head to get him to face me. I really want him. I’m chasing that IBF and I want to come back and I want to come back strong for the next year. Then on from there, whoever may fall into place. Me and Mikkel Kessler, we both pulled out of the tournament. We both weren’t out. We had to pull out. So we’re two remaining fighters who had a great, great, great possibility of winning the tournament. So people want to see us face each other. That will be a good matchup. I’m just coming real strong afterwards. So I just want to come real hard by next year.
CIANI: Changing things up quickly, you mentioned you were at the Mayweather-Ortiz fight. I’m just curious, a lot of fans were upset with the kind of controversial ending there, what were your thoughts on the fight, Andre?
DIRRELL: When I was watching the fight I was excited. Floyd was dominating the whole fight. I was mad at Victor Ortiz at the time for what he did. I’m sitting there watching it and watching it happening, and Floyd Mayweather at the prestigious level that he’s at, with the dominance that he has, and the way he puts on performances, you know he’s just all in all as a fighter one of the best. For Victor, an up and comer who’s 24 years old, the world knew he was pretty much going to get schooled. I knew it. I believe hype and hype alone sold the fight, because everybody knew what was going to happen. The hype sold the fight. The hype made everybody believe that Victor was going to win.
Victor got in there with all intentions of winning, but one he did what he did? I’ve never seen a head-butt like that before in my life! I was so disappointed in him. He said it was the heat of the moment. No. You got to learn how to keep your cool. The main thing I was mad at is us as fighters, you have fighters and you have boxers. You have me, I’m a boxer. You have Floyd Mayweather, he’s a boxer. You mean to tell me that if I’m doing everything right, I come, and you know I’m a boxer. I come to box you. I put hands on you, everything is working in my favor, and I’m more susceptible to danger because I’m doing what I’m supposed to do in the ring and you’re not! Well the ref didn’t let him get away with it. He did a good job in what he did, but the fans actually let you get away with this stuff.
This isn’t MMA! This ins’t UFC! This is boxing! The word for this sport is “boxing”, and that’s what Floyd was doing, that’s what I did when I fought Froch, and that’s what I did when I fought Abraham. Because I did it so beautifully I got cheated out of both fights. I was roughed up both fights and the same with Floyd. He did perfect execution and Victor did what he did. It’s just unacceptable! You know it’s all because Floyd was doing what he’s supposed to do. So I’m upset with that! Fighters have to learn to keep their cool, man. It could have turned out way worse than it did. I’m happy Floyd is okay. If you’re going to take a title from a man with that much notoriety with that level of expertise, then that’s really just unsportsmanlike, you have to learn to keep your cool. So I was glad Floyd got his payback the way he did, and I really, really, really do hope Victor learned a big lesson off that.
JENNA: Alright well Andre we just have a couple of more questions before we let you off the line. Before my Co-Host brought up your 2012 goals, you mentioned Lucian Bute. There is also Carl Froch who has a win over you. Between those two, who would you like to into the ring with more?
DIRRELL: Honestly, I would like to get in the ring with Froch more! I honestly believe in the back of my mind that Froch wants to rematch me as well. That’s a fight that’s going to linger in the back of his head, especially if he wins this tournament, man! If Froch wins that tournament that he’s definitely going to want to erase this bad little odor that he has floating over him. Everybody says, “Okay, you won the tournament but you didn’t beat Andre”. Every day I hear it. Ward and me, the fans want to see that more than anything. I want to see it happen as well. I know it’s going to happen, but we’re on good terms. We are both fighters. We are both in the weight class. So I know our day will come. We will fight. There is no doubt about that, but as far as getting back on my feet and as far as showing the world what I got and what I should have had, it will be Froch. That’s my number one priority.
JENNA: Okay now something interesting happened when you’ve been out of the ring, and that is that your brother Anthony Dirrell has shot up the rankings and is now number one in the WBC super middleweight division. What do you think about his rise and everything he’s overcome to get to this point?
DIRRELL: It’s just really a blessing to be in the position that he is in now. Now that I make my return and I push forward to come up in the rankings knowing that both of us will be on the same prestigious level, then there’s nothing better than that. Next they start comparing us to the Klitschkos. I’m telling you. We plan on dominating by next year and from then on with our careers. So it’s really a blessing for Anthony to overcome what he has and done what he’s done. Just me seeing him work, mature, and fight like he’s supposed to is a great feeling. I know he’s my little brother but he seems so much more like a big brother now at this point. He’s a hard worker, he wants it, and I see it. I’m just looking forward to him progressing and we’re going to see where this thing goes next year.
JENNA: Alright Andre, since you’ve been out of the ring you had an injury and you were out all that time. Do you think fans unfairly judged you for what happened in the Abraham fight and your layoff?
DIRRELL: My fans never unfairly judged me! My fans always gave me the support I was supposed to have because those are true fans! I do have people that are doubters that believe that I took a dive just because I didn’t want to fight Ward or basically I just took a dive because I didn’t want to finish with Abraham. Either or, those are not true fans. Those are not fans of the sport. They just want to see brutality. When no one is blaming Abraham for what he did, or they blame me for not getting up—you know that’s a big problem there! So those aren’t true fans. Those are guys who just want to see fighting, blood, guts, and gore. You know I don’t have that for you. I have pure talent, pure skills, and I’m going to carry out the sweet science of the sport with excitement. So all of my fans, they gave me the utmost support on my Twitter account and my Facebook account. I currently have over 1,000 Facebook friend requests. I can’t even keep up with it! But as far as Twitter man, they keep me uplifted every day. Every single day I check it. It’s something uplifting on there. Of course you have your few haters, but Kay Williams said it best, “If you only have 4 hateSo rs you need to be trying a way to figure out how to get to 10 by the time the year is up”. So you know, I appreciate them as well. I’m just really working on coming back and coming back strong no matter what the naysayers say. I want to keep my fans uplifted as well as they keep me uplifted.
JENNA: Okay Andre, well we’re definitely looking forward to seeing you back in there. Is there anything else you want to say to anyone out there?
DIRRELL: Well all in all, just my fans and the whole world of boxing. Just keep my name out there. Everybody out there that’s been looking up to me and working hard to make sure I get back in that ring and do what I’m supposed to do and just keep my spirits lifted. I just want to really pretty much thank everybody, all of my fans!
JENNA: Okay well Andre it was an absolute pleasure having you once again return to On the Ropes, and as I mentioned before we’re looking forward to seeing you back in the ring and seeing what you’re going to do.
DIRRELL: Thanks a million! I really appreciate you guys for having me.
CIANI: Thanks Andre. Best of luck!
DIRRELL: Thanks a lot.
Amir Khan: Floyd Mayweather Jr Has Agreed To Fight Me
By Terence Dooley
Amir Khan announced that he will fight at 140lbs for the last time when defending his WBA and IBF belts against Lamont Peterson in Washington DC on December 10th. Khan, though, is already eyeballing a fight with Floyd Mayweather up at welterweight. Amir told Sky Sports that Floyd has agreed to the meeting in principle a few fights down the line before blasting Floyd for his conduct in the wake of a fourth round win over Victor Ortiz last month, particularly Floyd's decision to subject HBO's Larry Merchant to a verbal dressing down.
"Talks are already taking place," revealed Khan. "Mayweather has agreed to fight me but we can't look too far ahead. I am moving to 147 and maybe my third fight at the weight (will be against Floyd). I think it is a timing game where a young, hungry fighter comes up and takes him out. I want to clean up boxing. He talks a lot of trash, disrespects fighters, disrespects presenters and I'd never do that, he should be the face of boxing in a good way not a bad way."
Peterson will have other ideas, the challenger is 29-1-1 (15), he will hope to unseat 'King' Khan, 26-1 (18), and move onto bigger things himself but it is likely that Khan will grab the W, head up in weight and seek a money spinning showdown with WBC boss Mayweather.
By Terence Dooley
Amir Khan announced that he will fight at 140lbs for the last time when defending his WBA and IBF belts against Lamont Peterson in Washington DC on December 10th. Khan, though, is already eyeballing a fight with Floyd Mayweather up at welterweight. Amir told Sky Sports that Floyd has agreed to the meeting in principle a few fights down the line before blasting Floyd for his conduct in the wake of a fourth round win over Victor Ortiz last month, particularly Floyd's decision to subject HBO's Larry Merchant to a verbal dressing down.
"Talks are already taking place," revealed Khan. "Mayweather has agreed to fight me but we can't look too far ahead. I am moving to 147 and maybe my third fight at the weight (will be against Floyd). I think it is a timing game where a young, hungry fighter comes up and takes him out. I want to clean up boxing. He talks a lot of trash, disrespects fighters, disrespects presenters and I'd never do that, he should be the face of boxing in a good way not a bad way."
Peterson will have other ideas, the challenger is 29-1-1 (15), he will hope to unseat 'King' Khan, 26-1 (18), and move onto bigger things himself but it is likely that Khan will grab the W, head up in weight and seek a money spinning showdown with WBC boss Mayweather.
he's moving to 147 after peterson in december, so floyd will still be there. The only question is if khan fights someone at 147 first or not.
Floyd loves the UK. He loves the UK money. The UK fans gave him massive respect when he was there. He always said he wants to fight there before he retires. that's one reason I can see floyd actually fighting him. He knows it would be a massive event that could sell out soccer stadiums. Plus Khan is golden boy so it's an easy fight to be made.
And realistically, let's say for sake of argument the pacquiao fight doesn't happen again. Who is there for floyd? Devon Alexander? lol. Andre Berto? There is no one other than Sergio Martinez but he'd have to go up to 154. So imo his options are Khan and Sergio and when you start looking at $$$ Khan would be a much bigger fight financially speaking.
Floyd loves the UK. He loves the UK money. The UK fans gave him massive respect when he was there. He always said he wants to fight there before he retires. that's one reason I can see floyd actually fighting him. He knows it would be a massive event that could sell out soccer stadiums. Plus Khan is golden boy so it's an easy fight to be made.
And realistically, let's say for sake of argument the pacquiao fight doesn't happen again. Who is there for floyd? Devon Alexander? lol. Andre Berto? There is no one other than Sergio Martinez but he'd have to go up to 154. So imo his options are Khan and Sergio and when you start looking at $$$ Khan would be a much bigger fight financially speaking.
Khan: There’s no one who wants to fight me so I’m going to 147
By Scott Gilfoid: IBF/WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan (26-1, 18 KO’s) claims he has to move up to the welterweight division [147 lbs] because none of the top fighters want to fight him. Is that a laugh or what?
“There’s no one out there who wants to fight me,” Khan said to Bolton News. “I put the fight to Erik Morales and he turned it down, I put the fight to [Timothy] Bradley and he turned it down for a second time. The deal we were offering would’ve been the biggest paydays of their careers, so I’m going to move up to 147 lbs because I’m frustrated I can’t get any fights at this weight.”
Does Khan want any cheese with that whine. Good god, man, get a hold of yourself. The light welterweight division is overflowing with guys that want to rip you to pieces, Khan.
That was classic Khan. He can’t get a fight with Morales and Bradley, who figure to make bigger paydays facing other guys, and then Khan totally ignores the guys still in the division like Breidis Prescott and Marcos Maidana. Khan has unfinished business with both of those guys as far as I can tell. Prescott knocked Khan out in the 1st round, and hasn’t heard a peep out of Khan since then. And Maidana had Khan staggering around the ring like a drunk in their fight last December.
Khan likely would have been knocked out in that fight if referee Joe Cortez didn’t repeatedly separate Maidana from Khan when he was trying to finish Khan off in the last three rounds. That was very questionable win because of how many times the referee halted the action when Khan was really getting the worst of it on the ropes. Maidana later said that he felt like he was fighting two guys on that night – Khan and the referee.
Let’s be honest here. There are plenty of fights for Khan at light welterweight if he would just take them instead going after softer targets like Paulie Malignaggi, Paul McCloskey and Lamont Peterson.
for once this guy scott gilfoid is making sense
By Scott Gilfoid: IBF/WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan (26-1, 18 KO’s) claims he has to move up to the welterweight division [147 lbs] because none of the top fighters want to fight him. Is that a laugh or what?
“There’s no one out there who wants to fight me,” Khan said to Bolton News. “I put the fight to Erik Morales and he turned it down, I put the fight to [Timothy] Bradley and he turned it down for a second time. The deal we were offering would’ve been the biggest paydays of their careers, so I’m going to move up to 147 lbs because I’m frustrated I can’t get any fights at this weight.”
Does Khan want any cheese with that whine. Good god, man, get a hold of yourself. The light welterweight division is overflowing with guys that want to rip you to pieces, Khan.
That was classic Khan. He can’t get a fight with Morales and Bradley, who figure to make bigger paydays facing other guys, and then Khan totally ignores the guys still in the division like Breidis Prescott and Marcos Maidana. Khan has unfinished business with both of those guys as far as I can tell. Prescott knocked Khan out in the 1st round, and hasn’t heard a peep out of Khan since then. And Maidana had Khan staggering around the ring like a drunk in their fight last December.
Khan likely would have been knocked out in that fight if referee Joe Cortez didn’t repeatedly separate Maidana from Khan when he was trying to finish Khan off in the last three rounds. That was very questionable win because of how many times the referee halted the action when Khan was really getting the worst of it on the ropes. Maidana later said that he felt like he was fighting two guys on that night – Khan and the referee.
Let’s be honest here. There are plenty of fights for Khan at light welterweight if he would just take them instead going after softer targets like Paulie Malignaggi, Paul McCloskey and Lamont Peterson.
for once this guy scott gilfoid is making sense
^^actually khan is right. Other than a rematch with Maidana who is there at 140? Bradley isn't going to fight him and will be moving to 147. Alexander moved to 147. And he's chasing floyd. Prescott just lost again I dunno why he's even brought up. If you're khan would you fight prescott or mayweather?
khan hasent done shit......fight berto or ortiz @ 147 if u win then floyd.... but i dont think gbp going to put him vs ortiz hi risk! this guy hasent done shit to fight mayweather....they all just trying to get paid win or lose they dont care....who has he beat old judah,maidana who went life and death with old morales, paulie? come on!
Dirrell: I regret fighting Carl Froch in his hometown
By Scott Gilfoid: The marvelous talent Andre Dirrell (19-1, 13 KO’s) says he regrets having agreed to fight WBC super middleweight champion Carl Froch in his hometown of Nottingham, England in the Super Six tournament in 2009. Froch beat Dirrell by a 12 round split decision that is still questioned to this day.
Dirrell said this to eastsideboxing.com’s On the Ropes Boxing Radio Program: “The only regret I have is fighting Carl Froch in his hometown….I just think I had an unfair shot at the title.”
There it is, folks and I completely agree. I thought it was the worst decision I’ve ever seen in my entire life. Believe me, I’ve seen some real stinkers, but this was all time high for me. Dirrell dominated Froch the entire fight and I saw Froch win only one round without holding and hitting, which he did a lot of. I had Dirrell with a commanding lead going into the 12th round, and totally dominated the last round like he had in 11 of the 12 previous rounds. It was one of the more controversial decisions you’ll ever see, because Froch couldn’t touch the lightning fast Dirrell with any of his punches.
It was an incredible performance from Dirrell in that fight, because it was like he was blend of Floyd Mayweather Jr., Sugar Ray Robinson and a young Roy Jones Jr. in his domination of Froch. We were seeing a true super star in the making in that fight, and the judges giving the fight to Froch instead of Dirrell really ruined Dirrell’s night to shine in front of the world like a gem.
I wish Dirrell had opened his trap and said ‘No’ when they scheduled him to fight Froch in Nottingham. If Dirrell had bellyached like Froch, when he refused to fight Arthur Abraham in Germany, Dirrell would have likely been given his way and he’d still likely be unbeaten today.
By Scott Gilfoid: The marvelous talent Andre Dirrell (19-1, 13 KO’s) says he regrets having agreed to fight WBC super middleweight champion Carl Froch in his hometown of Nottingham, England in the Super Six tournament in 2009. Froch beat Dirrell by a 12 round split decision that is still questioned to this day.
Dirrell said this to eastsideboxing.com’s On the Ropes Boxing Radio Program: “The only regret I have is fighting Carl Froch in his hometown….I just think I had an unfair shot at the title.”
There it is, folks and I completely agree. I thought it was the worst decision I’ve ever seen in my entire life. Believe me, I’ve seen some real stinkers, but this was all time high for me. Dirrell dominated Froch the entire fight and I saw Froch win only one round without holding and hitting, which he did a lot of. I had Dirrell with a commanding lead going into the 12th round, and totally dominated the last round like he had in 11 of the 12 previous rounds. It was one of the more controversial decisions you’ll ever see, because Froch couldn’t touch the lightning fast Dirrell with any of his punches.
It was an incredible performance from Dirrell in that fight, because it was like he was blend of Floyd Mayweather Jr., Sugar Ray Robinson and a young Roy Jones Jr. in his domination of Froch. We were seeing a true super star in the making in that fight, and the judges giving the fight to Froch instead of Dirrell really ruined Dirrell’s night to shine in front of the world like a gem.
I wish Dirrell had opened his trap and said ‘No’ when they scheduled him to fight Froch in Nottingham. If Dirrell had bellyached like Froch, when he refused to fight Arthur Abraham in Germany, Dirrell would have likely been given his way and he’d still likely be unbeaten today.
BERNARD HOPKINS WORKOUT QUOTABLES
PRESS RELEASE: “I chose to continue to fight and defend what I worked so hard to get.So why not get all of the benefits of what I’ve been doing for 20-something years and then walk away when it’s time? I think that it’ll come down to who is the better fighter. The better fighter, the better person, the better strategist and who wants it the most.
“It really would be gratifying to me and happy for me to sit back in my 60’s and hear commentators say, “This guy is four fights away from beating Bernard Hopkins’ record.
“In today’s world where, unfortunately, most athletes, either don’t stay as focused long enough after they get a taste of what we call success in life, or just run into the wrong match, the wrong person. So I’m going to have fun in the second half of my life.
“Well, Chad Dawson said something that made sense. He’s going to be throwing a lot of punches, but I’m going to be connecting a lot of punches.He’s going to throw all the punches he wants, but I’m going to be connecting more than he is throwing.
“I’m coming in there with an aggressive game, but a smart game. If people think that the last two fights of my career were the old Bernard Hopkins from the Blue Horizon to Atlantic City days in the early 90’s, then I’m saying that they should watch this fight.
“The bottom line is they are going to see a better, a more aggressive, smart fighter in me when I beat Chad Dawson.
“When you look at my résumé compared with his [Dawson’s] résumé, you must say, or must agree, that my résumé is a Ferrari and his is a Mercedes.
“Keep an eye on [Danny] Garcia. He’s got a fight coming up [on October 15] that’ll prove he belongs in the pound for pound contender’s bracket.
“At the end of the day, what Dewey did is beyond anything that I’ve done in the ring; it is beyond anything I accomplished outside of the ring in my personal [life].
“I want my gray to be in the ring. I want Chad Dawson to see I have gray hair. I want to look like his father—well, I could be his father. I’m not, but I could be!That age difference is appropriate for me to look like I’m gray and I have gray, because realistically, if you do the math, he could be my son.
“There are a lot of people that are 46 and younger that feel lousy today that never took a punch. Well, change your lifestyle. Change what you do. I did it years ago, so I’m ahead of the game. I’m not feeling like I’m 26 every day.I always say if I have to put a number on myself, the way I feel today, I feel like I am 36. So if I’m 36 to 46, that means I’m 10 years ahead of the game.”
Danny Garcia, Top Undefeated Junior Welterweight Contender
“I feel blessed, just for being recognized that I have the talent.[For Hopkins to] recognize my hard work and dedication. I’m just blessed now, and it’s motivating me more to shine on October 15.
“I never rely on my power because that can’t win you a fight. I rely on my skills. I think I use my brain, and I break my opponent down and land the big shots. So my power is just my last resort.
“I know I got more mature since I turned pro.I’m a lot smarter and it’s a chess game in there. So now when I feel like a guy’s kind of outsmarting me a little bit, I stay relaxed and I just try to figure it out.
“It was definitely a growing process. I learned how to be a smart fighter and not go in over anxious and just set the pace.
“I just feel strong, and we had a great camp. I’m just anxious to show the world what I can do. I’m ready. I wish it was tomorrow.
“I watched Kendall Holt’s last fight and I said to my dad, ‘I am going to fight the winner of this fight.’So I feel like I predicted my future a little bit.
“Holt isn’t going to touch me like he did to his last opponent.You can’t hit what you can’t see.
“I feel like I took my time. I have had 21 fights; I never rushed and was like, ‘Yeah, go ahead and put me on HBO,’ or begged for it. It came to me when they thought I was ready. I know I am ready, so we took the opportunity and we trained hard.”
Dewey Bozella, Top Undefeated Junior Welterweight Contender
“When I was young, I was bitter because I never thought I’d get out of there [prison].I thought I’d die in there.
“I came to Bernard Hopkins’ camp and I was approved to fight.Thank God for that. I worked hard and it paid off.
“I’m not going out to lie down; I’m going out to fight. I’m not going to let this guy come and whip my butt.
“[On being able to have his first professional fight] it’s just like getting out of prison. It is a new experience.
“I always thought I had a chance to get out.People said, ‘Ah, it’ll never happen, it’ll never happen,’ but it did happen.
“I want to get this [fight] over with and then I want to open my own gym.
“My goal is to help young kids as well as adults to help turn their lives around and keep out of trouble.
“[My gym is going to be for] whoever comes in, but it’s going to be for the kids.
“I am a professional fighter. I’m here.
“[On earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in prison] I always said, ‘How can I give something back to society if I have nothing to offer?
“I knew I was getting out of prison.Either I was going to die in there and go out in a box, or I was going to walk out of there.”
Naazim Richardson, Hopkins’ Trainer
“You can’t underestimate Dawson in any way, shape or form.
“Pascal and Pavlik were supposed to be the guys running the sport. I said if you can beat these kids, you can beat anybody.
“I love boxing. I love the sport. And this guy [Hopkins] is boxing.”
PRESS RELEASE: “I chose to continue to fight and defend what I worked so hard to get.So why not get all of the benefits of what I’ve been doing for 20-something years and then walk away when it’s time? I think that it’ll come down to who is the better fighter. The better fighter, the better person, the better strategist and who wants it the most.
“It really would be gratifying to me and happy for me to sit back in my 60’s and hear commentators say, “This guy is four fights away from beating Bernard Hopkins’ record.
“In today’s world where, unfortunately, most athletes, either don’t stay as focused long enough after they get a taste of what we call success in life, or just run into the wrong match, the wrong person. So I’m going to have fun in the second half of my life.
“Well, Chad Dawson said something that made sense. He’s going to be throwing a lot of punches, but I’m going to be connecting a lot of punches.He’s going to throw all the punches he wants, but I’m going to be connecting more than he is throwing.
“I’m coming in there with an aggressive game, but a smart game. If people think that the last two fights of my career were the old Bernard Hopkins from the Blue Horizon to Atlantic City days in the early 90’s, then I’m saying that they should watch this fight.
“The bottom line is they are going to see a better, a more aggressive, smart fighter in me when I beat Chad Dawson.
“When you look at my résumé compared with his [Dawson’s] résumé, you must say, or must agree, that my résumé is a Ferrari and his is a Mercedes.
“Keep an eye on [Danny] Garcia. He’s got a fight coming up [on October 15] that’ll prove he belongs in the pound for pound contender’s bracket.
“At the end of the day, what Dewey did is beyond anything that I’ve done in the ring; it is beyond anything I accomplished outside of the ring in my personal [life].
“I want my gray to be in the ring. I want Chad Dawson to see I have gray hair. I want to look like his father—well, I could be his father. I’m not, but I could be!That age difference is appropriate for me to look like I’m gray and I have gray, because realistically, if you do the math, he could be my son.
“There are a lot of people that are 46 and younger that feel lousy today that never took a punch. Well, change your lifestyle. Change what you do. I did it years ago, so I’m ahead of the game. I’m not feeling like I’m 26 every day.I always say if I have to put a number on myself, the way I feel today, I feel like I am 36. So if I’m 36 to 46, that means I’m 10 years ahead of the game.”
Danny Garcia, Top Undefeated Junior Welterweight Contender
“I feel blessed, just for being recognized that I have the talent.[For Hopkins to] recognize my hard work and dedication. I’m just blessed now, and it’s motivating me more to shine on October 15.
“I never rely on my power because that can’t win you a fight. I rely on my skills. I think I use my brain, and I break my opponent down and land the big shots. So my power is just my last resort.
“I know I got more mature since I turned pro.I’m a lot smarter and it’s a chess game in there. So now when I feel like a guy’s kind of outsmarting me a little bit, I stay relaxed and I just try to figure it out.
“It was definitely a growing process. I learned how to be a smart fighter and not go in over anxious and just set the pace.
“I just feel strong, and we had a great camp. I’m just anxious to show the world what I can do. I’m ready. I wish it was tomorrow.
“I watched Kendall Holt’s last fight and I said to my dad, ‘I am going to fight the winner of this fight.’So I feel like I predicted my future a little bit.
“Holt isn’t going to touch me like he did to his last opponent.You can’t hit what you can’t see.
“I feel like I took my time. I have had 21 fights; I never rushed and was like, ‘Yeah, go ahead and put me on HBO,’ or begged for it. It came to me when they thought I was ready. I know I am ready, so we took the opportunity and we trained hard.”
Dewey Bozella, Top Undefeated Junior Welterweight Contender
“When I was young, I was bitter because I never thought I’d get out of there [prison].I thought I’d die in there.
“I came to Bernard Hopkins’ camp and I was approved to fight.Thank God for that. I worked hard and it paid off.
“I’m not going out to lie down; I’m going out to fight. I’m not going to let this guy come and whip my butt.
“[On being able to have his first professional fight] it’s just like getting out of prison. It is a new experience.
“I always thought I had a chance to get out.People said, ‘Ah, it’ll never happen, it’ll never happen,’ but it did happen.
“I want to get this [fight] over with and then I want to open my own gym.
“My goal is to help young kids as well as adults to help turn their lives around and keep out of trouble.
“[My gym is going to be for] whoever comes in, but it’s going to be for the kids.
“I am a professional fighter. I’m here.
“[On earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in prison] I always said, ‘How can I give something back to society if I have nothing to offer?
“I knew I was getting out of prison.Either I was going to die in there and go out in a box, or I was going to walk out of there.”
Naazim Richardson, Hopkins’ Trainer
“You can’t underestimate Dawson in any way, shape or form.
“Pascal and Pavlik were supposed to be the guys running the sport. I said if you can beat these kids, you can beat anybody.
“I love boxing. I love the sport. And this guy [Hopkins] is boxing.”
HOPKINS-DAWSON
By Erik Schaffer
On Saturday night October 15th Bernard Hopkins will defend his WBC light heavyweight title against Chad Dawson. The fight will take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Chad Dawson has opened as a -140 favorite to win this fight. But Didn't Hopkins pretty much beat Pascal twice by decision and Pascal beat Dawson by decision? So how can Dawson be -140 to beat Hopkins? A few common answers are that when the best fight the best anything can happen. And many would say the very popular styles make fights. Sounds simple, but very true.
So lets take a look at this fight from a handicappers perspective. First lets look at the Dawson / Pascal fight that took place back in August of 2010 in Pascals home land of Canada. Both fighters seemed to be on top of their game coming into that fight. Dawson was around a 4-1 favorite to win that night. Just think if the fight was in America. Maybe Dawson would have been almost a 6-1 favorite. I thought Pascal surprised a mentally off Dawson that night. I thought the fight would be close and did take Dawson by decision, but that was a different Dawson I was used to seeing. It seemed to me that Dawson was out smarted in that fight and not really beaten physically. Dawson is used to his opponents coming forward and taking punishment from him. But Pascal was all over the place using his speed and quickness. He out smarted Dawson who was beaten, but his mind was clearly somewhere else. Dawson did come on late in that fight before it was stopped from a clash of heads.
I think Dawson would of won the last round, but still would of lost a close fight. Wrong place and wrong time for Dawson that night. Personal problems with his wife,coupled in with that crowd and the speed of Pascal was just to much for Chad that night. The crowd on the 15th at Staples Center will be for Hopkins, but it wont be anything like that night in Canada. And Dawson will not be seeing the same type of speed and movement that he saw from Pascal. Yes styles do make fights. Hopkins was able to slow down Pascal with body shots in their two fights. Pascal is also known for a slight stamina problem that Hopkins took advantage of. I don't see Hopkins being able to take advantage of those things against a focused Dawson. Are we supposed to forget that Dawson was known as one of the best fighters in the world and a big favorite going into the Pascal fight? I don't think Vegas has forgotten how good Dawson can look on American soil. Why else would he open at -140 to beat Hopkins when Hopkins just beat a fighter who beat Dawson? Yes styles make fights. Yes situations make fights. Yes personal problems make fights. And yes I like a focused Dawson to beat Hopkins this Saturday in the right situation. I love taking public dogs when their the Vegas favorite. And that's what we have here. Because here we have a fighter who has more in ring talent then Hopkins. That's right I said it. More talent then Hopkins.
I always thought Dawson would be able to beat Hopkins and one loss in Canada on a mentally off night with personal issues going on will not take me off the Dawson band wagon. Dawson is faster, has a higher work rate and has underrated defensive skills. Dawson has said he will be throwing way more punches then Hopkins in this fight. Look for Hopkins to fight on the 15th the way he did against a fat Winky Wright. Hopkins will try to move around the ring to stop the work rate from Dawson. Hopkins will fight in spurts and try to confuse Dawson. But when Chad is focused that's a very tough task. And that's the only way I see Hopkins winning because Dawson will be to much for him. Yes Dawson will have to fight well going forward in this fight, which is something he's not used to. But I think he will be up for it. I think on the 15th we see a focused Chad Dawson and that means a bad night for anyone at 175 pounds. I do recommend waiting until fight night to bet on Dawson because I expect this line to hit even money. We might even get Dawson as a slight dog. It should go the distance, but the juice on the over is so high. Play Dawson by decision if you want to, but my play will be Dawson to just win because the odds should be about the same either way.
So there you have it. This fight is about styles and situations. And on the 15th Dawson will have the perfect style and be in the perfect situation to beat Hopkins.
By Erik Schaffer
On Saturday night October 15th Bernard Hopkins will defend his WBC light heavyweight title against Chad Dawson. The fight will take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Chad Dawson has opened as a -140 favorite to win this fight. But Didn't Hopkins pretty much beat Pascal twice by decision and Pascal beat Dawson by decision? So how can Dawson be -140 to beat Hopkins? A few common answers are that when the best fight the best anything can happen. And many would say the very popular styles make fights. Sounds simple, but very true.
So lets take a look at this fight from a handicappers perspective. First lets look at the Dawson / Pascal fight that took place back in August of 2010 in Pascals home land of Canada. Both fighters seemed to be on top of their game coming into that fight. Dawson was around a 4-1 favorite to win that night. Just think if the fight was in America. Maybe Dawson would have been almost a 6-1 favorite. I thought Pascal surprised a mentally off Dawson that night. I thought the fight would be close and did take Dawson by decision, but that was a different Dawson I was used to seeing. It seemed to me that Dawson was out smarted in that fight and not really beaten physically. Dawson is used to his opponents coming forward and taking punishment from him. But Pascal was all over the place using his speed and quickness. He out smarted Dawson who was beaten, but his mind was clearly somewhere else. Dawson did come on late in that fight before it was stopped from a clash of heads.
I think Dawson would of won the last round, but still would of lost a close fight. Wrong place and wrong time for Dawson that night. Personal problems with his wife,coupled in with that crowd and the speed of Pascal was just to much for Chad that night. The crowd on the 15th at Staples Center will be for Hopkins, but it wont be anything like that night in Canada. And Dawson will not be seeing the same type of speed and movement that he saw from Pascal. Yes styles do make fights. Hopkins was able to slow down Pascal with body shots in their two fights. Pascal is also known for a slight stamina problem that Hopkins took advantage of. I don't see Hopkins being able to take advantage of those things against a focused Dawson. Are we supposed to forget that Dawson was known as one of the best fighters in the world and a big favorite going into the Pascal fight? I don't think Vegas has forgotten how good Dawson can look on American soil. Why else would he open at -140 to beat Hopkins when Hopkins just beat a fighter who beat Dawson? Yes styles make fights. Yes situations make fights. Yes personal problems make fights. And yes I like a focused Dawson to beat Hopkins this Saturday in the right situation. I love taking public dogs when their the Vegas favorite. And that's what we have here. Because here we have a fighter who has more in ring talent then Hopkins. That's right I said it. More talent then Hopkins.
I always thought Dawson would be able to beat Hopkins and one loss in Canada on a mentally off night with personal issues going on will not take me off the Dawson band wagon. Dawson is faster, has a higher work rate and has underrated defensive skills. Dawson has said he will be throwing way more punches then Hopkins in this fight. Look for Hopkins to fight on the 15th the way he did against a fat Winky Wright. Hopkins will try to move around the ring to stop the work rate from Dawson. Hopkins will fight in spurts and try to confuse Dawson. But when Chad is focused that's a very tough task. And that's the only way I see Hopkins winning because Dawson will be to much for him. Yes Dawson will have to fight well going forward in this fight, which is something he's not used to. But I think he will be up for it. I think on the 15th we see a focused Chad Dawson and that means a bad night for anyone at 175 pounds. I do recommend waiting until fight night to bet on Dawson because I expect this line to hit even money. We might even get Dawson as a slight dog. It should go the distance, but the juice on the over is so high. Play Dawson by decision if you want to, but my play will be Dawson to just win because the odds should be about the same either way.
So there you have it. This fight is about styles and situations. And on the 15th Dawson will have the perfect style and be in the perfect situation to beat Hopkins.