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Honestly, I think Ward's footwork and outside boxing ability is overrated to a certain extent. At least in the sense that he is being compared to Bernard Hopkins.
I don't believe he'll have as much success as BHOP on the outside, trying to box Dawson. There is nothing Ward brings to the table that Dawson hasn't seen.
BHop was an immense learning experience. Additionally, I don't think Ward is as slick as Hopkins.
What Ward does have is, youth and stamina.
But I have questions on whether or not he is strong enough to manhandle Dawson on the inside for a long enough duration to win a decision.
The fact that Dawson is a southpaw amplifies the difficult that Ward will have if he attempts to keep the fight in the center of the ring. And already uncomfortable distance established by the southpaw stance will be accompanied by exceptional atheleticsm.
If the fight was at 175, I would pick Dawson. At 168, I'm unsure, but I'm going to go against the grain and pick Dawson to win a decision.
This is one of those match-ups that looks good on paper but I have a feeling it won't be a very entertaining fight. Ward by UD with his superior counter-punching.
I think this is going to end up being a great fight, and very exciting.
I think Dawson has the skills, reach, height, and athleticism, as well as the experience to take Ward to a place he's never been before.
People don't realize how special his Hopkins win was. Hopkins' has few flaws, but his most significant one is his stamina, which has declined a bit with his age. He can no longer punch enough to hang with a guy like Dawson who holds the height, reach, and strength advantages over him.
Ward is a younger man than Hopkins, and while he is very ring savy, he has not mastered the art of boxing to the extent Hopkins has, who is often like a magician with his subtle faints and striking accuracy, as well as being one of the most elusive fighters in the history of the sport.
That level of mastery takes years of experience that Ward does not yet have. Ward will find out early on how strong and determined Chad is, and he'll have to box more than he wants to. Ward has fought a number of high level fighters that will defenitely give him confidence, but so far, nobody has had the ability to test his heart.
And while Ward's opposition were top opponents, none of them offered a learning experience like Hopkins.
So this is a real fight. If Ward wins this fight, and especially if he wins this fight decisively he deserves a lot of credit, and is starting to look like he may be a legendary type of fighter, but we'll see.
This is one of those match-ups that looks good on paper but I have a feeling it won't be a very entertaining fight. Ward by UD with his superior counter-punching.
Ward wins by TKO in the tenth. Solid performance by Ward. I think Dawson may have drained himself making that weight. His legs were shot and he seemed winded early on. I think this fight also helped to finally expose him as an overrated fighter. Not bad, but nothing special.
Yes, I do think Dawson has been given too much credit. The Lt. Heavy division doesn't have much to cheer about, so they need to build up whoever is at the top of the heap.
As for Ward, he is good. Great? Well, he's found a way to win against the Euro-class crop of fighters, and now, he's calling out a washed up, retired Calzaghe. A 40 year old man who hasn't fought in four years and has been struggling with substance abuse.
If Ward wants to boost his stock, he needs to start setting his sights on Pavlik, Chavez Jr., or step up and try to make a fight with Tavoris Cloud.
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