Hopkings vs Dawson

Wow! Both men have fairly easy wins over Antonio Tarver. That alone would make for an interesting match.
Anyway, based on their common opponent and each fighter's performance against their respective last opponents, I would probably favor Hopkins by a split decision.

Taking no credit away from Dawson, who I like, he did what he was suppose to do against a much older Tarver, who looked terribly slow and weak, especially in the second half of their match. Despite Dawson's good performance and work rate, even he looked slower in the last third or fourth of the fight, though definitely better looking than Tarver. It also showed against Glen Johnson. Anyway, the later portions of the fight is something that has always worried me about Dawson. I would like to see Dawson do a better job of breaking through opponents' defenses, seeing that many of his combinations did land on the gloves of a very slow and weak Tarver.

Bernard Hopkins is another boxer who shows good defense, so it would be another challenge for Dawson to attempt to break, which wouldn't be easy. I could see the younger Dawson taking advantage of his age and possibly work rate to win most of the first half of the fight. Unfortunately, I can see Dawson slowly reducing that work rate in the second half, giving a very slick and defensive minded Hopkins a change to get back into the fight. I don't see Hopkins being as slow as Tarver was against Dawson, which may also be another cause for concern in the later rounds.

Once again, I could see Hopkins taking the later rounds, stealing a split decision victory from Dawson.

Result

After an uneventful first round, controversy marred the second round and the fight itself. While in a clinch, Dawson pushed his shoulder into Hopkins to break it. Hopkins was lifted off the ground, stumbled back and fell through the ropes, landing awkwardly on his shoulder. Referee Pat Russell checked on Hopkins, who said he could continue "with one arm". Russell elected not to let Hopkins continue and stopped the fight, awarding Dawson a technical knockout. This was the first time Hopkins had been knocked out in his career. Hopkins and his promoter Richard Schaefer both said they would protest the result; Hopkins said a foul should have been called on Dawson and the result should have been a no contest. Dawson and his promoter Gary Shaw claimed that no matter what happens, he will not fight Hopkins again. Shaw said that the former champion "didn't want to fight."

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