|
Chad Dawson |
Glen Johnson |
|
Age: 27 |
Age:
40 |
|
Height: 6'1" |
Height:
5'11" |
|
Reach: 76" |
Reach: 75" |
|
Record: 28-0 (27 KOs)
|
Record:
49-12-2 (33 KOs) |
Last year's
showdown was a heated struggle for Dawson's WBC title that
had it all: fast combinations, thudding power punching, high
drama and no clear cut winner even after the scorecards were
read. Not much has changed with either fighter, so it's very
likely we will be seeing a repeat performance from both men
which is a very good thing. Although I do expect the fight
to play out like it did the first time around with Dawson
using distance and superior hand-speed while Johnson stalks,
expect the pace to pick up right from the beginning.
Johnson has to
get to the younger, faster and slicker champion earlier than
he did last time and try to force him into deep water early.
Dawson was getting tagged frequently by Johnson but his
questionable chin was able to hold up thanks in part that
Dawson sped away from danger once he was getting hit,
Johnson can hurt Dawson and will try to hurt him early.
Dawson also
knows that he was roughed up by Johnson and the last thing
he wants to do is fight straight up. He found plenty of
success with his superior speed in the first fight. We've
seen Dawson go down in his fights with Tomasz Adamek and
Eric Harding, but he showed great resiliency to win those
fights off the canvas. He's going to need every bit of heart
because Johnson has no intention of making this a
boxing match and playing to his younger opponent's
advantage.
Normally I'd say
the X-factor is how old Johnson is, but the real question
mark is Dawson himself. In his last two fight series with
Antonio Tarver, Dawson looked flat and disinterested in the
first fight with Tarver and in the second he looked
sluggish. Dawson cannot come to the ring any less that 100%,
if we see the same Dawson that fought Tarver the second time
around he is going to get in trouble fast.
Expect to see
Johnson move right in on Dawson from the early goings,
trying to chop down the body should the fight go late.
Dawson wont have any trouble finding Johnson and out-landing
him when they get inside, but Johnson didn't have any
trouble landing punches on the speedier fighter the first
time around so expect a more cautious approach for Dawson on
the inside. Dawson must use distance before anything, once
they get in close Dawson needs to rabbit out and find some
breathing room.
I wont lie to
any of you, I want Johnson to win this fight and it would be
great for him if he did. He can definitely get to Dawson and
hurt him, but Dawson is going to use the ring and not try to
out-muscle his opponent. The fight is happening in Dawson's
hometown and to think Johnson can take the title from him on
the cards is ludicrous. However, should Johnson win it will
be a very pleasant surprise but it is a fight where he
absolutely needs to win by a knockout, but the safe bet here
is Dawson by decision.
Be sure to check
in this Wednesday for Part II of "The (Not So) Fab Four" and
next Monday for The Tale of the Tape: Manny Pacquiao vs.
Miguel Cotto.
Questions?
Comments? Send them to
manwithnoarms@yahoo.com
and you just might find yourself featured on the hottest
mailbag in boxing.
Keep on
swinging!
==Become a
BRC
friend in Facebook==
For Fight Recaps between January and May 2009, click here...
Fight Recaps Part I
(January-May 2009)
For Fight Recaps starting June 2009, click here...
Fight Recaps Part
II
(June-December 2009)
Questions? Comments? Post them in BRC's new Message Board...
