maybe this is old news, I didn't realise dawson had switched trainers again...I thought he was fawning over mayweather lat time round, and now its mustafa mohammed who's teaching him tons of new things etc... http://www.fightnews.com/1451.htm Is there a problem there?
That is the real problem, they dont have a translator that is fluent in crackhead because nobody knows what the fuck Mayweather Sr is saying.
I mentioned this elsewhere, but since there's now a thread here... it does concern me that Chad keeps changing up like this, be it trainers, promoters or what have you. This is already his 3rd trainer this year. Personally, Birmingham (among the best in the business) to Floyd Sr (a legend in his own mind) to Eddie Mustafa Muhammad is travelling in the wrong direction. EMM seems like a nice enough guy, but also the type of trainer you start off with and then leave for another, not to shack up with during the prime of your career. Chad's one of my favorite fighters, but constantly changing up like this can eventually come back to haunt him, if not in his very next fight which isn't exactly a walk in the park.
Eddie is a real good trainer, a former terrific lightheavyweight champion (one of my favorites) and a super nice guy. Eddie was the master of the jolting, ramrod jab, so he should put a stop to all of that pawing Dawson does with his own jab and put some pop behind it. I know where Jake is coming from, but Eddie is moreso a fundamentalist than those other guys, but IMO that is what Chad needs as I don't think he was taught right from the beginning. Eddie brings that Boxing 101 instructor style that Dawson may have never had before. Eddie was a strictly upright, fundamental technician, and that is my own personal favorite style, and Chad is an upright fighter as well -- so there may be a fit here, we'll have to wait and see.
my only problem w/ eddie is, where's the finished product that shows his effectiveness as a trainer? Maybe I just haven't paid close enough attention, but I can't think of a single notable fighter who got better under his watch. It might not be his fault - he probably has the right tools, just not getting the right fighters. but somewhere along the way, a rep has to be based on results and not potential
Diaconu looked to be a killer vs. Hoye, and is a very destructive hitter. Chad had better be boxing and sliding on the guy the first half of the fight and try to cut him and lump him up with that jab, if he paws with it Diaconu probably will step inside and flatten him to the body and head. Chad also had better keep those hands up and that chin down that he has a tendency to keep exposed like a ship's mast. Maybe Eddie has corrected those flaws.
A trainer can make a difference or not. Most of the time, I don't think they make much of a difference at all. My guess is that I could train Dawson and as long as it didn't affect him mentally, he'd do just fine. He already knows how to box.
I actually agree with most of what you've said here. I also think that Dawson is the kind of kid who has a ton of talent, but is prone to have mental lapses (which is why he got dropped by Harding and Adamek). Birmingham and Mayweather couldn't devote all their time to him seeing that he wasn't the only or most important fighter in their stable. I'm sure Dawson is the biggest name in Eddie's stable and more importantly, Eddie will spend more time with Chad, who seems to need and want it. I don't know if it's a prima donna thing or Chad is just high maintenance, but sometimes that's what guys need in order to feel secure when going into the ring. preparation wise, I don't think there's much of an issue. My concern is how effective Eddie can be in giving instructions if Chad gets into trouble.
