Bernard Hopkins Trashes The Idea of Facing Chad Dawson By Rick Reeno Some fights are never meant to happen. One of those fights, at light heavyweight, is Bernard Hopkins vs. Chad Dawson. It really doesn't matter if Hopkins and Dawson are successful in their upcoming fights, a potential showdown between the two of them will never happen. Why? Because Hopkins doesn't see any value in a fight with Dawson. Last December, when Danny Green knocked out Roy Jones Jr. in the first round, most insiders expected Hopkins to fight either Green or Dawson. Instead, Hopkins went forward with the Roy Jones rematch, which takes place on April 3rd in Las Vegas. When Hopkins was pressed for an answer on Dawson, he gave it. "What do I gain fighting Chad Dawson? What is attached to Chad Dawson that enhances and changes Bernard's career? How does that change Bernard's life? He just beat up a guy 17 years [younger and a] star of boxing in Kelly Pavlik. Why do ya'll want me to continue to destroy the future of boxing? And once I'm gone I might want to promote the guy later on," Hopkins said. When further pressed, Hopkins discussed other reasons for bypassing a fight with Dawson. While he discusses Dawson's inability to draw huge crowds, and Dawson's lack of a pay-per-view background, the real reason comes down to money. When a Dawson fight was briefly discussed, Hopkins was looking for a certain seven-figure number from HBO. The network gave him the wrong answer. "Chad Dawson has not sold out any arena, even in Hartford, Connecticut. He has no history in pay-per-view. He hasn't beaten nobody of significance other than who? Tarver, who lost to a middleweight [in] Bernard Hopkins? I think it was a split, 1 and 1 [against Glen Johnson]. He beat and lost to Glen Johnson, who I beat [when he was] undefeated and knocked him out," Hopkins said. "What do I gain by beating Chad Dawson when the money doesn't make sense? HBO spoke on that. The money doesn't make sense. The money is not there. The risk is higher than the reward. What do I gain by fighting Chad Dawson when it brings nothing to me historically or financially? There are two key things at 45-years-old that get me aroused, financially and history. If it ain't that, I don't get aroused." Hopkins, should he beat Jones, is looking to fight the winner of next Saturday's heavyweight bout between WBA champion David Haye and mandatory challenger John Ruiz.
Wasn't this a cunning masterful low blow, executed while the fans were on the blindside Erratic?.. :crafty:
He's still relevant though, and extremely respected, no matter what he says and who he fights and how he fights,.. "P4P 3" in most lists,... If he sprints, and holds, and headbutts and low blows his way to a typical eye-searing bitch decision over Jones, I believe the eerily positive protocol for Hopkins will be excersized in the aftermath as usual.
If Hopkins honestly has the balls to fight Haye next then I'll give him a total free pass on this upcoming farce of a fight.
Yawn. Maybe if Dawson gets knocked out in the first round Hopkins will be interested in fighting him.
I just want Jones to bash Hopslut. Then Roy can retire, safely, and Hopkins can fade into obscurity. It's perfect.
Bernard is Using the SAME Excuses, to Justify NOT Facing Chad Dawson, that Many were Using to Justify NOT Facing HIM, in the Mid to Late 90's... REED:boohoo:
