There are few sporting events that can gets fans fired up like a superb matchup in boxing.
Fight fans don’t anticipate good fights or interesting matchups. What they want is great fights that live on in their memories for years and decades.
Ali-Frazier. Leonard-Hearns, De La Hoya-Mosley.
It may be a leap of faith to say that the Sept. 8 bout between Andre Ward and Chad Dawson at Oakland's Oracle Arena will reach that level, but these two fighters have a chance to put on a brilliant show.
Ward-Dawson could very well be a strong Fight of the Year contender.
Ward (25-0) is defending his WBC and WBA super middleweight titles. Dawson (31-1), the WBC light heavyweight champion who usually fights at 175 pounds, is coming down to Ward’s 168 pounds for this bout. Dawson’s belt is not on the line.
As a result, it seems there is more pressure on Ward because he could lose his two belts while Dawson has nothing to lose. No matter what happens in the fight, he will be able to hold onto his belt.
Ward is a versatile fighter who has a good jab, can punch with power, moves around the ring well and has solid defensive skills. He is a sharp ring general who makes it his business to understand what his opponent is going to do in the ring. His versatility has helped him quite a bit, because he has been difficult for opponents to figure out.
Dawson is more of a straight forward fighter who wants to come straight at his opponent and try to overwhelm him.
Dawson has registered knockouts in 17 of his 31 victories, but he has not registered a stoppage since 2007.
Ward has stopped 13 of his 25 opponents, but he hasn’t registered a knockout since 2009.
Ward is going to try to hold on to both of his championship belts, while Dawson is going to try to take them away.
Since Dawson has nothing tangible to lose, his opponent is likely to come in seething with resentment.
Both men have played it cool in interviews, and the respect factor has been apparent (source: Proboxing-fans.com). But Ward knows to turn on the anger factor once he gets into the ring.
Dawson defeated Bernard Hopkins in his last fight in April, so his confidence is sky high.
Ward knows that Dawson's victory over Hopkins gives him increased credibility.
"To be great you have to fight the best," Ward said at the July 9 press conference (h/t boxinginsider.com). "Chad has beaten the best so these are the type fights I want to take. I will put on a great show for all the fans that come out to Oracle Arena.”
Still, Ward comes in as the favorite. It will be difficult for Dawson to maintain his strength after losing the weight.
Also, Dawson did not land heavy punches in his win over Hopkins, and Ward is much more elusive. He is going to have to step up his game as he fights Ward in his home city.
If Dawson can overcome these obstacles, this has a chance to be a memorable bout between two excellent fighters.
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