By Bert Randolph Sugar with Steve Small
STRENGTHS OF BOTH FIGHTERS.
BERNARD HOPKINS – (52-5-2, 32 KOs)
· As a forty-ish “Methuselah,” Hopkins is one of the ageless wonders of Sports–not just the Boxing—World.
· A classic “old school “ fighter, Hopkins combines savvy and slickness willing to do anything and everything to win.
· While possessing one-punch knockout, Hopkins punches hard with both hands, to the body where he often hooks over and under with his left, which tends to wear down his opponents.
CHAD DAWSON – (30-1, 17 KOs)
· Tall lefty with fast hands and good combination puncher.
· Excellent stamina, accustomed to fighting at a max pace for full 12 rounds.
· Has size and skills to outwork Hopkins.
WEAKNESSES OF BOTH FIGHTERS
HOPKINS
· At an age when most boxers are home in bed listening to their bones mend, Hopkins has yet to show signs of aging, which is somewhat akin to a watched pot, never coming to a boil. But it could happen against a strong, younger Dawson.
· Sometimes Hopkins is a little slow to set-up and get his punches off.
DAWSON
· Dawson does not have a lot of power, relying more on combinations and wearing opponents down.
· Dawson tends to lean away from his opponent’s right hands–a dangerous move because he tends to step forward when he throws his right, extending it.
· Dawson tends to move straight back sometimes standing in front of his opponent instead of moving away.
WHAT EACH MUST DO TO WIN
HOPKINS
· Hopkins’ game is inside. Dawson has never faced anyone with the inside fighting abilities possessed by Hopkins.
· Dawson tries to lean away from opponents rights. This could prove to be extremely dangerous for Dawson inasmuch as Hopkins tends to step forward when he throws his right.
· Hopkins has shown a tendency to pace himself, sometimes fighting in spurts. He must give a stronger performance against a stronger opponent.
DAWSON
· Dawson must step-in and shoot his combinations then slide sideway away from Hopkins (ref. see Jean Pascal early rounds against Hopkins.)
· Dawson must fight on the outside and not get into an inside war.
· Dawson must alternate moving to his right and then his heft and stay off the ropes, keeping Hopkins in the middle of the ring.
FRANK WARREN PRESENTS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING SATURDAY, 15 OCTOBER, 2011 LIVERPOOL ECHO ARENA ***RUNNING ORDER***
DOORS OPEN – 17:30 hrs
Fight #1 – 18:30 hrs
6 X 3 Minute Rounds Super-Featherweight Contest
CRAIG EVANS V IBRAR RIYAZ
Fight #2 – 18:55 hrs
6 X 3 Minute Rounds Super-Middleweight Contest
TOBIAS WEBB V JAHMAINE SMYLE
Fight #3 – 19:20 hrs
6 X 3 Minute Rounds Super-Flyweight Contest
PAUL BUTLER V ARPAD VAS
Fight #4 – 19:45 hrs
8 X 3 Minute Rounds Middleweight Contest
BILLY JOE SAUNDERS V NORBERT SEKERES
Fight #5 – 20:00 hrs
6 X 3 Minute Rounds Light-Middleweight Contest
LIAM SMITH V TBA
Fight #6 – 20:25 hrs
8 X 3 Minute Rounds Super-Middleweight Contest
ROCKY FIELDING V LEE NOBLE
Fight #7 – 21:15 hrs
THE EUROPEAN SUPER-MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
8 X 3 Minute Rounds 12st (168lbs)
PIOTR WILCZEWSKI V JAMES DeGALE
Fight #8 – Floater
12 X 3 Minute Rounds Welterweight Contest
RONNIE HEFFRON V TONY PACE
Fight #9 – Follow on – Main Event
THE WBO LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD
12 X 3 Minute Rounds 12st 7lbs (175lbs)
NATHAN CLEVERLY V TONY BELLEW
GABRIEL BRACERO RETURNS TO SHOWTIME® LOOKS TO CAPTURE FIRST TITLE BELT
Mashantucket, CT/New York, NY – (10/14/2011) – Next Friday, October 21, rising junior welterweight contender Gabriel “Tito” Bracero (17-0, 3KO’s) will look to capture his first title as a professional when he takes on Daniel Sostre (11-4-1, 4KO’s) for the vacant NABF belt. Bracero-Sostre is set to open up the DiBella Entertainment promoted ShoBox: The New Generation doubleheader featuring highly regarded and top-rated Super Middleweight contender Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez (19-0, 14KO’s) taking on Will “Power” Rosinsky (14-0, 8KO’s) at the beautiful MGM Grand at Foxwoods. Both bouts are scheduled for 10 rounds and will be televised live on SHOWTIME beginning at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).
The road to this point for Bracero has been anything but easy. A stellar amateur, the New York native turned pro in 2001 and ran his record to a perfect 5-0. While Bracero was experiencing success inside the ring, trouble on the outside was brewing all along and soon the young Puerto Rican prospect was arrested and incarcerated to spend the next six years of his life behind bars.
After being released in January 2009, Bracero wasted little time in getting his boxing career back in line behind well-respected trainer and manager Tommy Gallagher. Since his return Bracero has rung together 12-consecutive victories including his most impressive to date back in April of this year when he won a dominate eight-round decision over previously undefeated 2008 U.S. Olympic alternate Danny O’Connor (14-0) also on ShoBox. If Bracero can capture the NABF title against Sostre, he will be one step closer to fulfilling a life-long dream.
“I have been waiting for this for a long time,” said Bracero. “I am truly blessed and so grateful for what my team, and everyone at DiBella Entertainment has done for me.”
Regarding the fight Bracero is not looking past his opponent he says, but he states that his rigorous preparations have already won him the fight.
“The fight is already won. I have been working so hard with my team, and I feel great. I’m excited for this fight. Winning the NABF title puts me into the world ratings, and puts me in a position to start going after these champions. Whoever it is, it doesn’t matter to me. My job is to train and to fight, and focus on beating whoever they put in front of me. As always I plan on putting on an impressive performance Friday night for all my fans that are coming out to show their support, and the many more who will be at home watching on SHOWTIME.”
Bracero went on to make a special dedication for the fight.
“In addition to raising Breast Cancer Awareness with this card, I am also personally dedicating this fight to the National Diabetes Walk, which I will be participating in two days after my fight in N.Y.C. My son and my mother both suffer from Diabetes, so I want to dedicate this fight to them and to everyone throughout the world dealing with the Diabetes disease. I’m fighting for a bigger purpose and bigger meaning and promise I won’t disappoint.”
“Octoberfist: Fight Night Done Right” is presented by DiBella Entertainment, The Breast Cancer Charities of America, P3R Publicity and Everlast. Tickets are priced at $125, $85 and $50, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.foxwoods.com or www.ticketmaster.com, and by calling (800) 200-2882. Doors open at 7PM, with the first bout scheduled for 8PM. Showtime will begin live coverage at 11PM ET.