Hopkins vs Dawson Results: The Executioner Proves Experience Can't Trump Youth

In last night’s light heavyweight title fight between “Bad” Chad Dawson and Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins in Atlantic City, Hopkins proved that experience is no match for the vitality of youth.

Dawson was ruled the winner by majority decision, 114-114, 111-117 and 111-117. 

Hopkins, who is 47 years old, lost a highly anticlimactic fight to a man who is 18 years his junior. 

Chad Dawson, 29, was light-years ahead of the future Hall of Famer, Hopkins, displaying dominant ring control all night. Dawson shattered the notion that Hopkins might be able to use his cerebral tactics to score an upset victory over the challenger.

There was clearly bad blood between the two fighters from the get-go, and the fight was constantly disrupted by warranted referee stoppages, most caused by Hopkins.

B-Hop’s inability to keep pace with Dawson left him scrambling to get into the clinch position every time he could. Hopkins, who is just three years from half-a-century old, just didn’t have it in him last night, as the more fit and agile southpaw used his quickness and left jab to keep away from Hopkins' thunderous right hand.

That also helped him stay out of the clinch.

This was an extremely dull fight, as punches were at a minimum and referee intervention was at a maximum.

There were hardly any clean punches landed throughout the 12-round fight, and the only bloodshed was caused by a Hopkins accidental headbutt that opened a nasty gash above Dawson’s left eye.

Other than that, Hopkins was largely ineffective, only connecting on hapless punches from the clinch position.

It wasn’t that he was fundamentally lacking, and it wasn’t that he didn’t have enough heart. It was merely a case of Father Time catching up to Hopkins towards the end of a storied light heavyweight career.

The turning point of the fight came in the fifth round, when Dawson took control by landing a series of rapid punches on the retreating Hopkins.

The most exciting part of the fight came between rounds, as it was interesting to watch the tactics of Dawson’s cut man. The cut man was undoubtedly Dawson’s best asset (other than his left jab) as he did a fantastic job at limiting the bleeding.

Will this go down as Hopkins’ last fight? Most likely, because 47-year-old fighters who lose their title aren’t granted a rematch too often.

Even if “The Executioner” is able to get a third fight against Dawson, he should decline the opportunity, as it would only lead to further embarrassment for one of the best boxers of this era.