Dawson vs. Hopkins: Executioner Will Continue to Defy Father Time With Victory

While most professional athletes are long retired at the age of 46, "The Executioner" Bernard Hopkins is still competing and excelling at boxing's highest level.

Hopkins beat Jean Pascal for the WBC and The Ring Light Heavyweight titles in May and is set to defend them against 29-year-old No. 1 contender Chad Dawson on Saturday. The 30-1 Dawson is in the prime of his career, but Hopkins continues to defy the aging process.

Dawson lost much of his momentum in losing to Pascal last year in Montreal. Dawson had been undefeated entering that fight, but was beaten decisively on the scorecards before an incidental headbutt stopped the fight in the 11th round.

For comparison's sake, Hopkins has faced Pascal twice, beating him once and battling him to a controversial draw on the other occasion. When Hopkins and Pascal fought to a draw, Hopkins was given the win on one scorecard, but the other two judges scored it a draw.

Hopkins beat Pascal by a unanimous decision in the rematch to become the oldest champion in the history of boxing. Both Hopkins and Dawson have fought Pascal in the past year, so I believe the comparison is extremely fair, and shows that Hopkins is still the man in the Light Heavyweight division.

It's obvious that Hopkins won't last forever, but he simply hasn't shown any signs of slowing down to this point. Hopkins has picked apart much younger fighters such as Pascal and Kelly Pavlik in recent years, and should be able to do the same to Dawson.

Hopkins hasn't scored a knockout win since 2004 with a vicious body blow to Oscar De La Hoya, but he is surgical in his precision and has more than enough stamina to go the distance against any fighter, regardless of their age. 

Dawson may be considered the more powerful puncher at this point, but that isn't likely to have any effect on Hopkins. He has never been knocked out during his career and has one of the strongest chins the sport has ever seen. If Dawson is going to have any chance of beating him, then he'll have to do it on the scorecards.

Eventually the day will come when Hopkins can no longer with younger, stronger and faster competition, but that day certainly won't be Saturday. Because of his experience, toughness and will to win, Hopkins will have little problem in dispatching Dawson.