Bernard Hopkins vs. Chad Dawson: Hopkins Will Prove Age Not an Issue

Bernard Hopkins has been a legend his whole career, and he will continue to break the odds against Chad Dawson in their upcoming bout.

Simply put, Hopkins life and career has defied the odds.

Before his professional career stared he spent almost five years in prison. That alone is enough to put a fighter behind the eight-ball, but then factor in his first ever fight, which was a loss, and the odds were certainly stacked against  him.

Apparently that didn't matter to Hopkins though, as years later he is now considered to be one of the best middleweight boxers of all-time.

He's defended his WBC title 20 times in a row now, which is a record, and even nearing 47 years old Hopkins is still considered the favorite against the much younger Dawson.

Age is not an issue for Hopkins. In fact, it's a motivator, according to Bob Velin of USA Today:

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If Hopkins defeats Dawson, he will move to the front of the line for fighter of the year honors, which would add to his believe it or not moments.

"I am knocking on the door of being the oldest fighter of the year," Hopkins, three months shy of 47, said after a public workout Tuesday. "I always have a motivation, and that's to become the oldest fighter of the year. It puts pressure on the writers, 90 percent of whom are 40 and up. I want to put a bug in their ear, I'm trying to make history on that front."

No less an authority on the subject of old fighters is George Foreman, the ex-heavyweight champ whose longevity record (45) Hopkins broke. Foreman says if Hopkins wins, he'd be a lock for fighter of the year.

"There's no one ahead of him," Foreman said Wednesday. "No one else has put on such a show. He didn't just (beat Pascal) by a knockout punch. He skillfully outboxed that kid. It takes physical (prowess) and a good mind to do that. His mind is in a good state right now."

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Win or lose, Hopkins is going to go down as a legend of the sport. That being said, I don't think he's ready to go down as anything else but the fighter of the year for 2011.

It's incredible the motivation that he displays, especially after such a long and illustrious career.

Most would sit back, enjoy their success and the fame that comes with it, and ride into the sunset without a fight or a care in the world.

If there's one thing that we've learned about Hopkins, it's that he never stops fighting.

I don't expect him to go down against Dawson, but if he does I can guarantee you he will go down swinging.