Hopkins vs Dawson: Executioner Will Edge Bad Chad to Remain Oldest Champion Ever

Age is only a number. Just ask Bernard Hopkins, or better yet, watch him put that credo in action when he takes down Chad Dawson on Saturday to retain his WBC and The Ring Light Heavyweight championship belts.

"The Executioner" made history in his last fight when he defeated Jean Pascal by unanimous decision in May to become the oldest champion in the history of boxing at 46 years old, surpassing previous record-holder George Foreman as the "fogiest" fighter to hold a title.

Hopkins agreed to potentially take on "Bad" Chad as a condition of scoring a rematch with Pascal, with whom he fought to a draw in December of 2010. Pascal owed Dawson another shot at his titles, but since Hopkins took those over his own shoulder, the responsibility shifted to Hopkins to give Dawson a fair shot.

Anyone confused yet?

Regardless, what we've ended up with is a pretty darn good Light Heavyweight fight on Saturday night. Neither fighter comes in as an overwhelming favorite or a tiny underdog. Some would give the edge to Dawson, the 29-year-old southpaw who is 17 years Hopkins' junior. Others know better than to bet against Hopkins, given his long and storied history of proving his doubters wrong.

Dawson is younger, faster and more mobile while Hopkins is tougher, far more experienced and has probably forgotten more about the sport of boxing than Dawson has yet learned.

Ultimately, this fight will boil down to how well Hopkins can neutralize his challenger's physical advantages. Dawson may struggle with jitters at the outset, seeing as how this fight will be the biggest of his career. Hopkins, on the other hand, is a living legend, having made his way around the block once or twice. Look for Hopkins to weather the storm and emerge with his titles intact thanks to textbook technique and superior skill in the ring.