Stage 2: David vs. Goliath and Dawson – Johnson II
Boxing Tribune editor-in-chief, Paul Magno continues his toe to toe battle with Title Bout Championship Boxing in a 21st century boxing-related battle of man vs. machine.
After an equal opening stage, both Magno and Machine are looking to gain a slight advantage ahead of a jam-packed November schedule.
With another doubleheader, both contestants will be predicting David Haye’s first heavyweight title shot and Nikolay Valuev and a rematch at light heavyweight between Chad Dawson and Glen Johnson.
Can the modern day John Henry take a slight lead against a multi-functional, mega-powered computerized opponent?
Nikolay Valuev vs. David Haye
Magno: More science experiment than real, competitive fight, this one could get ugly.
Evander Holyfield made Valuev look painfully slow at times...Imagine what's going to happen when a quick-fisted, converted Cruiserweight is matched up against the gentle giant!
If Valuev had a lick of speed or was dedicated to working a decent jab, Haye could be in trouble. But, as it is now, Haye will be able to do whatever, whenever and he will easily maneuver around Valuev's massive size advantage.
Haye will be able to land at will and, by the third round, Valuev will become a tragic figure, similar to the misunderstood Kong at the end of King Kong.
Valuev's people will mercifully throw in the towel after the seventh to spare their likable freak of nature a further beating. Haye will then call out the Klitschko brothers and several million people across Europe and the United States will collectively roll their eyes...
Machine: Despite holding a 7 inch reach advantage and nearly a foot of height advantage, Nikolay Valuev still goes into Saturday’s fight as an underdog.
David Haye made his name as a Cruiserweight and will be fighting for the third time as a heavyweight. Nikolay Valuev is the biggest heavyweight champion ever and will be using every inch of his advantage against the mouthy Brit.
Despite having the stats stacked against him, Haye holds a gigantic speed and athletic ability over the beast from the east. His athleticism tops Valuev’s slight power advantage.
Valuev’s only defeat came to a much smaller man, similar to Haye. Ruslan Chagaev simply parried Valuev’s jab and countered with a stiff right hand. Evander Holyfield used the same tactics but not half as effective. He should have got the decision, but that’s boxing.
Haye’s only defeat came to a bigger man in only his eleventh pro fight, to Carl Thompson. He was comfortably ahead on every scorecard until he punched himself out and got caught by a couple of heavy blows. He was also down in the Mormeck fight until he picked himself up to stop the Frenchman.
Haye’s major defects have been his defence and his chin, with both becoming legit liabilities as a fight progresses. As his career’s progressed, his stamina has improved and his lateral movement is pretty impressive for a big man. His chin has solidified to some extent but it’s a whole different ball game at heavyweight.
Valuev is dull, slow and massively unimpressive in his victories. He jabs, sometimes goes wild and throws a combination. And somehow, he still manages to get a decision. Haye however, will not allow Valuev to out-box him. He promises a knockout but can he deliver?
The questions in this fight will be whether Haye can avoid Valuev’s overhand right so that his chin will never be an issue. Will the judges at ringside rob Haye of a victory if the fight goes to the scorecards?
This should be a walk in the park for Haye and he should cruise to a unanimous decision, 117-111, 117-111 and 116-112 despite Valuev’s biased friends at ringside.
Chad Dawson vs. Glen Johnson
Magno: Dawson won the first fight, no matter what some people say.
Johnson gave Dawson some major problems at various points in their first fight and don't think that being shook and wobbled didn't serve as a great learning experience.
Dawson has a habit of losing focus in his bouts when he's well ahead, precisely the reason Johnson was allowed to turn the boxing clinic he was getting early into a competitive encounter later. Expect Dawson's focus to be impeccable for this fight.
It won't be as exciting as their first fight, but Dawson stays focused and uses his physical advantages to cruise to a UD with Johnson maybe winning 2 or 3 rounds, tops.
Machine: A post prime Glen Johnson and a fresh unbeaten Chad Dawson with complete opposite skill sets and fighting philosophies do battle in the sequel of their 2008 fight.
Dawson, already a two-time light heavyweight champion, can be seen as an unbeaten champion waiting to be exposed by a bigger contender. He’s seen as a big man’s Paul Williams, massive punch output, no real knockout power and quick sharp hands.
By far the more accomplished of the two, Johnson has already earned his place with the elite of the modern era with wins over athletically gifted fighters Roy Jones Jr. and Antonio Tarver.
Johnson’s success depends on his ability to mix it up on the inside with Dawson and into a fight not a boxing match. Chad Dawson can be seen as the most athletically gifted in the division but also the least experienced of the elite.
Dawson is a quick-fisted fighter, who has only recently, started dominating fights against the bigger names of the division.
If the older Johnson can’t lure Dawson into a battle, he will not be chasing the American all day and catching enough counters to lose rounds. In their first fight, Dawson dominated from the opening bell, before tiring and losing concentration in the final half of the fight. Dawson was wobbled and close to being stopped in the penultimate round.
Despite his wobble in the first fight, Dawson will prove to be too fast and too athletic for Johnson in an identical fight to the Tarver contests. Dawson wins this via unanimous decision, 118-110 on all three judges’ scorecards.
Current Scores: Magno 1-1 (0 KOs), Machine 1-1 (0 KOs)
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