"I see the same old Bernard Hopkins. I don't see anything improving with Bernard. Like he said, he's 46 years old and he has to train like he's 25 years old. Pascal did well in the first fight, but he didn't do well in the second fight. Bernard talked his game and got into Pascal's. I think Pascal thought he was superman and Bernard exposed him...I looked at a few polls and people think that Bernard is going to beat me. People are just stupid if they think Bernard is going to beat me. Like I said, I take nothing away from Bernard. He's done what he had to do and he's a great fighter. He's a legend who will be in the Hall of Fame some day. I know I'm going to win this fight," stated former light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson as he talked about his upcoming showdown with future Hall of Famer Bernard Hopkins. You don't want to miss what he had to say about the fight, Bernard Hopkins, and much more.
JA: How is everything going, Chad, with your preparations for your fight with Bernard Hopkins?
CD: Everything is going real good right now. I'm still at home with my family getting everything in order so I can go to camp. I'm excited about the fight and will prepare real hard for this fight and hope for the best.
JA: I talked to Emanuel Steward a while back. He was sitting ringside for your fight with Jean Pascal and was disappointed, not with what Pascal was doing, but with what you weren't doing in the fight. Having Emanuel Steward in your camp now working with you, what are some of the things that he helped you with for the Adrian Diaconu fight?
CD: Emanuel is a very smart, experienced and strategic trainer. The game plan for Diaconu was to use my height and my reach and to take away everything that he tried doing. I thought that I gave a decent performance in the fight. If I had to give myself a grade, I give myself a C+. With myself not being in the ring for so long and taking 9 months off here and 9 months off there, I could feel the ring rust. I'm looking to be more active starting with the fight I have coming up with Hopkins.
JA: You've had a lot of trainers in the past, including John Scully, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, Floyd Mayweather Sr. and now Emanuel Steward. Do you think not having consistent people in your corner has held you back? Will that be something you would like to do, be more consistent with your training camp?
CD: It's not me being consistent with the training camp; it's just me being consistent as a fighter. As far as fighting, being in the ring, being in the lights and being more consistent as a fighter, when I get the call for the fight, training camp is not an option. I enjoy training camp. It's like I said, it's about being active getting these fights. I think it showed after the Diaconu fight that with the ring rust, I didn't look my best, even though I know I won the fight.
JA: You watched both fights between Bernard Hopkins and Jean Pascal. Have you noticed anything different with Bernard in those fights or do you see the same old Bernard?
CD: I see the same old Bernard Hopkins. I don't see anything improving with Bernard. Like he said, he's 46 years old and he has to train like he's 25 years old. Pascal did well in the first fight, but he didn't do well in the second fight. Bernard talked his game and got into Pascal's. I think Pascal thought he was superman and Bernard exposed him.
JA: There have been rumors, and even Jean Pascal brought it up, that Bernard might be taking performance enhancing drugs. He wanted Bernard to take a drug test. Do you have an opinion on those allegations?
CD: I don't have an opinion on that, but when it comes to my career, if there is someone who is using performance enhancing drugs going into a fight with me, I don't think it will play a part in what he does in the ring. It might give him a little more energy going into the ring, but I'm fully confident in what I bring to the table in this fight. I know I'm going to come out with the victory.
JA: Do you think your jab and speed will ultimately be the difference in the fight?
CD: Yeah, I think so. I think the jab, speed, and people might say what they want, but I think it's the youth factor. Even though I'm stronger, faster, and quicker, I still think it's the youth factor. Pascal didn't use his youth in the fight. He sat around looking for one big punch. You have to outwork Bernard and Pascal didn't, but now I have that opportunity, and the opportunity to become world champion once again.
JA: I'm not going to say this is a make or break fight, but will you go for broke if you have Hopkins in trouble?
CD: This is what it's all about right now. I'm in a good position right now getting this fight with Bernard. This is a fight that I've wanted for the last two years and now I have the opportunity to send Bernard on his farewell. I really think I have the opportunity to send Bernard on his way and I'm treating this fight as the biggest fight of my career thus far.
JA: A lot of people have written you off since the Pascal fight. Before the Pascal fight, you were on this incredible high, but when you lost to Pascal, it seems like everyone is doubting you now. Does that give you extra motivation going into this fight?
CD: It's great motivation. Once in a while, I go on websites and I read some of the articles and read what the bloggers and critics have to say. Half of them don't know jack about boxing and the other half pretty much say the same thing. It's extra motivation for me because I looked at a few polls and people think that Bernard is going to beat me. People are just stupid if they think Bernard is going to beat me. Like I said, I take nothing away from Bernard. He's done what he had to do and he's a great fighter. He's a legend who will be in the Hall of Fame some day. I know I'm going to win this fight.
JA: David Haye and Wladimir Klitschko will be fighting this Saturday. What are your thoughts on the fight?
CD: I don't think this fight will be going the distance and I can see that they really don't like each other. If Klitschko fights the perfect fight, he can win the fight. I think Haye has the power and ability to knock Klitschko out, if he gets close, with the combinations. Its going to be a good fight, but like I said, if Klitschko lets Haye get close with those combinations, it could be a short night.
JA: Thank you so much Chad for doing this interview. Is there anything that you would like to say to your fans around the world?
CD: I would like to thank all my fans and I'm really excited about the fight with Bernard Hopkins. On October 15, 2011, your going to see me world champion again.