The Ring and WBC light heavyweight titlist Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins will fight "Bad" Chad Dawson in a rematch slated for April 28 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Hopkins (52-6-2-1, 34 KOs) controversially lost his crowns against Dawson (31-1, 18 KOs) by a flimsy second round TKO October 15 at the StaplesCenterin Los Angeles, California.
In bush league fashion, Dawson hoisted Hopkins into the air and dropped the Philadelphian onto the canvas.
Dawson’s devious tactic left Hopkins with a separated shoulder that prevented his ability to continue scrapping.
Hopkins told ESPN.com Wednesday that his bummed left shoulder is healed and prepared for battle.
"The shoulder is good," said Hopkins, 47, a sure fire future Hall of Famer. "I wouldn't be going in this early to start getting ready if it wasn't."
Referee Pat Russell pathetically, and inexplicably, ruled the blatant foul a knockdown and unjustifiably raised Dawson’s hand in victory.
“The Executioner’s” legal team quickly filed an appeal with the California State Athletic Commission to overturn Russell’s insane decision.
Approximately two months after the fiasco, the WBC overturned the result and ruled the bout a no-decision on December 13.
Hopkins, who successfully defended his middleweight belt a record 20 consecutive times from 1995 through 2005, said he’s excited to again throw fists with Dawson.
"I have a chance to settle the bull---- from the first fight and straighten that all out," said Hopkins. "A real athlete don't want to win something on a disqualification or a no-decision or get something handed to them without doing the work. I'm ready to go.”
The reformed ex-convict from the “City of Brotherly Love” continued to express his thoughts.
"Dawson has a chance to prove to the world what he thinks he can do to me and I have a chance to prove that he's not going to do what he thinks he's going to do."
Hopkins outclassed Jean Pascal to earn a unanimous decision triumph and become, at 46, the oldest man to win a major title last May in Montreal, Canada.
“Big” George Foreman was 45 when he monumentally knocked Michael Moorer onto Queer Street in the 10th round to capture the WBA and IBF heavyweight crowns and establish the previous benchmark for boxing graybeards.
Conversely, Dawson, a 29-year-old southpaw currently rated by The Ring as the fourth best light heavyweight boxer in the world, suffered his only loss as a professional to Pascal (26-2-1, 16 KOs) in August 2010.
"It's time to correct the first fight and let people get what they paid for,” said Hopkins. "I'm going out guns blazing in this fight, trust me. I will pull off my best performance in Atlantic City, and that's saying a lot. I have a history of making history in Atlantic City."
Mike Cappiello, a native of "The City of Champions" who once fought for the IBO super featherweight title and retired with an impressive mark of 33-6, has the utmost respect for Hopkins.
"Hopkinsis not in it for the money," said Cappiello, the owner of Cappiello Brothers Boxing gym in Brockton. "He loves to fight."
Hopkins is an iconic prizefighter for the ages who indeed has “a history of making history in Atlantic City."
Expect Bernard Hopkins to easily handle the formidable Chad Dawson and retain his crowns this spring in the "Las Vegasof the East."
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