"I think maybe both guys are just more focused this time because the fight has naturally taken on a feeling of even more importance this time. Because of what went down last time, I think a lot more people are going to tune in this time, even if it's just out of curiosity...I know from actually being in there and feeling him out that Chad came away with quite a bit of insight only a boxer can feel and explain...I very much look forward to this fight. I've known Chad since he was a kid and I have always believed that when he puts it all together from top to bottom, many fans will see him as a definite pound-for-pound level guy; there is no question of that. And this is the stage for him to show that to the world," stated world-class trainer John Scully, who talked about Chad Dawson's upcoming April 28th rematch with Bernard Hopkins. Check out what else he had to say!
JA: John, it's always a pleasure. We are a little less than two weeks away from Dawson-Hopkins II. How is your fighter preparing for the rematch?
JS: All is great, really. This guy works hard. I think it was more a case of picking up where we left off than starting over after the last fight, so we've basically just been building on what we compiled before the last fight. He has a strength coach, Alex Murillo, who does his job beautifully, so I feel that we have all the bases covered again.
JA: Right off the bat, I must say things are not as chatty leading up to the fight as it was for the first fight. Why do you think the war of words has quieted some?
JS: It leads to speculations, yeah. Who really knows? I think maybe both guys are just more focused this time because the fight has naturally taken on a feeling of even more importance this time. Because of what went down last time, I think a lot more people are going to tune in this time, even if it's just out of curiosity.
JA: The fight will be in New Jersey. Chad is from Connecticut and Bernard is from Philly. Do you see either of the fighters having the home edge?
JS: Well, you would have to assume both guys will have more personal support, and at first glance, you might assume because he lives so close that Bernard will have more of it, but I kind of think it may actually be more personal friends of Chad's there than Bernard will have. I don't know Bernard at all, so I'm just guessing and going off perception, and from talking to people in Philadelphia who I'm friends with, I don't really see Bernard as a guy with a ton of buddies he hangs with, especially being a bit older. It's a different group of friends you have when you're younger, like Chad is. I know just from my gym, guys who came up with Chad in the amateurs, there are twenty-two guys riding over together, so I think strictly in terms of personal acquaintances, Chad might very well have a larger fan base present at the fight.
JA: Is there anything that you took away from the first fight or was it a complete wash in your mind?
JS: Not a great deal in terms of how the fight will eventually play out, but I know from actually being in there and feeling him out that Chad came away with quite a bit of insight only a boxer can feel and explain.
JA: You and Naazim had some interesting comments about each other leading up to the first fight. I'm wondering if you were able to speak with him and clear things up?
JS: Actually, it was after the fight where some nonsense started. Before the fight, it was only me at the press conference saying how unlike in other fights, it was a thing here where members of the two camps knew each other and were friends. That was it. After the fight though, Naazim shocked me by going on the internet and telling a writer that I was basically lying and that he had no idea why I would say something like that, like I was using it as a ploy to make it seem like I knew their camp; like I was trying to trick Bernard or something. Man, listen, I'll tell you right now, that shocked and really disappointed me. I'm not saying Naazim and I are close buddies who hang out or anything, but when you are an amateur coach at the Nationals, it's a thing where you get to know the other coaches, and even though you see each other only a few times a year, you are friends. I always considered him one anyway, but now, he goes online trying to act like I'm trying to use his name to make myself look better? Look, he even said that I was lying when I said I had been to his house in Philadelphia. Well, what this man doesn't realize is that my upcoming book is called "The Iceman Diaries" for a reason. I keep track of everything. I can not only tell you the exact date that I picked his sons and nephews up at the house in Philadelphia, but I can tell you what movie we went to see and also the name of the place we visited afterwards. The first time I went to a Dave and Busters in my life was that night with his sons, Tiger and Rock. That was back in the 1990's.
Then in 2005, when my amateur boxer, Greg Cuyler, was shot and killed, you know who called me to offer condolences and we ended up talking for two hour straight? You already know. Why would he call a coach he hardly knew and talk to the guy for two hours? Why in 1999 would he allow me to come to his hotel at the Ohio State Fair and let me take his sons and nephews out for the night with my group of amateurs?
People have told me that he only did that because he didn't want Bernard to know that he and I were friends, because Bernard wouldn't like it. You believe that? If he doesn't want to be friends with me and that's how he is, then that's fine, but don't let this business of boxing ruin your sense of common decency in regards to someone who has never done you wrong in any way at all. I mean, I can remember another time I brought a couple of my boxers to Philadelphia and we met up with Naazim and his nephews on a Saturday morning at Champs Gym to get some sparring in. That night, my boxers and his kids went to the roller skating rink and then we went back home to Connecticut the next day. That's all facts for you.
I still talk to his son Tiger every once in a while to this day. As a matter of fact, I mentioned that at the press conference. His sons had recently been involved in a terrible car accident, and I'm sure I was one of the first people to reach out to them, and I told him so there at the dias, that I hoped his sons continued to pull through. We all first met back in 1994 at a tournament in Cincinnati and we've been together at numerous events around the country, so I was concerned. I have photos of me and those two sons and his nephews at the go-kart track in Marquette, the Ohio State fair in Ohio, and the JO Nationals in Marquette.
But at the last press conference, he ignores me, like he doesn't know me; like he has to be that way because we're on opposite teams. Come on, now. That's just not cool, period. I am extremely surprised and disappointed with this guy.
JA: Will you bring it up to him when you see him?
JS: I would have to doubt it. I saw him at the press conference a few weeks ago in New York, walked right near him, but the look on his face told me he wasn't interested in saying anything. He acted like he didn't see me, so I let it go. I still think about talking to him on the phone that time for two hours straight about boxing and about life, about all kinds of things, and it's hard to believe this is the same guy I see with a scowl on his face all the time now.
JA: After all that has been said, do you still consider him a friend?
JS: A friend wouldn't do that to another friend for any reason, you know what I mean, trying to paint it to the world like I hardly know this guy, like I'm some delusional fan, like your Eddie Futch or someone like that and I'm trying to attach myself to you. I knew you back in 1994 when you weren't training any recognizable pros and we were at all the amateur tournaments together, having fun, talking about the Junior Olympic fights that happened that afternoon. I always respected him and, to be completely honest, when I got to Los Angeles for the last fight, I was actually looking forward to talking to him in person again because he's really up on the amateur game and I would have liked to have had a discussion with him. But it was clear from his body language when I approached him that he wasn't for that idea.
JA: When will you break camp and head to New Jersey?
JS: I assume a week or so before the fight; just waiting to hear the specifics in terms of pre-fight press conference and that type of thing.
JA: Is there anything you would like to say in closing John?
JS: Only that I very much look forward to this fight. I've known Chad since he was a kid and I have always believed that when he puts it all together from top to bottom, many fans will see him as a definite pound-for-pound level guy; there is no question of that. And this is the stage for him to show that to the world.