From this coming weekend all the way down to the 23rd of June, it seems like we're having big fight after big fight. Starting with the rematch that nobody wanted to see before but wants to see now in Bernard Hopkins vs. Chad Dawson and ending with a rematch that everybody wants to see in Victor Ortiz vs. Andre Berto, we'll be having in ring appearances by Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, Amir Khan, Julio Cesar Chavez, Bernard Hopkins and Winky Wright, just to name a few. So to begin breaking down the most hectic run of boxing we'll see this year, here's the first in an epic run of Potshot Picks.
Fighters listed with betting odds courtesy of Bovada.lv:
Bernard Hopkins (+300) vs. Chad Dawson II (-400)
April 28, HBO World Championship Boxing
The big story about this fight is how docile Bernard Hopkins has been in the build-up for the rematch of their foul-maligned first fight, which saw Chad Dawson shoulder-tackle Hopkins to the ground to end the fight. Hopkins has declined being in a final presser, and even turned down the opportunity to do a Face Off with former rap star Max Kellerman; most of the talking has been done by Dawson's promoter Gary Shaw, which wouldn't have been any different with or without Hopkins.
To be honest, what is there to really say? Their first encounter lasted less than five minutes and they did enough trash-talking as a result of that awful night in Los Angeles this past October and during the promotional tour of the first fight, where Hopkins found that his typical mind games didn't work on the extremely focused Dawson. Just because Hopkins isn't talking doesn't mean he's not training and I expect Hopkins to come in as ready as he's ever been. Sadly that might not be enough this time around for the old master.
Dawson presents a disadvantage in every sense of the word for Hopkins: height, size, hand speed, movement, and dare I say it, youth. Perhaps the injury Hopkins suffered in their first fight was evidence that Father Time may in fact have the 47-year-old champion's number this time around, but it's more likely that Dawson has always had his number and should show in a clear and controversy-free decision this weekend.
Potshot Pick: Dawson UD12
That'll do it for this week. Check out the next installment a week from today when we'll check out the next Saturday's mega-event featuring Mayweather vs. Cotto and Alvarez vs. Mosley. Bet safely and have fun!
Danny Howard can be reached for comments or questions at dhoward@fighthype.com, Facebook, or follow him on Twitter (@DBHOWARD126). Also don't miss an episode of FightHype Radio, the baddest two hours of boxing on the planet, starting at 8pm EST.