WBC AND RING MAGAZINE LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION
BERNARD “THE EXECUTIONER” HOPKINS AND FORMER WORLD CHAMPION “BAD” CHAD DAWSON TO MEET SATURDAY, APRIL 28 AT BOARDWALK HALL IN ATLANTIC CITY TO DETERMINE WHO IS CHAMPION “ONCE AND FOR ALL”
HBO World Championship Boxing® To Televise The Light Heavyweight Showdown
New York City, February 22 – The oldest fighter in boxing history to win a world title, Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins, and former World Champion “Bad” Chad Dawson will meet again to settle their heated feud following their October 2011 bout, which was originally scored as a TKO win for Dawson, but later ruled a no decision by the California State Athletic Commission. The two are ready to resume their high-stakes rivalryon Saturday, April 28 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The 12 round bout for Hopkins’ WBC and Ring Magazine light heavyweight world championships will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:15 p.m. ET/7:15 p.m. PT.
“Chad Dawson can say whatever he wants, but I am not going to trash talk this one,” said Hopkins. “Everyone knows what I am capable of in the ring. They have seen it over 50 times before in the last 20 plus years. I will say that I am really happy that this is on HBO so that all of my fans from across the country can see me continue this unprecedented path. I absolutely want to prove that I can beat Chad Dawson, another guy that is almost two decades younger than me and I am confident I will on April 28.”
“The first fight did not go as planned, but I’m confident I was going to win that night,” said Dawson. “Hopkins is going to have to face his fears. Bernard tried to run away from me, but here we are again. I’m thrilled about the whole situation. I’m very excited to fight on the East Coast because a lot of my fans will be there to see me live. I know I’ll be ready come fight night.”
“Whenever Bernard Hopkins fights, I get the chills because he is a living legend,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “Bernard has an amazing history, having fought and defeated so many world champions. I truly believe that he and Dawson facing off in Atlantic City on HBO World Championship Boxing is a recipe for an unforgettable night.”
“The score must be settled once and for all,” said Gary Shaw, CEO of Gary Shaw Productions. “Chad Dawson has something to prove. We all know Bernard Hopkins is a future Hall of Famer, but Chad is not going to let him get away with any of his antics or funny stuff. Chad wanted this bout and now that he has it, he’s going to do whatever it takes to be a champion once again.”
“Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawson have unfinished business and we look forward to televising this intriguing light heavyweight showdown,” said Kery Davis, senior vice president, programming, HBO Sports. “Bernard’s credentials as a future Hall of Famer are firmly established and he captured the world’s attention last year when he won a world title at the age of 46. Chad is an extremely talented fighter in his prime. This sets up to be a hard-fought encounter that boxing fans will be excited to see.”
“Bernard Hopkins is a world champion athlete who grew up and trained in the greater Philadelphia area, just a short ride from Atlantic City, so this fight is going to be a great draw for Atlantic City,” said Don Marrandino, Eastern Division President for Caesars Entertainment. “Some of the greatest boxing matches and sporting events have been hosted in Atlantic City and on April 28, Historic Boardwalk Hall will be the backdrop to what could be Hopkins’ most historic fights and likely one of the final bouts of his career – he’s one of the most exciting boxers to watch and one of the greatest athletes of the past 50 years.”
“Hopkins vs. Dawson: Once And For All,” a 12 round bout for Hopkins’ WBC and Ring Magazine light heavyweight world championships, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions and sponsored by Caesars Atlantic City. The bout will take place from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey and be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing® beginning at 10:15 p.m. ET/7:15 p.m. PT.
Tickets, priced at $300, $200, $100, $50 and $25, go on sale on Thursday, February 23 at 12:00 p.m. ET. Tickets will be available for purchase at the Boardwalk Hall box office, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 736-1420 or online at ticketmaster.com.
The oldest man in boxing history to win a major world title, 47-year old Bernard Hopkins (52-5-2, 32 KO’s) still fights with the skill and tenacity of fighters 20 years his junior. A proud native of Philadelphia, Hopkins has not only secured a future spot in the Hall of Fame, he has solidified his place amongst athletes who have achieved greatness well into their forties. Between his 10-year title reign at middleweight and his incredible victories over Antonio Tarver, Winky Wright, Kelly Pavlik and Roy Jones Jr., all after the age of 41, Hopkins is truly a living legend. In May 2011, he reached the top of the boxing mountain once again with his stirring victory over Jean Pascal, breaking the age record previously held by George Foreman. Today, Hopkins is a few months away from breaking another record and becoming the oldest reigning champion ever as he continues to follow the path of Archie Moore, who made his last title defense at 47 years and seven months old. Should Hopkins be victorious on April 28, he will become one step closer to reaching that goal as he faces Dawson with the intention of adding another amazing achievement to his resume.
Former WBC and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion “Bad” Chad Dawson (30-1, 17 KO’s) has long been considered one of the sport’s best pound for pound by boxing insiders and his victories over respected world champions such as Glen Johnson (twice), Antonio Tarver (twice), and Tomasz Adamek have proven that he has the talent and athleticism to stay atop his division. In 2011, the 29-year old from New Haven, Conn. bounced back from his lone loss to Pascal in 2010 with an impressive win over Adrian Diaconu, but it’s Hopkins that he really wants to add to his list of vanquished foes, and now he has his chance. Dawson is ready to end Hopkins’ victory lap as the oldest world champion and start a new chapter of his career as a newly re-crowned champion.
The historic Boardwalk Hall, which first opened in 1929, underwent a three year, $90 million renovation to transform the building into a modern special events arena capable of variable seating for up to 14,500 people. Upon it’s reopening in 2001, it has been recognized as the destination’s premier entertainment venue, known for high profile concerts, family shows, and sporting events.
For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.garyshawproductions.com; follow on Twitter at @goldenboyboxing, @GaryShawBoxing, @THEREALBHOP, @BadChadDawson; or become a fan on Facebook at Golden Boy Boxing Facebook Page or Bernard Hopkins Facebook Page. Follow HBO Boxing news at www.hbo.com/boxing, Facebook at www.facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter @hboboxing . Follow Caesars Atlantic City on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CaesarsAtlanticCity and on Twitter @CaesarsAC.
As in September, I once again ran out of gas in the 10th & 11th championship rounds of October & November with this column, but I recovered to complete them and will unleash a few more flurries to close out the 12th and final round.
In the first week of October, Hassan N’Dam won a UD over Curtis Stevens in an eliminator for the right to challenge Jermaine Taylor who defeated aging Sam Soliman to regain the IBF Middleweight title. How Taylor even earned this title shot is another story altogether, but it is all irrelevant as he is now the champion. However he will not have too much time to savor his victory as he has assault and battery charges pending against him and an upcoming court fight that may turn out to be the toughest fight of his life, just when things started to look up for him in boxing, we wish him luck.
