Dawson vs. Pascal on June 19th: Is Chad too big for Jean?
February 18th, 2010
By William Mackay: Although the negotiations for a fight between World Boxing Council light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal (25-1, 16 KO’s) and WBC light heavyweight interim champion Chad Dawson 29-0, 17 KO’s) haven’t been ironed out yet, this is a fight that is sure to bring excitement to the light heavyweight division when the fight is finally announced. There is a question whether the 27-year-old Pascal’s right shoulder will be healed by June 19th. The date may have to be pushed back beyond that date depending on how well Pascal’s recently injured shoulder responds to training.
Incredibly, Pascal was able to control the last two rounds with his left hand and end up winning the fight by the scores of 117-111, 117-111 and 118-110. As good as this victory was for Pascal, he’s going to have to be a lot better if he wants to beat a fighter like Dawson. Not only is Dawson a much better fighter than Diaconu, but he’s also a lot bigger than Diaconu at 6’1” compared to the 5’9” Romanian.
Pascal won’t win against Dawson if his shoulder gives out on him again, so he needs to make sure that it’s 100% by the time he steps in the ring with the American Dawson. Additionally, Dawson will have a two inch height advantage over Pascal and an incredible 11” inch reach advantage over Pascal. That’s a pretty significant number when you consider that Pascal isn’t going to have a speed advantage over the blazing fast Dawson like he normally does against his opponents.
Pascal, who slaps a lot with his shots, also isn’t likely going to knock Dawson out either. If Pascal wins the fight, he’s going to have to figure out a way to beat Dawson by a decision. Giving up a foot in reach to Dawson may be too much for Pascal to make up. He doesn’t have great stamina, so Pascal won’t be able to plan on walking Dawson down and trying to wear him down in the later rounds.
Carl Froch exposed Pascal’s stamina in his 12 round decision win over Pascal in December 2008. More than likely, Pascal will be at his best in the first half of the fight, and thereafter he will steadily fade against the bigger, rangier Dawson. My guess is Pascal ends up being beaten as bad Antonio Tarver was in his two losses against Dawson.
At best, I see Pascal winning three, maybe four rounds if he’s fighting well, but no more than that. This is going to be like a good super middleweight [Pascal] facing an excellent light heavyweight [Dawson] and I just can’t see Pascal having the size to compete in this fight. It will be interesting to talk about the fight, but the actual fight will likely be a huge letdown.
Tags: 7 Responses to “Dawson vs. Pascal on June 19th: Is Chad too big for Jean?”
Leave a Reply
please use above banner to link back to us!
I agree totally with this article… I mean anything can happen.. but with a fighter like chad who is patient and takes opportunities when there presented i dont see him changing his gameplan. Pascal is tough but he wont be fighting in a brawl, he will be fighting a technically sound fighter and with his skill set i just think he will be too much in the end. Hes fought better talent and i think its a great win for Chad.I just hope pascal’s shoulder is ok so there wont be any excuses.
WTF;
First I really doubt Pavlik would fight Dawson. Second, Dawson would have to drop 15 pounds to fight Williams!!! Williams won’t fight above 160 and Dawson fights at 175!! Dawson-Williams is simply not even possible. Williams does best at 147, which is a far cry from 175!!
I want to see Hopkins-Dawson! Dawson should give B-hop a taste of his own medicine and jump in the ring and call him out and disrespect him, if B-hop wins against Jones! Hopkins shouldn’t be instigating anything when he’s scared of Dawson. I see the light-heavyweight division like the heavyweight after Vitali retires. One fighter a few notches above everyone else.
don’t think this will be a hard for chad. Pascal is good, he fast, quick, with good power, and is fun to watch but chad is too skilled. Mismatch…..plain and simple…..Peace
i’m not sure you know. i can see pascal giving dawson a few problems
I agree with this article slightly. I do think the fight will be somewhat of a let down. Dawson is simply gonna use range all night, use range, use range. It wins fights, he’s gonna throw those fast combinations and those hard body shots, staying on the outside and he’s gonna walk away with an easy UD. Pascal would need to close distance on Dawson if he has any hope of beating him – or for that much landing cleanly on him. Pascal has been given the rap as a brawler because of the Froch fight, but if you’ve watched some of his more recent fights he isn’t that same fighter. He’s a bit more patient, moves the head waits for the counter, but he does this with his left hand low….that works against the Diaconu’s of the world but Dawson will tattoo him if he approaches the fight like such. Easy fight, Dawson picks up another belt, and probably takes on Cloud later on this year in what should be a more entertaining fight….same result though. Once Chad unifies all the major belts its time for him to test himself at cruiserweight and after maybe capturing a blet there he should probably make the step to the top of the ladder at HW. Its a lofty goal but I really think the guy has ATG type talent, just doesn’t have the stage to showcase it
i disagree with this slightly.
i think pascal will be just as quick as dawson and if he is slower it won’t be by much. i also think pascal is a good boxer but can slug also which is sometimes to his detriment but he will need that against chad because chad is too good a boxer for him.
dawson has been fighting old men despite johnson’s impressive win over mack both tarver and johnson posed little threat to dawson and pascal is at least alot younger and fresher than those fightersan should provide a tougher challenge despite the height and reach advantage for dawson.
if pascal’s shoulder holds up i think it will be a good fight i do agree however with your assessment of the verdict being a dawson unanimous decision