By Dan Ambrose: This Saturday night 47-year-old WBC light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins (52-5-2, 32 KO’s) will be defending his World Boxing Council title against Chad Dawson (30-1, 17 KO’s) in a return match from their 2nd round no contest last year in October.

For those who don’t remember, Dawson lost his cool in the 2nd round after Hopkins fell on top of his back after missing a shot. Dawson, who had problems with Hopkins clinging to him after throwing shots, picked him up and deposited the old warrior on the canvas where Hopkins was injured his left shoulder during the fall.

Initially, it was ruled a 2nd round knockout by referee Pat Russell. However, upon appeal, the results were changed to a no contest by the WBC and the California State Athletic Commission. Hopkins got to keep his title, but Dawson’s camp appealed to the WBC to get a rematch, as Hopkins was going to move on rather than face Dawson again. However, the WBC ruled in Dawson’s favor, so Hopkins is now facing him a second time rather than relinquishing his belt or having it stripped from him by the WBC.

At the end of the day, Hopkins may wish that he had given up the title because he’s got his work cut out for him against Dawson this Saturday. Unless Dawson flips out again and decides to rough Hopkins up, Bernard is going to be in deep trouble in this fight. He doesn’t have the speed, power, boxing ability, size or the youth to win this fight.

All Hopkins has is his inside fighting ability and a bag of tricks to both slow the fight down, to smother Dawson’s offensive efforts and some tactics that could get Dawson to blow his top and start fouling to get even with Hopkins. Dawson can’t respond fire with fire, because he’ll likely lose in that kind of fight.

The 47-year-old Hopkins is too famous, and he’ll likely get away with any fouls he might use in the fight. I can’t see him being docked a point by any referee in boxing. Dawson is going to have to realize that he’ll only be hurting himself if he decides to get rough with Hopkins. Dawson is much better off keeping his cool and just looking to out-box him without making it personal.

Dawson needs to realize that Hopkins will be likely trying to get him fighting mad because it’ll make it more likely that Dawson commits fouls and that will lead to the referee stopping the action and thus giving Hopkins rest breaks and points. Hopkins gets an advantage no matter what if Dawson starts fouling.