By Dan Ambrose: WBC light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson (31-1, 17 KO’s) sees his size and strength as being keys to victory for him against WBA/WBC super middleweight champion Andre Ward (25-0, 13 KO’s) on September 8th on HBO at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California.

Dawson said “I’m looking forward to becoming super middleweight champion of the world. I’m bigger, stronger and I can last. Andre Ward is a great fighter but on fight night I’m going to get my way. I’ve got a lot at stake and Andre Ward has a lot at stake too. I’m excited. This fight is going to put me in a position I want to be in, so I’m excited about that.”

There’s no question that the 6’1″ Dawson is the taller fighter compared to the 6’0″ Ward. Dawson is probably closer to 6’3″ than his listed height of 6’1″, as he looked over two inches taller than Ward when the two fighters came head to head recently in a face off. But Dawson’s 5 1/2″ reach could be a much more important factor for him than being the taller guy because it could help him control the action from the outside if he’s able to keep Ward at a distance. As far as the power goes it’s hard to tell which fighter is the bigger puncher. Both guys seem to have good power, but neither has a high percentage of knockouts on their resumes.

Ward hasn’t knocked anyone out in three years since stopping a badly overmatched Shelby Pudwell in the 3rd round in September 2009. And the 30-year-old Dawson hasn’t recorded a knockout since halting Epifanio Mendoza five years ago in the 4th round in September 2007. The fact that neither guy has stopped anyone in many years seems to suggest that this fight will go to decision and will up being a boxing match. Dawson is a pure boxer and is difficult to beat if he’s able to keep the fight on the outside.

In his one loss in his career Dawson has problems with the speed and explosive power of Jean Pascal. He fought in a tentative manner and really didn’t start to get into the fight until he came alive in the 11th round and staggered Pascal with a flurry.

The fight, however, was quickly stopped after Pascal collided heads with Dawson opening up a bad cut above his right eye. Ward doesn’t have the same speed and or explosive power that Pascal has, but he can make it difficult for Dawson if he’s able to get his shots off first.