rokko
09-10-2011, 01:29 AM
Steward told The Queensberry Rules Friday that Dawson's lawyer informed him two days ago that Dawson wouldn't be reporting to the Kronk Gym in Detroit for training because he wanted to stay in his home state of Connecticut. Steward said he couldn't move his operation to Connecticut because he's training several fighters for upcoming bouts, including middleweight Andy Lee. And although Steward said he respected Dawson's choice, boxers traditionally go to their trainers' gyms rather than vice versa -- and he noted that staying close to home can be fraught with distractions for a fighter.
Upheaval in Dawson’s corner is nothing new. Steward in December replaced Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, one of a list of several well-regarded trainers Dawson has worked with in recent years, among them Floyd Mayweather, Sr., Dan Birmingham and John Scully. Some analysts have blamed the constant trainer switches for Dawson lacking a strong sense of identity in the ring, despite all his physical talents.
"I've been waiting on him to show every week," Steward said. "His lawyer called and said want to be closer to home. I don’t know. I respect that he wants to be close to his family, but I’m definitely not in agreement with him."
Steward said he didn't know who would be training Dawson for Hopkins in the Oct. 15 HBO pay-per-view headliner, and didn't know if Dawson wanted to part ways permanently, since he hasn't spoken to him. Steward said Dawson still might beat Hopkins on raw talent alone, and that he wishes him luck, but that Dawson is hurting his chances of victory.
"Whoever it is, it's not a good idea to be changing at the last minute," Steward said. "This is a very, very serious fight with Bernard. You can’t do that with Bernard. He's got a solid team. You've got to respect him."
Upheaval in Dawson’s corner is nothing new. Steward in December replaced Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, one of a list of several well-regarded trainers Dawson has worked with in recent years, among them Floyd Mayweather, Sr., Dan Birmingham and John Scully. Some analysts have blamed the constant trainer switches for Dawson lacking a strong sense of identity in the ring, despite all his physical talents.
"I've been waiting on him to show every week," Steward said. "His lawyer called and said want to be closer to home. I don’t know. I respect that he wants to be close to his family, but I’m definitely not in agreement with him."
Steward said he didn't know who would be training Dawson for Hopkins in the Oct. 15 HBO pay-per-view headliner, and didn't know if Dawson wanted to part ways permanently, since he hasn't spoken to him. Steward said Dawson still might beat Hopkins on raw talent alone, and that he wishes him luck, but that Dawson is hurting his chances of victory.
"Whoever it is, it's not a good idea to be changing at the last minute," Steward said. "This is a very, very serious fight with Bernard. You can’t do that with Bernard. He's got a solid team. You've got to respect him."