JM: How have things been looking in training camp with Chad Dawson [who challenges Bernard Hopkins for the world light heavyweight championship this weekend]?

John Scully: So far, so good. I'm very excited because he's so excited. The whole camp has had a very upbeat vibe to it, every day has been tough but worthwhile and productive.

JM: Any interesting training methods implemented in this camp that wasn't present during last camp?

John Scully: No, nothing in particular. I feel like we basically picked up where we left off last time, continued the process, getting stronger and sharper as we go.

JM: Although the first fight lasted two rounds [and was declared a no contest when Hopkins said he could not continue due to a shoulder injury], how much was the film of the first fight used to develop a game plan for this fight?

John Scully: We had a beautiful game plan going into the first fight and not enough happened in the first fight to really need any reason to change that. If anything, how the first fight went showed us that what we were doing was just fine.

JM: Are there are any mistakes that Chad made during that fight that you saw?

John Scully: Nah, nothing significant. He did a whole lot more right than he did wrong that's for sure.

JM: The first fight ended due to Chad pushing Bernard off of him, and Bernard fell to the canvas, unable to continue due to a shoulder injury. Is the shoving tactic going to be discarded in this fight?

John Scully: People need to realize once and for all that this was no "tactic" used by Chad. If you watch the video it was literally something that happened in the blink of an eye. Hopkins thrust himself on Chad's back and a split second later he was on the floor. It was nothing planned, there was no time to even think it out. I challenge anyone to watch the tape with an open mind and see something different.

JM: Age catches up with all of us. Do you think it will finally catch up with Hopkins in this fight?

John Scully: You never can tell. He could lose this fight and still come back later on against someone with a less difficult style and do well. It just doesn't seem to me that he will be able to shine against the style and skill set that Chad comes in with but that doesn't necessarily mean he couldn't do well against another younger guy. But, with that said, it stands to reason that when he is eighty years he old he won't be fighting on HBO anymore so it pretty much has to end sometime, somewhere. I think boxing logic points to April 28 being the beginning of Chad's era more than it points to the continuation of Bernard's.

JM: Any closing thoughts for the fans?

John Scully: I can only say that Chad Dawson very much wants to perform like everyone in boxing knows he is capable of.  This fight is like a coming out party for him. He's shown many glimpses in the past of what he is capable of and I think it has taken a challenge and a moment like this one to bring it all out of him. He wants to make his mark on the boxing world on April 28. So don't miss it!!

D

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