This much awaited rematch is being billed "Once and For All", but the first Hopkins vs. Dawson fight reminded me of a childhood memory; a couple prelims followed by an abrupt ending.
I remember being a young kid and going to the old balcony style San Jose movie theater downtown to watch the newest Friday the 13thmovie (Part 7); plus the two other movies that were being shown with it. The admission got you three movies for the price of one back then. We sat through the first two vigilante movies waiting for the Jason flick to finally start. After the second intermission, the lights dimmed again and it was finally time for our favorite slasher to start killing campers.
The movie starts; the camp counselors arrive and started drinking beers and partying; but before anyone got naked and Jason could start slashing his machete, everyone in the movie theater heard a big BANG! The picture went black and even the dim lights on the wall turned off. We could still hear the movie, but it was pitch black in the middle of a slasher film. The movie-goers got rowdy, started yelling and whistling, throwing popcorn everywhere when an usher runs in and screams “Everyone get out, there’s a fire!”
If you’ve seen Inglorious Bastards then you’ve learned old film is very flammable and whatever the loud BANG was, that’s what definitely started the fire. Its chaos as everyone is running out, but I clearly remember not being scared – I was pissed. I waited through two friggin movies to see the main event. Jason didn’t even get a chance to sharpen his blade on a young counselor’s throat and before I knew it the movie was over. Just like the Hopkins-Dawson fight. Watched the prelims and got to the main event only to have it end in 2 rounds after a big BANG like in the movie theater. Only this time it wasn’t a fire, this time the big BANG was Hopkins getting slammed on the canvas. Injuring his shoulder and the fight was called because he could not continue. The first Hopkins vs. Dawson fight turned out to be like Friday the 13thPart 7 for me, jipped once again.
Funny thing is, as people are running out of a burning building I remember someone giving free movie passes for the next visit. That never happened, the old San Jose Theater never re-opened after that fire. I wonder if anyone gave tickets to the rematch as people stormed out of Staples Center that night. Probably not…
Someone on Twitter asked what we learned, if anything from the first encounter between Hopkins and Dawson. How could you? That’s like asking what I learned from the opening scene of Friday the 13th. I had an idea what was going to happen, but we didn’t know where the story was going and no one had established themselves as the protagonist yet. It was too early to see anything unfold. The first encounter didn’t teach us anything. What we know about the rematch is this; the old slasher, “The Executioner” Bernard Hopkins is finally back, and that means the ‘good guy’ “Bad” Chad Dawson has to prove he is the better man and take him out Once and For All. It’s been a long recovery and Bernard Hopkins received a lot of backlash from people claiming his injury was not legitimate; accusing him of not wanting to fight. That’s all speculation, but Chad Dawson made sure everyone questioned Hopkins integrity as he was the first one to start accusing Hopkins of faking it.
Bernard was the official loser that night, but Golden Boy Promotions immediately appealed and had the bout turned into a No Contest giving Bernard Hopkins his belts back. Chad Dawson insists he will retire Bernard Hopkins for good and rightfully reclaim the Light Heavyweight belts. This time what we seek more than anything is closure. Will it be the passing of a torch or will the ageless slasher be back for another sequel.
"The Executioner" Bernard Hopkins (52-5-2, 32 KO's) vs "BAD" Chad Dawson (30-1, 17 KO's) will be looking to settle the score "Once and For All" live from the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ on HBO. The under card will feature Heavyweights Chazz Witherspoon (3--2, 22 KO's) vs. Seth Mitchell (24-0-1, 18 KO's)
Enjoy the promo...