• Bernard Hopkins v Chad Dawson, October 15

Hopkins sets Dawson KO challenge

ESPN staff
October 15, 2011
Bernard Hopkins became the oldest-ever world champion earlier this year © PA Photos
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WBC light-heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins has told Chad Dawson he is "ready for war" ahead of their Los Angeles showdown on Saturday.

Hopkins, who became the oldest-ever world champion when he beat Jean Pascal at the age of 46 earlier this year, makes the first defence of his title against Dawson.

Neither has a reputation for knockouts: Hopkins hasn't scored one since 2004, while Dawson has to go back to 2007 for his last - but Hopkins is surprisingly calling on his opponent to rediscover his power.

"I want you [Dawson] to bring the best out of me," he said. "I am challenging Chad Dawson to try to knock me out. I want to see the best Chad Dawson."

Hopkins has bounced back from successive defeats in 2005 to be considered one of the pound-for-pound kings, and he has lifted the lid on how he finds inspiration, revealing that he thinks back to the four-year period he spent in prison during his youth.

"That is where I go when I get ready for war," he said. "You try to figure out what my secret is. I systematically calculate and go back to a place that is very dark. I go back to that place without putting myself in a position where I won't lose my freedom."

The winner of the fight is set to clash with whoever wins the Nathan Cleverly v Tony Bellew bout, also on Saturday.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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