Maybe the announcers were instructed by HBO execs to really talk Dawson up if he was in control at all, to try to bolster interest in him for future fights?[/quote]

I do believe this is exactly what is happening with most of the HBO fight's anymore.There really isn't no one on the horizon who is a stellar HBO ticketseller so I do think they are trying to sell whoever and whatever they can to the fans to get some bigger payday's. I mean for real Dawson said he is done fighting the older fighters who have been around forever. Then turns around after the fight and says he wants Hopkins. To me it just seemed a little funny and set-up.