WBC overturn referee's decision and declare last Saturday's title fight a technical draw
The WBC have decided ahead of the California State Athletic Commission's decision scheduled mid-December to change the result of last Saturday's Bernard Hopkins v Chad Dawson fight from a second round TKO for Dawson, to a technical draw. The result of this decision means that Bernard Hopkins is reinstated as WBC light heavyweight champion with immediate effect.
The WBC do not have the power to change the result of the fight on Hopkins professional record, so for the moment it still reads as ''L TKO 2 Chad Dawson.'' Only the California State Athletic Commission have the power to change the result of a fight, and it is believed that they will ultimately do so – to either a No Contest or like the WBC, to a Technical Draw.
In an official statement, the WBC Board Of Governors stated:
''After reviewing the video of the fight, the board unanimously declared that the action reflects a clear intentional lifting the body followed by a push by Dawson to Hopkins, that made him fall on his left side with part of his body out of the ropes.''
Last weekend's WBC light heavyweight title fight ended in controversy. In the second round, Hopkins missed with a straight right, and his momentum carried him over Dawson's shoulder and partially over his back. Dawson subsequently lifted Hopkins off the canvas and tossed him backward. Hopkins stumbled then collapsed to the canvas onto his left side. He was seen to immediately wince in pain.
Referee Pat Russell quickly called "time!" and then summoned the ringside doctor. Hopkins informed the doctor that he believed he had dislocated his left shoulder, but insisted he wanted to continue fighting. The doctor told both Hopkins and the referee that that would not be possible. The referee then took the decision to award Dawson the fight and the WBC light heavyweight title on a TKO, ruling that in his opinion no foul had been committed.
Upon hearing the news on his reinstatement as champion, Hopkins told ESPN ''I feel very happy. I feel that justice was done.''
Not so happy was Dawson's promoter Gary Shaw:
"I'm disappointed that the WBC saw fit to call it a technical draw." Shaw told ESPN "I'm sure, as sure as I can be, is that the WBC will put Chad as the No. 1 mandatory again. I don't think it was the right decision. We believe Hopkins committed the first foul by going on Chad's back. Chad did what anyone would do and tried to get him off his back. I accept their ruling but I don't agree with it."
It remains to be seen if the WBC will order an immediate rematch between Hopkins and Dawson. Both the paid attendance at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and the pay-per-view figures were reportedly ''disappointing'', but thanks in no small part to the controversy of last Saturday's fight and the subsequent global attention it has received, Hopkins v Dawson 2 would be a must-see fight for most boxing fans should it go ahead.
Dan Hunter is a lifelong boxing aficionado and our Boxing Editor.