''Bad'' Chad Dawson became the new WBC light heavyweight champion of the world last night, scoring a second round TKO over Bernard Hopkins in the Staples Center, Los Angeles. How long he will be allowed to keep the title is not clear; his victory was highly controversial and once again boxing is making headlines for all the wrong reasons today.

Late in the second round of a contest that Dawson at that stage looked in control of, the challenger slipped a right-hand from Hopkins - let the champion's momentum carry him partially over his shoulder, then tossed him backwards to the canvas – WWE style. Hopkins stumbled then crashed heavily onto his left side and immediately winced in pain. 

Referee Pat Russell then clearly called ''time'' and sent Dawson to a neutral corner. The ringside doctor was summoned, and Hopkins informed him that his shoulder had dislocated, but he wanted to continue fighting ''with one hand.'' (In 2000, a similar thing happened when Hopkins was shoved to the canvass by the wild swinging Antwun Echols in the fifth round of an IBF middleweight title defence, injuring his right shoulder. On that occasion, Hopkins was allowed time to recover, then continued fighting, initially with one hand. Hopkins won the fight on a KO in the tenth.)

The doctor informed Hopkins that would not be possible, whereupon the referee told Hopkins that he was ruling the bout a TKO, as in his opinion no foul had been committed. 

By now Dawson, who believed that his opponent was attempting to milk the incident for all it was worth, was hurling all kinds of abuse in Hopkins direction. Hopkins and his corner looked astonished. Hopkins believed he was intentionally fouled by Dawson, and thought he would have the mandatory five minutes to recover. Because Russell did not view Dawson’s shove as foul, Hopkins was not given time to recover. 

''It was not a foul. It’s a TKO'' Russell said. ''(Hopkins) could not continue because of an injury.''

46 year old Hopkins, who for the moment sees his record slip to  52-6-2, with 32 KO's, completely disagreed with the referees decision.

''That was a blatant foul,'' he said. ''It should be a No-Contest. (Russell) asked if I could continue fighting and I said ´´Yes, I will continue with one arm. I’m ready.`` Then he called the fight off. He just walked away. He never explained to me that (if I couldn’t continue) he would disqualify me, that it would be over.''

Hopkins went on to pour scorn over the tactics he felt Dawson was using in the fight.

''He wanted to rough me up with dirty tactics,'' said Hopkins. ''They knew that was the only way to beat me. He knew he wasn’t in with a 46 year old, because I was faster than him. I didn’t want the fight to go this way.'' 

Dawson believed that Hopkins had made the most of the incident and used it as a way out of a fight he was going to lose.

''Hopkins ran from me for three years,'' he said. ''I knew he didn’t want the fight. He keeps talking about being from Philly and being a gangster. He’s not a gangster. Gangsters don’t quit. He’s weak, physically and mentally. I was going to get on him and he knew it.''  

The first round had seen Dawson start positively, dominating with his fast southpaw jab, and scoring with a couple of potent straight lefts that won him the round. Up to the incident, the second round was more of the same. 29 year old Dawson, who for now has a record of 31-1 with 18 KO's, looked the far bigger and more powerful man. Both are officially listed as being 6´1´´, but Dawson looked to have a couple of inches over his opponent, as well as at least ten pounds. 

The omens weren't looking great for Hopkins at that point, but veteran B-Hop watchers would know better than writing him off after a couple of rounds. Nevertheless, it was imperative that Dawson made a fast start if was to have any chance of taking Hopkins' crown, and he was certainly doing just that. 

The nearly 9000 fans in the Staples Center who had been chanting ''B-Hop'' and ''Bad-Chad'' now chanted ''Bull-Shit'' as events unfolded in the ring. While several hours earlier fans in Liverpool had witnessed a WBO light heavyweight title fight between Nathan Cleverly and Tony Bellew that had taken on epic proportions, the LA fans were left with boxing's biggest anti-climax of 2011. 

The Hopkins camp have lodged an official complaint to both the California State Athletic Commission and the World Boxing Council. Expect an announcement within the next 24 hours. My money is on the bout being ruled a No-Contest, and Hopkins vs Dawson being replayed in early 2012.