The head offices of the WBC sent videos, medical reports, and the WBC corresponding rules to the Board of Governors, that unanimously declared a technical draw on the fight; therefore, the Mexico City-based sanctioning organization reinstated Bernard Hopkins as its 175-pound world champion and declared the fight a technical draw on Thursday.
The fight ended in a storm of controversy with Chad Dawson being declared a second-round winner by technical knockout last Saturday night at the Staples Center. It happened after Hopkins, who missed a right hand, wound up draped over Dawson’s back during his follow through. Dawson then grabbed Hopkins by the leg, lifted him and shoved him down to the canvas. Hopkins landed awkwardly on the edge of the ring, suffered a dislocation of the joint connecting his left shoulder to his collar bone and was unable to continue.
The California Hospital Medical Center report was also considered by the Board, which states “Bernard Hopkins has been released from the California Medical Center in Los Angeles after being x-rayed and examined by Dr. Sam Thurber, MD who diagnosed Hopkins with a separation of the acromioclavicular (A-C) joint which connects the collar bone and shoulder blade.”
The WBC considered that point 29 of the rule WC-34, related to fouls was violated: “any rough tactics other than clean punches,” covered the ruling of the WBC.
In conclusion, after examining thoroughly the video of the fight and the medical report, as well as the corresponding rules, the WBC Board of Governors decided unanimously to declare the bout as a technical draw and consider Bernard Hopkins still as the WBC light heavyweight.
“I’d like to thank Mr. Sulaiman and the board for looking at the tape and just for taking the time to look at the tape,” Hopkins said. “They came up with what I think is the right decision. Like me or hate me, I think most people will think it’s the right decision that they made.”
Can the WBC also give refunds to all the ppl that got robbed with this ppv …. Lol..
@Edgar,
Hopefully the decision gets changed. I’ve seen others get changed.
@jesus I agree with the rules being the rules,it just sucks it ended this way…
If you follow the rules, then yes Dawson won. If you follow the replay (which is not allowed in boxing), then it should have been a no contest.
@Jesus you agree with Chad winning?
Although the WBC can give the title back to Hopkins they can not change the official decision. Let’s hope the CSAC does the right thing as well.
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