Bernard Hopkins has got back the WBC light-heavyweight title he controversially lost after his defeat against Chad Dawson was distorted to a technical draw. Last Saturday's fight had broken in contentious fashion as Dawson threw Hopkins to the canvas in the second round and was awarded a technological knockout when the upset veteran could not continue.
Referee Pat Russell ruled that Dawson had not committed a foul so Hopkins was hand the first stoppage defeat of his 23-year career. Hopkins right away lodged an appeal, however, and WBC officials have oppose with the referee and adjudged that a draw was the correct result as the incident occurred before the fifth round.
Dawson had heatedly suggested that Hopkins had artificial injury in order to get out of the fight, but it later emerged that the 46-year-old suffered a dislocation of the joint between his left shoulder and collarbone. It remains to be seen whether the WBC will order a replay between the two fighters.
Hopkins, who had been lined up as a future adversary for Wales' WBO champion Nathan Cleverly, became the oldest fighter to claim a major world title in May when he beat Jean Pascal on points to claim the belt.
The WBC, in their judgment, stated that Dawson's action reflects a clear deliberate lifting the body follow with a push by Dawson to Hopkins that made him fall on his left side with part of his body out of the ropes.
They also said that Dawson violated the rule barring any rough tactics other than clean punches and since it occurred prior to the fifth round it should have resulted in a technical draw, rather than a technical decision based on scorecards.