Dawson stops Hopkins - 'Believe it or not!'

Ringside by Francisco Salazar & Rocco Morales
Photos by “Big” Joe Miranda

The title of the boxing promotion from Saturday night between Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawson was “Believe It or Not.”

Seems like a creative idea, as there were fight fans who believed Hopkins would successfully defend his world title belt three months shy of his 47th birthday.

And there were people who believed that Dawson was going to have a career-defining fight against Hopkins, and become a three-time world title holder with a victory over the future Hall of Famer.

However, most in attendance at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, and those watching the pay-per-view telecast could not believe the outcome of what transpired inside the ring- or the decision afterward.

Dawson was awarded a second round knockout victory, after Hopkins, according to referee Pat Russell, was not able to continue from falling down hard onto the canvas, injuring his left shoulder.

The crowd of 8,431 mostly booed the outcome of the fight and walked out into the cool Southern California night wondering whether there was a legitimate injury from Hopkins or angered of Dawson using a tactic that he should not have used in his victory, if one could it that, over Hopkins.

Hopkins, fighting longer than half of his life as a professional, was coming off a 12 round unanimous decision over Jean Pascal in Montreal in May. With the victory, he became not only the oldest fighter to win a significant world title belt, but becoming the oldest athlete in any sport to win a significant championship.

The talented Dawson, who in recent fights has underachieved, especially in his loss to Pascal last August, won an uninspiring 12 round decision over Adrian Diaconu. His victory occurred on the same night Hopkins defeated Pascal.

Hopkins promised to school Dawson, 17 years his junior, while Dawson, with new trainer John Scully in tow as he had an amicable split with Emanuel Steward, vowed to be the first fighter to knock out Hopkins.

From the opening round, Dawson pressed the action as Hopkins mostly moved side to side. By CompuBox numbers, both landed five punches in the round, although the telling blow in the round was a straight left hand by Dawson to the head of Hopkins.

In the second round, Hopkins tried to land short right hands, while the southpaw Dawson attempted to land with counters and hooks to the head and body. Hopkins landed a short right uppercut to the head of Dawson halfway through the round. Dawson fell to the canvas, but looked as though he was off-balanced. Russell ruled it a slip.

Towards the end of the round, Hopkins attempted to land a lead straight right hand to Dawson’s head. Dawson ducked, but Hopkins momentum carried him onto Dawson’s shoulder. Dawson pushed up with his body, pushing Hopkins off of him and, using his left arm to lift his opponent’s right leg up, deposited his foe upon the canvas. Hopkins landed awkwardly onto his elbow, followed onto his back underneath the ring ropes. Hopkins remained on the canvas writhing in pain, although some were skeptical if he was indeed hurt, even Dawson and his corner.

Hopkins sat up and complained that his shoulder was hurt, but gave no verbal indication that he wanted the fight to stop. Referee Russell stopped the bout at 2:48, stating that there was no foul and awarding Dawson a technical knockout.

Whereas it is not uncommon to see fighters use their shoulders in fights to create space to punch, the manner in which Dawson did on Saturday night against Hopkins raised questions if it was more on purpose or accidental.

After the fight, Hopkins was taken to California Hospital Medical Center, where he was diagnosed with a separation of the acromioclavicular (A-C) joint, which connects the collar bone and shoulder blade.

George Dodd, chief executive officer of the California State Athletic Commission and was in attendance on Saturday night, upheld the decision made by Russell and would speak with the referee at a later date.

“That’s the decision at this time,” said Dodd.

Dawson, who is focused on a rematch with Pascal, claimed that Hopkins would not intimidate him and felt that Hopkins did not have the physical attributes to defeat him.

“I just gave the shoulder. Bernard Hopkins disappointed a lot of fans tonight. I was looking forward to performing tonight. I prepared myself for eight weeks. I had wanted this fight for three years. He was faking it (the injury). Bernard couldn’t touch me. I’m the new champion.”

Hopkins had an obviously different viewpoint of the fight.

“He picked me up by two legs and threw me down on my shoulder. My shoulder blade looks out. I told the referee I could continue with one arm. He said ‘you can’t continue’ and walked away. Look at the tape. Chad Dawson doesn’t deserve to be champion. The outcome should have been a no contest. He picked me up and threw me down. This isn’t the UFC. The fight should be a no contest.”

If Golden Boy Promotions wants to protest the outcome of the fight to a no contest, they have until Thursday to do so.

For now, Dawson, from New Haven, CT, goes to 31-1, 18 KO’s. Hopkins, from Philadelphia, PA, goes to 52-6-2, 32 KO’s. – Francisco Salazar

Demarco Stuns Linares

Trailing badly on the scorecards and with a knockout his only chance for victory, Antonio DeMarco (26-2-1, 19KO) was finally able to get the slick boxing Jorge Linares (31-2, 20KO) in a slugfest in the 11th round and made the most of his opportunity by knocking out the bloodied and battered Linares at 2:32 of the 11th round. With the win, DeMarco captured the vacant WBC lightweight championship that was vacated by his cousin, Humberto Soto.

Up until the time of the knockout, Linares had built a comfortable lead with his speed, slick boxing and solid defense, frustrating DeMarco throughout the fight. But, despite trailing on the scorecards, what DeMarco did have going in his favor was that Linares was bloodied badly with cuts on the bridge of his nose and on the side of one eye, making him a bloody mess for the second half of the fight.

DeMarco spent the first ten rounds chasing, in vain, Linares around the ring but seemed one dimensional with nothing more to offer than his patented right jab, left cross combo which only landed few and far between.

The sixth round did offer a sneak preview of things to come as it was the first time that Linares engaged in exchanges with DeMarco but then in the seventh round, Linares settled back into his groove and continued piling up points by winning round after round.

For whatever reason, however, the Tokyo, Japan, based Venezuelan, Linares, abandoned his game plan in the eleventh round and it cost him dearly. Linares stopped moving and willing engaged in a slugfest with DeMarco and this resulted in a macabre display of Linares’ blood being splashed around the vicinity as DeMarco unloaded on him. Ultimately, Linares would end up defenseless against the ropes and referee, Raul Caiz, Sr., was forced to intervene to save him from further punishment.

Linares would later blame the bloodied nose on a headbutt and demand a rematch.

For DeMarco, it is his first world championship after failing in his first attempt against the late Edwin Valero early last year. At the time of the stoppage, the official score of the judges was 99-91, 98-92 and 98-92, all in favor of Linares. – Rocco Morales

Garcia defeats Holt

Danny Garcia (22-0, 15KO) made it look easy against former champion Kendall Holt (27-5, 15KO) to win the vacant NABO junior welterweight belt, as well as to become the WBC #1 contender.

After getting off to a slow start and losing the first couple rounds, Garcia was able to make the proper adjustments and in the third round landed a solid right cross that staggered Holt but the round ended before Garcia could do more damage.

The middle rounds were lackluster but while Garcia continued to throw a respectable amount of punches, Holt was very inactive and was not much of a factor for the remainder of the bout.

In the eighth round, following an accidental headbutt, the referee separated the fighters and found no cuts, called time in, and, in his best Floyd Mayweather impression, Garcia immediately threw a left hook/right cross combo to little effect over the experienced Holt.

By the ninth round, Holt’s eye was starting to swell shut and seemed to go in survival mode, putting up only a half spirited charge in the final round. Garcia, meanwhile, seemed capable of a knockout, but continued to box cautiously rather than close out the show.

Remarkably, one judge, Wayne Hedgepeth, scored the bout 115-113 in favor of Holt, while the other two judges scored the bout 117-111 in favor of Garcia. FightNews also saw the bout as 117-111 in favor of Garcia.

With the suspect scoring, Garcia had to settle for a split decision victory but gets his most important win to date and makes himself the mandatory challenger to Erik Morales for the WBC lightweight championship. – Rocco Morales

Malignaggi decisions Lora

Paul Malginaggi won a one-sided 10 round unanimous decision over Orlando Lora.

Now campaigning as a welterweight, the former 140-pound world title holder is coming off a 10 round unanimous decision over Jose Miguel Cotto in April. Lora had won his previous two bouts since suffering his first loss of his career to David Estrada last April.

Things did not start well for Malignaggi in the first round. He was wobbled by a hard right hand to the head by Lora. However, Lora was able to follow up as Malignaggi was able to hold on and recover from the punch.

Lora pressed the fight, coming forward and attempting to land to the head. However, Malignaggi side-stepped Lora, countering him with hooks or right hands to the head. Lora had his moments in some of the exchanges, landing the occasional right hand to the head of Malignaggi. However, Malignaggi did enough offensively and was not in danger for the rest of the fight.

All three judges scored the bout in favor of Malignaggi, with scores of 100-90, 99-91, and 98-92. Fightnews.com scored the bout 97-93 in favor of Malignaggi.

Malignaggi, from Brooklyn, NY, improves to 30-4, 6 KO’s. Lora, from Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico, falls to 28-2-1, 19 KO’s. – Francisco Salazar

Bozella wins pro debut

52 year old Dewey Bozella won his professional debut, beating Larry Hopkins by a four round unanimous decision.

Much has been written in recent weeks of Bozella. He was convicted of murdering a 93 year old woman and sentenced to life in prison, even though he maintained his evidence. During his time in prison, he earned Bachelors and Masters degrees and boxed in prison as well, becoming the prison’s light heavyweight champion. In 2009, he was formally exonerated from the crime as DNA and evidence from the original case was presented, clearing him of any wrongdoing.

The former amateur fighter longed for at least one professional fight. He was turned down by the California State Athletic Commission earlier this year, but Golden Boy Promotions and Bernard Hopkins assisted him in obtaining a license to fight about a month and a half ago.

Hopkins started well in the first round, as he was the busier fighter and even landing a hard right hand to the head of Bozella. Bozella was busier in the second round, attacking the body of Hopkins and settling into somewhat of a rhythm.

Towards the end of the third round, Hopkins, who had been knocked out in all of his previous fights, started to get tired. Bozella began to land with more frequency, especially to punches to the head of Hopkins.

In the fourth round, maybe because he was tired, Hopkins had a difficult time keeping his mouthpiece inside his mouth. After the third time the mouthpiece came out, a point was deducted from Hopkins by referee Marcos Rosales. Hopkins would lose his mouthpiece three more times. The final time was near the end of the round, when Hopkins attempted to catch it with his gloves, Bozella stunned him with a right hand to the head. Before Bozella could follow up, the bell sounded to end the round.

All three judges scored the bout in favor of Bozella, with scores of 39-36, 38-36, and 38-37. Fightnews.com scored the bout 39-36 in favor of Bozella.

“I thank God for this opportunity and I appreciate Golden Boy for what they did,” said Bozella, who did not indicate whether he would fight again, but wants to open a gym to work with at-risk teenagers. “This is one of the greatest feelings of my life. Dreams do happen and I hope that it inspires people to never give up hope.”

Hopkins, from Houston, TX, drops to 0-4. – Francisco Salazar

Hernandez tops Collazo

In a crossroads bout, Freddy Hernandez won a hard-fought 10 round unanimous decision over former welterweight world title holder Luis Collazo.

Although the action was tactical in the first two rounds, Hernandez was able to do more over Collazo, a notorious slow-starter.

The southpaw Collazo got going in the third, countering Hernandez with hooks and crosses to the body. Not to be outdone, Hernandez worked from the center of the ring, trying to land with lead right hands to the head of Collazo. Some of the middle rounds were very close to score, but the action was entertaining as both tried to outdo the other.

In the eighth round, Hernandez dropped Collazo with a left hook to the stomach. Collazo was on one knee and got up at the count of eight. He was able to fight back, but only fought in spurts. Hernandez was the fresher of the two in the final two rounds, as he was busier and landed more punches.

All three judges, including Fightnews.com, scored the bout 96-93 in favor of Hernandez.

Hernandez, from Mexico City, DF, Mexico, improves to 30-2, 20 KO’s. Collazo, from Queens, NY, drops to 31-5, 16 KO’s. – Francisco Salazar

Avila decisions Reyes

In preliminary action, a scheduled four round junior featherweight contest, Manuel Avila (6-0, 3KO) won a split decision victory over David Reyes (2-1). Despite scoring a third round knockdown and outboxing Avila, one judge saw the bout as 38-37 in favor of Reyes but was correctly overruled by the other two jdges by scores of 40-35 and 39-36, respectively. – Rocco Morales

Casal Knocks Out Anderson

Nick Casal (22-4-1, 17KO) was impressive in knocking out previously undefeated Michael Anderson (11-1-1, 9KO). In a welterweight bout scheduled for eight rounds, Casal fought for just the second time in the last two years but didn’t seem to miss a beat. Meanwhile, Anderson seemed overwhelmed by the big step up in class and never seemed comfortable in the fight.

Casal unleashed a hard right uppercut in the third round that found the mark, dropping Anderson hard. Anderson beat the count but Casal jumped all over him and the referee called an end to the bout at 2:51 of the third round. – Rocco Morales

Livingston decisions Colvin

In opening bout action, a scheduled six round middleweight contest, DonYil Livingston (6-0, 3KO) outhustled Kurtis Colvin (6-1, 5KO) to hand him his first loss. The taller and heavier handed Colvin had his moments but was, ultimately, outboxed by the faster Livingston to go on to win a unanimous decision victory by scores of 59-55, 58-56 and 58-56, respectively. – Rocco Morales

Ringside Notes

- Welterweight title holder Manny Pacquiao, junior welterweight title holder Amir Khan, newly-crowned junior welterweight title holder Erik Morales, junior welterweight contender Robert Guerrero, light heavyweight contender Jean Pascal, junior lightweight contender Vicente Escobedo, middleweight contender Sergio Mora, unbeaten middleweight Peter Quillin, welterweight Rashad Holloway, and former middleweight contender Alex Ramos took in the action from ringside.

- Jim Lampley, Emanuel Steward, Max Kellerman, and Harold Lederman called the action from ringside for HBO Pay Per View.

- Ring announcer for the televised portion of the pay per view was Michael Buffer, while Michael Vale was the ring announcer for the non-televised portion of the card.

- Golden Boy Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions promoted the card, in association with Boxing 360.