By Rick Reeno

Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, the trainer of former champion Chad Dawson (31-3, 17KOs), was irate after referee Michael Griffin stopped Dawson's fight with Adonis Stevenson (21-1, 18KOs) in the first round. During the June match, which took place at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Dawson was clipped early in the first round. He went down hard, made it up on wobbly legs, and the referee felt Dawson was too damaged to be allowed to continue.

Muhammad explained why he was so angry after the fight was over.

"The referee came into the dressing room and said 'whoever got knocked down, I'm going to give up a chance to continue if you get up and walk to me with your hands up.' Chad got up and walked to him with his hands up and he stopped the fight. So I told him 'you did something entirely different. You contradicted yourself.' That's all I was saying to him," Muhammad told BoxingScene.com.

On the night of the fight, and after he watched the replay at home, Muhammad still believes Dawson was more than capable of continuing.

"He was in such good shape, mentally. I've seen guys that Stevenson hit with that same shot, and they were stretched, they didn't get up and took the count of ten. Chad took it right on the chin, went down, took his time and got up - put his hands up and walked to the referee," Muhammad said.