By Edward Chaykovsky
Staples Center, Los Angeles - Chad Dawson (31-1, 18KOs) stopped Bernard Hopkins (52-6-2, 32KOs) in the second round to capture the WBC light heavyweight title. During the second, Hopkins leaned over on Dawson, who used his shoulder to push him off. Hopkins went down near the ropes and told the referee, Pat Russell, that he suffered a shoulder injury and couldn't continue. Because there was no foul involved, Russell ruled the fight in favor of Dawson and made him the TKO winner.
Hopkins is so angry, he might actually walk away from boxing if the decision is not overturned.
"They want me out of boxing, and this is one way to do it," said Hopkins. "Chad Dawson came in the ring tonight, and he just wanted to rough me up with dirty tactics. He wanted to get me out of there, and that was the only way he could. He knew he wasn't in there with a 46-year-old, because I was quicker and faster than him. That was a blatant foul, and it should be a no-contest, not a disqualification."