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By Jake Donovan - It was an ending so bizarre, that not even Ripley himself could believe it.
A card sponsored in part by ‘Ripley’s Believe It Or Not’ ended in truly inexplicable fashion as Chad Dawson was awarded a second round stoppage over the legendary Bernard Hopkins in the main event Saturday evening at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles. With the controversial win, the 29-year old southpaw has become - for the moment - the recognized lineal light heavyweight champion.
How long that moment lasts will depend on the number of appeals filed and the steps that the California State Athletic Commission chooses to take given the way the bout ended. Hopkins was ruled unable to continue after he was shoulder lifted and tossed to the canvas by Dawson, landing on his elbow and jamming his shoulder blade.
Some will argue that the aborted ending was a blessing in disguise as the early action – or lack thereof – suggested the styles matchup would play out exactly as expected.
Dawson was the busier fighter – as to be expected as he enjoyed a height, reach and considerable age advantage over the 46-year old Hopkins – but not landing a heck of a lot as his jab mostly caught air. Hopkins did what he does best, which is bring the action to a grinding halt. Any punch landed or even thrown was immediately met with a clinch or his circling away from Dawson’s effective punching range. [Click Here To Read More]
A card sponsored in part by ‘Ripley’s Believe It Or Not’ ended in truly inexplicable fashion as Chad Dawson was awarded a second round stoppage over the legendary Bernard Hopkins in the main event Saturday evening at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles. With the controversial win, the 29-year old southpaw has become - for the moment - the recognized lineal light heavyweight champion.
How long that moment lasts will depend on the number of appeals filed and the steps that the California State Athletic Commission chooses to take given the way the bout ended. Hopkins was ruled unable to continue after he was shoulder lifted and tossed to the canvas by Dawson, landing on his elbow and jamming his shoulder blade.
Some will argue that the aborted ending was a blessing in disguise as the early action – or lack thereof – suggested the styles matchup would play out exactly as expected.
Dawson was the busier fighter – as to be expected as he enjoyed a height, reach and considerable age advantage over the 46-year old Hopkins – but not landing a heck of a lot as his jab mostly caught air. Hopkins did what he does best, which is bring the action to a grinding halt. Any punch landed or even thrown was immediately met with a clinch or his circling away from Dawson’s effective punching range. [Click Here To Read More]
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