Hopkins vs Dawson Declared No-Contest By California Commission

by Scott Christ on Dec 13, 2011 5:24 PM EST in Boxing News Analysis

Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawson may as well have not fought on October 15, and it can be argued they really didn't. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

As was expected by many, the California State Athletic Commission has finally ruled on the October 15 debacle between Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawson, declaring the fight a no-contest rather than a TKO-2 win for Dawson.

This returns the fighters' records to 52-5-2 (32 KO) for Hopkins, and 30-1 (17 KO) for Dawson.

The fight, which took place at the Staples Center on HBO pay-per-view, ended with a TKO-2 ruling by referee Pat Russell when Dawson put a shoulder under a clutching Hopkins and hurled him to the mat. Hopkins injured his shoulder and the fight was stopped.

But the TKO ruling didn't seem likely to last. Ring Magazine kept Hopkins as its lineal light heavyweight champion, and the WBC returned their title to Hopkins just a few days later. Hopkins argued that the California appeal should lead to a disqualification of Dawson, but instead they've chosen the lighter and more realistic no contest.

A few have asked over the last two months if there will be a rematch, and maybe there will, but it's certainly not an inevitability or anything. The fight generated no buzz, wasn't high on many wish lists, and bombed both at the gate and on pay-per-view.

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I’d like to see a rematch since its the best fight at 175 that is possible, commercial issues be damned. From HBO’s perspective, I’m sure it would only work as part of a big starpower double header or something and not on PPV. Hopkins may just not take a rematch citing commercial considerations (IE not enough money being offered), at which point I’d personally like to see them move on and just make a #1 contender fight with Cloud and Dawson.

by VirtualBalboa on Dec 13, 2011 5:30 PM EST reply actions

I’d like to see a rematch since its the best fight at 175 that is possible, commercial issues be damned.

This depends on your definition of “best fight.” They won’t have one that’s good and nobody wants to see it. So it comes down to rankings, which you can argue should still be Hopkins and then Pascal.

I think Chad should rematch Pascal, honestly. I don’t… care what Hopkins does. He can retire for all it matters to me. I think I’ve probably gotten as much magic as is coming from Bernard. I lost a lot of the goodwill I’d built up with the Dawson mess.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Dec 13, 2011 5:35 PM EST up reply actions

That’s probably true re: the entertainment value of it. Its not going to end by KO almost certainly, and you’re not even going to see a lot of activity like you might with Pascal or Calzaghe in the ring. But its still #1 vs. #2, and we didn’t really get an answer in the first fight as to who was better. So yeah, I am willing to be a glutton for punishment JUST TO KNOW.

Chad/Pascal II would be good, as would anything involving Cloud. I’m with you on Hopkins, but I’ve felt that way for a long time. Either be active and make fights or just leave. He’s not a guy I like enough to state that I want to see him in the Oscar De La Hoya role of part time megafighter. For one, you need to be involved in megafights to justify that.

by VirtualBalboa on Dec 13, 2011 5:43 PM EST up reply actions

I think the world would be better off without Dawson getting any TV time.

"Boxing is dirty," said Casamayor. " The day I’m not ready to be a dirty fighter is the day I don’t fight anymore because it will mean that I have no heart for it anymore."

by Zocalo on Dec 13, 2011 5:32 PM EST reply actions

Dawson can be boring if the guy in front of him stinks because he simply doesn’t have punching power at 175. He’s a blown up middleweight and nothing is going to change that. Give him someone aggressive and you’ll generally get a decent fight though. I had no issues with the Pascal fight, and the first fight with Glen Johnson was great.

by VirtualBalboa on Dec 13, 2011 5:45 PM EST up reply actions

The second fight with Glen Johnson really stunk up the house though. Dawson’s generally boring. I haven’t seen all his fights, but I’ve seen at least 5, and every one of them was drop-dead boring.

There is no safety in numbers, or in anything else--James Thurber, 1939

by BoxAnne on Dec 13, 2011 6:14 PM EST up reply actions

Adamek fight, first Johnson fight, Pascal, Epi Mendoza, Jesus Ruiz. Those were fine.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Dec 13, 2011 6:34 PM EST up reply actions

Diaconu wasn’t offensively bad either. He may have had the least bad Ian Gardner fight in history.

by VirtualBalboa on Dec 13, 2011 8:07 PM EST up reply actions

I’m not arguing with anyone here. I’m just getting a kick out of the fact that listing “good Dawson fights” includes “that one wasn’t offensively bad”

Managing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Dec 13, 2011 8:22 PM EST up reply actions

We’re not talking about John Ruiz here, you know? Hell, we’re not even discussing Cory Spinks.

by VirtualBalboa on Dec 13, 2011 8:50 PM EST up reply actions

My greater point is that him getting 3 million dollar payday and be brings nothing to the table. There is a reason no one sees him fight. Hopefully that money that HBO has given him gets used better than the crap fights that we have been forced to deal with.

"Boxing is dirty," said Casamayor. " The day I’m not ready to be a dirty fighter is the day I don’t fight anymore because it will mean that I have no heart for it anymore."

by Zocalo on Dec 13, 2011 11:41 PM EST up reply actions

he brings*

"Boxing is dirty," said Casamayor. " The day I’m not ready to be a dirty fighter is the day I don’t fight anymore because it will mean that I have no heart for it anymore."

by Zocalo on Dec 13, 2011 11:41 PM EST up reply actions

I thought that fight was terrible and basically everything I don’t like about watching Chad Dawson.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Dec 13, 2011 11:57 PM EST up reply actions

Any time someone chooses to jab and move on Johnson to beat him (AKA the smart way) instead of stand and trade, the fight sucks. See also: Bute, Tarver II. It isn’t an easy thing to do though against him which is why very few fighters do it (or are athletic enough to be able to stay away from him for 12 rounds and not be chewed up), especially when they take him on in their first fights against him.

by VirtualBalboa on Dec 13, 2011 8:02 PM EST up reply actions

immediately after their "fight" i was adamant that they need to rematch

and give some sort of definitive ending to this

now? not so much. im a big hopkins fan, but i dont care to see them engage what can only be a god awful bore. hopkins has nothing to prove and/or gain from beating dawson anymore. he’ll be 47 when he enters the ring next and any loss has that asterisk next to it. dawson lost himself a lot of fans with the way he fights and certainly didnt earn any with his reaction to the end of their fight. time for them to both move on.

whats funny is dawson now wants the rematch, after immediately writing it off

"After this, I'm gonna kick Bob Arum's ass."
-George Lopez

by Eddie Gonzalez on Dec 13, 2011 6:47 PM EST reply actions

I don’t need to see a rematch here. Let Hopkins go to Canada and fight Bute for the money. I like BHop, but I dunno what’s left out there for him.

As for Dawson, well, he’s pretty boring to me, outside of the few fights already noted. But I guess I’d like to see him rematch Pascal or fight Cloud.

by KidSleez on Dec 13, 2011 8:50 PM EST reply actions