Bernard Hopkins Set to Spar in January, Dawson's Trainer Throws the Flag

In an interview with David P. Greisman of BoxingScene.com, Ring Magazine light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins said he'll return to the ring in January to begin sparring:

"I’m in rehab. It’s 80 percent. It’ll be 100 percent by January when I start boxing. I had a slight tear in my rotator cuff. I also had an A/C break that was diagnosed by X-ray in L.A."

Greisman notes that Hopkins' injury was originally called a separation of the AC joint in his shoulder, and the trainer of his opponent Chad Dawson isn't buying this story. John Scully, a former fighter himself, says that if Hopkins spars in January, he knows the injury is bogus.

"Hopkins said in an interview yesterday he'd be sparring by January. When I injured my shoulder in June of 1999 (supposedly not as bad as Hops did his), I wasn't able to spar for well over six months," Scully said in an email to boxing media.

"Four months after my injury (strained rotator cuff), I jumped in the water in Kissimmee, Florida, and my shoulder felt like it was being torn out of the socket. He's gonna spar 3 months after an injury like that? Bull spit!"

"If this man spars anyone in January then, for me, it is proof positive that his injury is a complete fake job. Ask any doctor if you don't believe me."

Next week, the California State Athletic Commission will make a final ruling on the decision of Hopkins' October 15 loss to Chad Dawson. The fight could be changed to a DQ win for Hopkins, or a no-contest, or left where it is, but it is frankly a little difficult to imagine it staying at TKO win for "Bad" Chad, since it's going to be hard to prove that Dawson won due to an injury caused by a legal boxing move, since he didn't. That's not placing blame on Dawson for fouling Hopkins, really, it's just that he didn't cause it with a punch, and Hopkins didn't blow out his own knee or anything like that.