WBC Returns Light Heavyweight Belt to Bernard Hopkins

With a seemingly likely changing of the official result to come in December, the WBC has taken a step in the Hopkins vs Dawson controversy by returning their light heavyweight title belt to Bernard Hopkins. Jose Sulaiman, the dictator-for-life of the WBC, explained the decision:

The WBC Board of Governors, after reviewing the video of the fight, unanimously declared that the action [by Dawson] reflects a clear intentional lifting of the body, followed with a push to Hopkins, that made him fall on his left side with part of his body outside of the ropes.

As many of the WBC's decisions as are criticized, I can't really find fault with this one. The fight ended from contact that had nothing to do with boxing -- a non-boxing move.

This follows The RING's ruling to suspend their recognized championship from changing hands, pending the appeal in California. It's hard to imagine this fight not getting changed to a no-contest at this point. It really seems the only right thing. It's just a waiting game at this point, as the CSAC will meet on December 13 and discuss the matter then.