WBC returns championship belt to Hopkins

Bernard Hopkins was thrown to the mat by Chad Dawson, causing a shoulder injury that ended the fight.  Photo by Malcolm Ali

The WBC has returned the light heavyweight championship to Bernard Hopkins after declaring his bout with Chad Dawson a technical draw.

Hopkins was stopped for the first time in his career Saturday night in bizarre fashion when Dawson lifted him and tossed him to the canvas late in the second round, leaving the 46-year-old champion with a dislocated joint in his shoulder. Dawson claimed the WBC light heavyweight title from Hopkins on a second-round TKO in Los Angeles.

The WBC reviewed video of the fight and unanimously declared Thursday that the action reflects a clear intentional lifting the body followed with a push by Dawson to Hopkins that made him fall on his left side with part of his body out of the ropes.

Hopkins' injury also was taken into consideration.

The WBC also considered Dawson's foul violated the rule that was against "any rough tactics other than clean punches."

The WBC's ruling is more symbolic than anything else. It doesn't have jurisdiction over official results. That's up to the commission overseeing the bout, and the California State Athletic Commission's next scheduled meeting is December 13.

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