http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzU2Tzk7Qt8&t=2m53s
CHAD DAWSON SPENT most of the past half-decade angling for a fight with Bernard Hopkins, believing he could define his boxing career by knocking out an ageless champion who had never been stopped.
Dawson got his TKO on Saturday night.
But his dream looked nothing like this debacle.
Hopkins was stopped for the first time in his career 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 (31-1, 18 KOs) claimed the WBC light heavyweight title from Hopkins (52-6-2), but both fighters were left furious and screaming when referee Pat Russell ruled Dawson hadn’t fouled Hopkins, whose promoter immediately said he’ll protest the result.
“They want me out of boxing, and this is one way to do it,” said Hopkins, whose spokesman said he dislocated the joint connecting his collarbone and shoulder blade.
Chad Dawson came in the ring tonight, and he just wanted to rough me up with dirty tactics. He wanted to get me out of there, and that was the only way he could.
“Faking”
After five unmemorable minutes, everything happened in an instant: Hopkins leaned over the crouching Dawson after throwing an overhand right, and Dawson lifted Hopkins off his feet by standing up, shrugging him onto the canvas.
Hopkins landed roughly on his back and left shoulder, his head poking underneath the bottom rope, and might have glanced off the ringside table. Hopkins immediately clutched his shoulder and grimaced in pain, apparently unable to continue.
“He jumped on me and was pulling me down, so I pushed him off with the shoulder,” Dawson said. “B-Hop disappointed a lot of fans. I was looking forward to a good fight. I trained eight weeks for this.
Yes, he was faking. This is a fight I wanted for three years, and Bernard obviously didn’t want the fight.
Hopkins said he told Russell he would continue fighting “with one arm,” but the referee waved off the fight and declared a TKO.
Just like that, a long-awaited showdown between the ageless light heavyweight champion and his top young rival was over, enraging the lively Staples Center crowd.
“It was not a foul,” Russell said. “It’s a TKO. He could not continue because of an injury. No foul.”
“Gangsters don’t quit”
After waiting several years and training relentlessly for the fight, Dawson was apoplectic when Hopkins stayed down on the ground, taunting him and climbing on the ropes. When Russell called it off, Dawson went over to Hopkins and motioned at him to get off his stool, repeatedly cursing at him.
“I knew he didn’t want the fight,” Dawson said.
He keeps talking about Philly and being a gangster. He’s no gangster. Gangsters don’t quit. He’s weak. He’s a weak physically- and mentally-minded person. He has no power.
Golden Boy President Richard Schaefer, Hopkins’ promoter, said he’ll protest to the California State Athletic Commission. Hopkins was released from the California Hospital Medical Center two hours after the fight after his dislocation was diagnosed.
– Greg Beachem
Ogbene and obafemi should our front two going forward. Their pace alone would concern most defences. Their finishing is on par or better than parrott. Parrott very wasteful and over admired by Kenny.
Kenny out !!
@Gary O’Rourke: do expand on that please. You haven’t a clue pal
I was a Kenny supporter up to now but after his inexplicable decision to leave Parrott on the pitch and take Obafemi off I’ve changed my mind.
@Joe Healy: over one sub… Ya thats the reason to sack him. Another keyboard warriors fook me they are everywhere tonight. Great display game plan, control, an actual plan to beat the high press. We didn’t convert our chances simple as, Maybe you didn’t see THAT Joe too busy with the boys on the pub.
@Joe Healy: Maybe there was a reason we’re not aware of. Obafemi is not playing at the minute and perhaps had a knock or was out on his feet.
Game wasn’t just lost on the pitch. It was the sidelines too. Ogbene should have started. Inform player scoring goals. Parrot was too wasteful. No goals in the league for Preston.. frustrating display from Ireland.
Can any Kenny Out believer please explain? You’d swear he was underachieving with this group of players the way they go on and we have defined right to get a result last night. Scotland are a better team with players at a higher level than us. We were always underdogs last night. It’s the worst crop of players I’ve ever seen, but it is the most enjoyable I’ve seen an Ireland team play since Mick McCarthy 20 years ago. Yes the result was frustrating last night because we deserved something, but by god you couldn’t fault that performance against a superior side to us. So to the Kenny doubters, no other manager would get any more out of this team and leave him in the job.