Hopkins vs. Dawson Knockout: Why Bad Chad's Win Signals the End of Boxing

If you don't know by now, mixed martial arts is emerging as the new favorite among the world's youngest generation of fighting fans.

Boxing is, and has been dead for some time now.

The truth to that fact has never been more obvious then after the Bernard Hopkins vs. Chad Dawson title fight on Saturday night.

After a first-round dominated by Dawson, the fight showed hopes of living up to the hype it had going into the night.

Unfortunately, boxing fans will have to wonder what if after Dawson knocked Hopkins to the mat in the second round with what seemed to be a dirty shove from the clinch.

Hopkins was injured and unable to recover, and to make matters worse, the referee decided it was indeed a TKO, which many boxing experts around the nation are calling absurd.

Fans in attendance Saturday night shouted obscenities towards the ring after the fight was called and are sure to be among the many disappointed fighting fans dipping their toes into the UFC's soon-to-be freely televised events.

Boxing fans will always be boxing fans, but at what point do you have to you cut ties with a sport that asks so for much and delivers so little?

This is not a pro-UFC campaign by any means, just a warning to boxing fans everywhere that the world is making a shift towards a more new, entertaining and satisfying form of fighting.

A style of fighting that guarantees excitement and results, not just hype.

The older generation of fighting fans and sports fans will always have a soft spot for boxing, but boxing has blatantly disrespected that same generation with its latest product.

Boxing is one of America's greatest pastimes and has far too much history to forget, but just as any great development does, it must evolve.

Even if a mixed martial arts title fight was marred by a horrible judge's decision, fans would still be subjected to one hell of a fight.

At what point does boxing stop being a sport, and start becoming a show?

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter @_Pat_Clarke.