Hopkins vs. Dawson: Chad Dawson Should Not Be Given Another Title Fight

Chad Dawson waited a long time to get a title fight against Bernard Hopkins. When he finally did get it, he blew his moment in the worst way possible by getting a cheap victory due to an illegal move. There is no way to justify what he did, nor any reason he should get another title shot. 

In case you haven't heard, in the second round Hopkins locked Dawson up in a clinch. Dawson tried to escape by lifting Hopkins' legs and shoving him to the ground. Hopkins landed on his shoulder and dislocated a joint. 

Hopkins tried to convince the referee that he could continue, but the referee said no and gave Dawson a TKO victory. He was awarded the WBC and Ring Magazine light heavyweight titles. 

It was a terrible ending to what had been a terrible fight, but the controversy is far from over. Hopkins is going to challenge the decision. If the California Athletic Commission hears this case, which it likely will, odds are good they will call the fight a no-contest. 

That will likely mean that Hopkins and Dawson need to fight again in order to determine who is the better fighter.

If I am Hopkins, there is no way that I take another fight with Dawson. He deliberately used an illegal move in order to gain an advantage. He wasn't trying to win the fight, he was trying to hurt Hopkins. 

In the biggest fight of his career, Dawson took the cheap way out. He let a personal vendetta against Hopkins get in the way of professionalism.

Boxers do not have to like each other, but there should be a level of respect inside the ring. Hopkins was no saint himself, but he did not cheat to win. 

Dawson's ego got the best of him in this fight, and as a result he has no rights to another title shot if/when the CSAC overturns his victory.