Boxing - Bet Now at Bet365
Bernard Hopkins' controversial defeat to Chad Dawson last weekend has been overturned and the veteran American has been restored as the WBC light-heavyweight champion.
The referee stopped the fight and awarded it to Dawson on a technical knockout after Hopkins claimed he could not continue after hurting his shoulder when he was lifted off his feet and thrown on to the canvas by Dawson.
However, after a review, the WBC has changed the result to a technical draw, which means that Hopkins keeps his title. The 46-year-old was furious with referee Pat Russell's decision and filed a formal complaint to the California boxing authorities.
In a statement, WBC president Jose Sulaiman said the WBC: "respects and cannot intervene in the decisions of the boxing commissions where the fights happen, but it does intervene in regards of the recognition of a WBC title of the world".
The WBC found that Dawson broke the rule barring "any rough tactics other than clean punches" and since the incident occurred before the fifth round, the result should have been a technical draw, rather than a technical decision based on scorecards.
Hopkins was adamant that he was the winner of the fight as Dawson should have been disqualified.
In forthcoming fights, Ryan Walsh is1.20 to beat Liam Richards, who is 4.33 to win the bout, while Rob Norton is1.36 to beat Leon Williams (3.00).
View all Boxing betting at Bet365
