Chad Dawson captured the WBC and Ring Magazine light heavyweight titles in the most controversial of ways this past Saturday night in the main event of “Believe It or Not,” presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Gary Shaw Promotions, Cerveza Tecate, and AT&T. The action was broadcast live on HBO PPV from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. Referee Pat Russell handed Dawson a technical knockout victory at the 2:48 mark of round number two.

Chad Dawson, 29, crouched in a defensive position decided to lounge his shoulder forward, an act that is common in professional boxing. He did so after Hopkins let loose with a straight right that was unsuccessful. Hopkins momentum carried him forward onto Chad Dawson’s back. Consequently, Dawson reacted by shrugging him off with his shoulders. Hopkins falls back, first landing on his feet then falling to the ground. This is where the action stopped and the commotion began.

Bernard Hopkins remained on the canvas for several minutes before getting up and pointing to his left shoulder while grimacing. It was determined that Bernard Hopkins was unwilling to continue. Consequently, the fight was called simultaneously igniting jeers from the packed house at Staples Center. After all, they had just witnessed a fight of the year candidate in DeMarco’s victory over Linares and where expecting the same from the nights featured fighters

“He (Bernard Hopkins) could not continue because of injury,” said Referee Pat Russell after the call was made.

In conclusion, the fight was called due to a fighter’s unwillingness to continue after an injury. There was no foul. So instead of the fight being called a no-contest, the call was made to give Chad Dawson a technical knockout.


Antonio DeMarco Wins WBC Crown In Stunning Fashion

In the night’s co-feature, Antonio DeMarco 26-2-1, 19KOs stole the show and captured the vacant WBC lightweight title with a brazen display of cheer will. He chased Jorge Linares until the Venezuelan boxer could no longer use his flashiness or quickness.

Jorge Linares 31-2, 20KOs showcased blazing speed and superior technique in the first three rounds. He almost looked Paquiao-esque, less the pop. The Venezuelen would come in with a blazing combo, hop to the outside and come right back in. A one-two culminated by a straight right drew cheers from the crowd in round number five. Antonio DeMarco looked to be out the fight by this point.

The sixth round proved to be the start of something special. Linares stood toe to toe with Demaro and exchanged blows to the crowd’s delight and to his own demise. His opponent began to establish himself as Linares allowed him to sit into his punches. The results were vivid on Linares face by round nine. Linares had suffered two lacerations, one on his right eyelid and another on the bridge of his nose.

Jorge Linares continued to fight his fight while bleeding profusely; unleashing five to six punch combos while also taking some major punishment. Demarco’s punches where now landing almost at will. The eleventh round was round of the year candidate. Demarco let loose with real bombs that hit there target and sent massive amounts of blood into the air. Referee Raul Caiz Jr. was forced to stop the bout at the 2:32 mark of round number eleven. Demarco was down on all cards at the time of the stoppage. One Judge had him down 99-91, while the other two had Linares up 98-92.


Danny Garcia Fit For The Bright Lights

Danny Garcia 22-0, 14KOs beats Kendall Holt 27-5, 14KOs by way of split decision and captures the NABO Junior Welterweight title while earing the IBF #2 position. This particular bout was probably the most talked about fight leading into tonight’s HBO card. It did not disappoint this writer.

Kendall Holt may have stolen the first round with one speedy left hook in an opening round that saw little action. The slow paced transitioned into round number two where Danny Garcia was able to let loose with two nasty right hooks, one sent holt on his back on his heels. Garcia found something with those right hooks in round three as two landed almost consecutively, hurting Holt.

The action dimmed a bit through the next two rounds. Albeit, one exchange at the end of round number six charged the crowd. Both fighters were able to connect with right and left hooks with Garcia one upping Holt. After Holt seemed to have made some progress in round seven, Garcia came right back to take round eight.

The momentum yo-yoed right back to Holt with one left hook that stunned the young Philadelphian in round number nine. Garcia quickly recovered by landing two pounding overhand right hooks in the same round. He followed through by controlling the final three rounds and punishing Kendall Holt’s badly swollen right eye in the process. Surprisingly Judge Wayne Hedgepeth scored the bout 115 – 113 for Holt. What fight was he watching?

While Judge Joel Scobie and Jerry Cantu tallied the bout 117-111 alike and in the process crowning Danny Garcia the new NABO Junior Welterweight Champ.



Paulie Malignaggi Defeats Lora

Paulie Malignaggi 30-4, 6KOs earned a unanimous decision against rugged Orlando Lora 28-2-1, 19KOs. Lora was just too stiff and slow for the quick and flashy pugilist who hails from New York.

Paulie Malgnaggi looked his usual self in the opening round. He worked off his stick and did as he pleased until he got caught with a straight right the sent him stumbling back. He would later admit that the punch woke him up. Paulie proceeded to surgically pick apart his slower opposition. His only worry was Lora’s straight right, which at times found its target as seen in rounds three and four.

Malagnaggi had Lora’s left eye badly cut after round number four. The following round saw Lora land another straight right; however, Malagnaggi countered with a combo of his own that included two flashy right uppercuts. The New Yorker subsequently stayed on his stick while he worked all angles of the ring, picking and choosing his moments. His movement tired Lora, as the Mexican national all but stopped chasing him around the ring in round number eight. Malagnaggi found himself closing the show willing to fight at close quarters in an anomaly of a sort. The fight went to the scorecards with scores of 100-90, 98-92, and 99-91 all favoring Paulie.


Manuel Avila Wins

Fairfield’s Manuel Avila 6-0, 2KO’s earns split decision victory against David Reyes 2-1 in a 4 round junior featherweight bout. Avila initiated the action when he connected with a right hook followed by a left hook in the opening round. His combo set the tone of the fight. It was a barnburner and East Los David Reyes did not back down. He quickly fired back with spirited but reckless combinations.

Manuel Avila took advantage of his opponent’s recklessness and fired away with a crisp left hook that downed Reyes as round number three came to a close. The last and final round saw more animated exchanges between the young fighters. When is was all set and done, one judge ringside tallied the bout at 38-37 for Reyes, while the remaining judges scored the bout 40-35, and 39-36 for Avila.


Dewey Bozella Inspires in Victory

Dewey Bozella, 52, wins a unanimous decision victory against Larry Hopkins 0-4 in a 4 round cruiserweight bout.

“Dreams do happen, do not ever give up hope,” said Dewey Bozella who had been incarcerated for 26 years for a crime he did not commit. This was Bozella’s first and only professional bout. He will retire undefeated and move on to manage the Dewey Bozella Foundation to help at risk youth.

His story along with Antonio DeMarco’s are truly inspiring.


Experience Counts

Nick Casal 22-4-1, 16KOs proved that experience counts in the fight game by out classing the previously unbeaten Michael Anderson 11-1-1, 9KOs. It was Casal’s uppercut that ended the bout and also began it. Anderson was buckled with an overhand right hook in the first round. Casal continued to school the unbeaten prospect and eventually landed another right hook at close quarters. The latter right hook sent Anderson falling to the canvas for the first of two knockdowns in round number three. Referee Ray Corona was forced to stop the fight at the 2:51mark of the same round after Anderson failed to defend himself against his opponents attack.


Freddy Hernandez Wins One for Mexico

Freddy Hernandez 30-2, 20KOs out works Luis Collazo 31-5, 16KOs on his way to a unanimous decision victory in a 10 round junior middleweight scrap. This bout was another installment in the historic rivalry between Mexican and Puerto Rican boxers.

Southpaw Luis Callazo began the action by establishing his straight left from the outset of the fight. True to form, Freddy Hernandez quickly countered, forcing Collazo into a brawl in the latter half of round number two. The sparks began to fly from there on in.

Both fighters showed tremendous heart through the entirety of the bout. Collazo would use his craftiness to engage Harnandez whom seem dormant at times but would suddenly awake and let go. Freddy countered for long stretches, landing some heavy blows with a focused body attack. The focus on Collazo’s torso proved fruitful in the eighth round when a left hook to the body sent the Puerto Rican kneeling to the ground for the only knockdown of the fight. The final two rounds saw Collazo’s work output increase, but Hernandez’s remained consistent with his attack on his way to a unanimous decision. All three judges scored the bout 96-93 in favor of Hernandez.


Donyll Livingston Remains Unbeaten

The bout between the unbeaten pugilists began slowly, but Donyll Livingston 7-0, 5KOs found a way to steal the opening round by landing an overhand right followed by a left that sent Kurtis Colvin 5-1, 3KOs against the ropes. Livingston’s left uppercut started to land in the following round. The Palmdale native started to work his stick, warding off the taller opposition.

Kurtis Colvin found success in round number four by cutting off the ring and forcing Livingston to fight inside. The action continued to flow. It was safe to assume that Colvin was down on points by this point. The final round saw Kolvin’s last attempt to salvage his unbeaten record. He landed a devastating stretching right followed by a left, which stunned Livingston. Another looping right hook landed for the Texan before the final bell. The final effort was not enough. Two judges ringside scored the bout 59-55, and the remaining judge scored the bout 58-56 in favor of Livingston.