Often the undercard is better than the Main Event
Antonio DeMarco (R) of Tijuana appears at the press conference to promote his WBC Lightweight Title fight against Jorge Linares (L) of Venezuela to be held at the Staples Center on October 15, 2011 in Los Angeles, CA. DeMarco won the bout with an eleventh round TKO. Photo: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
Saturday evening at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, local fight fans had great expectations for the Bernard Hopkins (52-6-2, 32 KOs) of Philadelphia, PA versus Chad Dawson (31-1, 18 KOs) of New Haven, CT title fight. But as they say, stuff happens.
Bernard Hopkins (top) and Chad Dawson get caught up in a wrestling match during their WBC light heavyweight title fight at Staples Center on October 15, 2011 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
What did happen? At 2:36 of Round #2, Hopkins leaned over the crouching Dawson. Dawson then lifted Hopkins off his feet by standing up, then shoving him down onto the canvas. Hopkins landed on his left shoulder with his head under the bottom rope and immediately clutched his shoulder while grimacing in pain.
Bernard Hopkins goes down and lands on his left shoulder. Photo: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
At 2:43 of Round #2, it was declared Hopkins could not to continue. Referee, Pat Russell of San Diego stated the stoppage was due to an injury Hopkins suffered after landing awkwardly on his left shoulder.
Chad Dawson yells across the ring at Bernard Hopkins. Photo: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
Hopkins commented later, “I told the ref (Russell), I would continue to fight, with one arm, but he waved off the fight and declared it a TKO.”
By awarding the TKO victory to Dawson, Russell was in fact ruling there was no foul.
Later, after an x-ray, Hopkins was released from the local Medical Center. He was diagnosed with a separation of the acromioclavicular (A-C) joint which connects the collar bone and shoulder blade. The AC joint, located at the end of the collar bone is where the clavicle meets a part of the scapula called the acromion. When this joint is disrupted, it’s known as a shoulder separation.
This xray shows us where the painful injury occurred.
This shoulder separation was due to either a direct blow to the shoulder or that awkward fall to the canvas. Pain is usually severe at the time of the injury and if the injury is more severe a bump can be seen at the tip of the shoulder.
The x-ray was performed to ensure there was no fracture. The initial treatment of a separated shoulder consists of controlling the inflammation, and resting the joint which can take several days. A sling to rest the shoulder joint is worn until the pain subsides before beginning physical therapy. Only in rare circumstances and severe injuries will surgery be needed.
Of course, others just had to offer their two cents:
James Toney, “Hopkins made himself a way out.”
When the Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins first entered the ring, he looked menacing. Photo: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
Boxer Mikael Zewski added, “Yesterday’s decision has nothing to do with Hopkins injury, its all about…. Was Dawson’s wrestling move legit? I think Hopkins did the old trick of putting his weight on Dawson to cut his legs and Dawson reacted by throwing him to the canvas.”
Anonymous, “Hopkins versus Dawson is the latest proof that Pay-Per-View Boxing is a rip-off.”
Anonymous, “Dawson cannot be called the light heavyweight champ after what just happened. It should have been declared a “No Contest.”
Bernard Hopkins (L) and Chad Dawson (R) take aim. Photo: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
Hopkins’ comment after the post fight press conference, “They want me out of boxing, and this is one way to do it. 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.”
Dawson’s final words, “He jumped on me and was pulling me down, so I pushed him off with the shoulder. 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. I knew he didn’t want the fight. 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. He has no power.”
On Saturday’s Undercard
Antonio DeMarco celebrates with his newly won belt after defeating Jorge Linares in their WBC lightweight title fight at Staples Center on October 15, 2011 in Los Angeles, CA. DeMarco won in an eleventh round TKO. Photo: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
Tony DeMarco (26-2-1, 12 KOs) became a world champion in his second shot at the title by defeating Jorge Linares (31-2, 20 KOs), of Barinas, Venezuela. Trailing on all three score cards, 99-91 and 98-92 (twice), De Marco dug deep and pulled out the win the 11th round.
After losing the first five rounds, DeMarco, in round six, caused a cut on the bridge of Linares’ nose which continued to bleed.
“It was a head butt that broke my nose,” claimed Linares after the bout.
Then, DeMarco’s punches caused a cut over Linares right eye. Still, Linares continued to fight and was winning most rounds. However, the punches landed by DeMarco did facial damage.
Referee Raul Caiz, Jr. grabs a bloody Jorge Linares of Venezuela as he stops the fight with Antonio DeMarco. Photo: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
In the eleventh, DeMarco, who was never winded, kept pressing forward and went toe-to-toe with Linares to put it all on the line. In the end, Linares, along the ropes, began to wilt from all the wicked combinations thrown by DeMarco. Soon, referee Raul Caiz, Sr. recognized it was time to call a halt to the blood bath.
Antonio DeMarco can't believe his good fortune that the bout is finally over and he's won. Photo: Stephen Dunn
Coincidentally, the very same WBC crown that DeMarco’s won, had been vacated by his cousin Humberto “La Zorrita” Soto; the spanish translation of La Zorrita, “The Crafty Little Fox.” If I were DeMarco, I’d send a brief but gracious message to my cousin, “Thank you cuz!”
While Linares received $100,000 for the fight, DeMarco’s share was $50,000. His next purse should be a lot bigger.
(L to R) Ranked Super Bantamweight Chris Martin, Jorge Marron Jr., newly crowned WBC Lightweight Champion of the World, Antonio DeMarco and Super Lightweight Alan Sanchez do their part to promote the local Bobby D Presents boxing show on Sept. 16, 2011 at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in San Diego. Photo: Jim Wyatt
It’s another big win for the locals. DeMarco is a fan favorite here in San Diego since he lives just across the border in Tijuana. He’s the good-natured, reserved hero, who often attends many of our local shows to affirm his support for local boxers.
Many people, including myself, believe Edwin Valero was using an unspecified drug back on February 6, 2010, the night he defeated DeMarco at Arena Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico. Valero was known to have substance abuse problems and fought like a madman that night.
Also on the undercard, unbeaten junior welterweight Danny Garcia (22-0, 14 KOs) of Philadelphia, PA won a 12-round split decision over former world champion Kendall Holt (27-5, 15 KOs) of Patterson, N.J. to win the vacant NABO title.
Brooklyn welterweight Paulie Malignaggi (30-4, 6 KOs) boxed his way to a 10-round unanimous decision win over Orlando Lora (28-2-1, 19 KOs) of Culiacan, Mexico.
Super welterweight Freddy Hernandez (30-2, 20 KOs) of Mexico City who trains locally, dropped former world champion Luis Colazzo (31-5, 16 KOs) of Brooklyn, N.Y. in the 8th round en route to an impressive 10 round unanimous decision victory (96-93 on all three judges’ scorecards).
Welterweight Nick Casal (25-4-1, 17 KOs) of Buffalo, NY got a third round TKO victory over Michael Anderson (11-1-1, 9 KOs), Newark, N.J.
Junior featherweight Manuel Avila (6-0, 2 KOs) of Fairfield, CA won a four round decision victory over David Reyes (2-1, 0 KOs) of East Los Angeles.
Middleweight DonYil Livingston (6-0, 3 KOs) of Palmdale, CA won a four round, decision victory over Kurtis Colvon (6-1, 5 KOs) from Austin, TX.
Dewey Bozella at Friday's weigh-in.
Dewey Bozella of Beacon, N.Y., making his pro debut at the age of 52, won an unanimous decision victory over Larry Hopkins (0-4) from Houston, TX.
After serving 26 years in Sing-Sing prison for a murder he didn’t commit, Bozella finally got to achieve his goal in life, that of fighting professionally.
Last Thursday, Bozella got a call wishing him good luck before the bout from the President, Barack Obama.
Amazingly, Bozella was in better physical condition than his 30 year old foe, Hopkins. When’s the last time you heard of a boxer losing his mouthpiece six times? That’s what Hopkins kept doing to get the ref to stop the action.
After doing all that time in prison for a murder he didn’t commit, you would think people would go out of their way to give him a fair-shake. Not on Saturday! Bozella is still getting the sh++ty end of the stick. His share of the purse was $1,250, Hopkins received $2,500.
