(Image source: Golden Boy Promotions)

BY BRAD GALBREATH

ANCHOR

You're watching multisource sports news analysis from Newsy.

Generally, you win a boxing match when you’re the last man standing. But in this latest bout, Bernard Hopkins protected his title despite finishing on the ground. WTXF in Philadelphia explains.

“Hopkins was injured when Chad ‘Mad Chad’ Dawson picked him up last Saturday night, and threw him down to the canvas. The WBC now calls it a technical draw. Not a TKO, but a technical draw, giving Bernard the title back.”

To most people, like Charles Jay of BoxingInsider.com, the WBC had an easy decision.

“It wasn’t a very difficult call. All they really had to do was sort out whether they wanted to characterize the foul on Dawson’s part as ‘intentional’ or ‘accidental.’ If it is intentional, they have the latitude to rule Dawson the loser by disqualification. As an ‘accidental injury’ they can call it a technical draw.”

So if it’s plain and simple, why doesn’t the 46-year-old boxer have a win on his record from Saturday night? Here’s The Gazette.

“Interestingly, Fight Fax, the official recordkeeper of the Association of Boxing Commissions, and England's BoxRec.com have not changed the result of the bout to reflect the WBC ruling.”

Well….as it turns out, WBC doesn’t have the last say. It belongs instead to the California State Athletics Commission. ESPN says that ruling could take some time.

“When the commission in California goes through their hearing, which is scheduled to take place in mid-December, the Hopkins people are trying to move it up little bit, rather than have to wait two more months, but if the commission does what many expect them to do, which is to rule it a no contest, the loss would come off Hopkins’ record the knockout victory would come off Dawson’s record, and we would just move on with our life.”

People may have already moved on with their lives. The fight's attendance was minimal. And as New York Daily News writer Tim Smith points out, there’s a stink surrounding the sport.

“For the second time in a month, a major boxing event has left a foul taste in fans' mouths. Floyd Mayweather Jr. knocked out Victor Ortiz, who was apologizing for a third illegal head butt and dropped his guard after the referee had called time in.”

Transcript by Newsy