Dawson defeats Hopkins, Tony DeMarco wins WBC lightweight title, dramatic 11th round TKO of Linares
LOS ANGELES – Challenger “Bad” Chad” Dawson defeated defending WBC and Ring Magazine light heavyweight champion Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins in Saturday night’s main event on the “Believe It Or Not!: Hopkins vs. Dawson” card, presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions, on HBO PPV at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
The title fight ended in controversy because Hopkins (52-6-2, 32 KOs) was unable to continue due to a left shoulder injury suffered in the second round when he landed on the canvas. Referee Pat Russell ruled that there was no foul, awarding a TKO win to Dawson (31-1, 18 KOs), who captured the WBC and Ring Magazine championships.
Mexican lightweight Antonio “Tony” DeMarco(26-2-1, 12 KOs) became world champion for the second time in his pro career, defeating Jorge Linares (31-2) by 11thround technical knockout to capture the vacant WBC title. Trailing by scores of 99-91 and 98-92 (twice) going into the 11th round, DeMarco belted a bloodied Linares around the ring until referee Raul Caiz, Sr. halted the action at 2:23 for a dramatic comeback win by Demarco.
Unbeaten junior welterweight Danny “Swift” Garciawon a 12-round split decision versus former world champion Kendall “Rated R” Holt (27-5, 15 KOs) for the vacant NABO title in an eliminator for the WBC #1 and IBF #2 positions.
Brooklyn welterweight Paulie “Magic Man”Malignaggi (30-4, 6 KOs) boxed his way to a 10-round unanimous decision win against Orlando Lora (28-2-1, 19 KOs).
Junior middleweight Freddy “The Rail” Hernandez(30-2, 20 KOs) dropped former world champion Luis Colazzo (31-5, 16 KOs) on the eighth round en route to a hard-earned, impressive victory by 10-round unanimous decision (96-93 all three judges).
Full Results:
Chad Dawson (31-1, 18 KOs), New Haven, CT WTKO2 (2:48) Bernard Hopkins (52-6-2, 32 KOs), Philadelphia, PA
(Dawson wins WBC & Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight Title)
Antonio Demarco (26-2-1, 19 KOs), Los Mochis, Mexico WTKO11 (2:32) Jorge Linares (31-2, 20 KOs), Barinas, Venezuela
(DeMarco wins WBC Lightweight Title)
Danny Garcia (22-0, 14 KOs), Philadelphia, PA WDEC12 (117-111, 117-111, 113-115) Kendall Holt (27-5, 15 KOs), Paterson, NJ
(Garcia won NABO Junior Welterweight Title, WBC #1 & IBF #2 Positions Eliminator)
WELTERWEIGHTS
Pauli Malignaggi (30-4, 6 KOs), Brooklyn, NY WDEC10 (100-90, 99-91, 98-92) Orlando Lora (28-2-1, 19 KOs), Culiacan, Mexico
Nick Casal (25-4-1, 17 KOs), Buffalo, NY WTKO3 (2:51) Michael Anderson (11-1-1, 9 KOs), Newark, NJ
JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Freddy Hernandez (30-2, 20 KOs), Mexico City, Mexico WDEC10 (96-93 X3) Luis Collazo (31-5, 16 KOs), Brooklyn, NY
CRUISERWEIGHTS
Dewey Bozella (1-0, 0 KOs), Beacon, NY WDEC4 (39-36, 39-36, 38-37) Larry Hopkins (0-4), Houston, TX
JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHTS
Manuel Avila (6-0, 2 KOs), Fairfield, CA WDEC4 (39-35, 39-36, 37-38) David Reyes (2-1, 0 KOs), East Los Angeles, CA
MIDDLEWEIGHTS
DonYil Livingston (6-0, 3 KOs), Palmdale, CA WDEC4 (59-55, 58-56, 58-56) Kurtis Colvon (6-1, 5 KOs), Austin, TX
Go online to www.garyshawproductions.comfor more information about Dawson, Demarco, Holt and Lora.
