Big Gary Shaw is right in saying that the headbutt delivered by Jean Pacal to his fighter Bad Chad Dawson was intentional and not accidental.
Come on, man, Pascal lowered his head like a mad bull and slammed his forehead into Dawson’s during the dramatic 11th round of a world light heavyweight title bout in Montreal Saturday night.
Even Stevie Wonder could see that.
But the Canadian referee ruled the goring as being accidental and the ringside physician made what I think was a justifiable decision to halt the bout.
Remember the doctor’s only concern is supposed to be how much damage the fighter has sustained and that cut looked nasty according to the HBO cameras.
At age 28, Dawson’s ring future was at stake not to mention the rematch clause (though not immediate) that the American had in his back pocket as insurance.
Thus the outcome was determined by the scorecards where the Canadian judge had hometown hero Pacal ahead by a totally ridiculous 108-101 margin. Oklahoman Gerald Ritter and UK veteran John Keane got it exactly right favoring the Quebec fighter 106-103.
That’s how I tabbed it and so did HBO’s unofficial official judge Harold Lederman.
As far as Dawson’s strange passive-aggressive offense, I will have more on that and his myriad outside of the ring problems shortly.
The way I look at it the more energized Pascal was going to win the decision anyway.
He had two choices for six minutes of survival. He could dash around the ring the whole time and clinch also.
Or he could make one of those rampaging bulls let loose on the streets of Pamplona and bang heads with Dawson.
In doing so keep in mind that Pascal took the risk that he might be the one to get cut.
Head butts whether done on purpose like I’m convinced this one was or truly accidental are a part of boxing just like clinching and other dilatory and illegal tactics are. How many fights have included strategic low blows or rabbit punching?
Pascal came to fight to the best of his limited but gutsy ability.
Dawson looked, from the very start, like a guy who mailed in his effort.
Dawson’s inertia was a part of every round and his lack of disgust after losing spoke volumes.
Something is rotten in Dawsonland.
Not only did Dawson fall from the pretigious ranks of the undefeated?also known as Club Mayweather?but he came off like a guy to whom losing that status and the chance to take WBC, IBO and Ring magazine title belts means little.
If Dawson doesn’t really care, why should we?
