Hopkins had lost by technical knockout in the second round of his fight with Chad Dawson on Oct. 15. Hopkins could not finish the fight with an injury after being thrown to the ground by Dawson.
The commission voted 5-1 to change the outcome after referee Pat Russell gave the victory to Dawson. Russell testified that he was wrong to give the victory, according to ESPN.
The change to a no-decision was based on the ruling that Hopkins was injured in an unintentional foul during the fight, but Russell originally declared that there was no foul and that therefore the injury came from a hit and had to be considered a technical knockout.
"I think it's the right decision," Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, said in a statement to ESPN. "Obviously, if you allow someone to lift someone’s feet and throw them to the ground and there are no consequences, that really will destroy the sport."
Chad Dawson, also speaking with ESPN, was not so enthusaistic.
"I'm disappointed," Dawson said. "I feel the night of the fight I came to the ring ready to be world champion."
For his part, Hopkins does not thinks Dawson deserves a rematch.
"He should not be in the ring with a living legend like me until he increases his popularity and shows some respect," said Hopkins. "Not worth my time. In addition, he was the first to say he did not want a rematch when he thought he had won."
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