A clash of heads between Nate Campbell and Tim Bradley.
Credit: Tom Casino | ©Showtime Press Kit
A Clash of Heads Leads to a Controversial Ending in the Tim Bradley vs. Nate Campbell Junior Welterweight Title Fight
The junior welterweight title fight between Timothy Bradley, the defending champion, and Nate Campbell was highly anticipated in the boxing community. On Saturday night the two fighters met, but they only had to put in three rounds of work before the fight came to an end.After a head butt seemingly opened up a cut over the left eye of Nate Campbell, he told the ringside doctor in the corner that he couldn't see out of the eye. The doctor of course then stopped the bout, however the fight was ruled a victory for Bradley, rather than the No Contest that Campbell had assumed would be ruled.
The rule in boxing is that when a fight is stopped due to a cut caused from a head butt prior to the fourth round, it's ruled a No Contest or No Decision. Afterward, the fight would go to the scorecards. However, if the fight is stopped at any time due to a cut caused from a punch, the fighter with the cut loses the fight via stoppage.
Campbell felt that the referee had ruled the cut to be caused by a head butt, however the referee made the final decision that a punch caused the cut. Therefore, the win went to Bradley and Campbell unknowingly set himself up for a loss.
Here's a look at both sides of the controversy.
Why Nate Campbell Was Right
Nate Campbell was right in this situation because there was clearly a vicious, although unintentional, head butt in the third round of the fight. Immediately after the head butt, Campbell backed away, looked at the referee and said "head butt" and pawed at his eye as if he felt blood beginning to stream. The referee at that time did note the head butt.
Considering the rules described above, if Campbell couldn't continue after the third round, the fight should have been ruled a No Contest, because the cut stemmed from the clash of heads.
Why Nate Campbell Was Wrong
Comments
I gotta' look at this later... The world is anxiously awaiting my own judgment of it...:)
Not so much Ray. At least the sport isn't ruled by Overlord Dana White.
Ray Johannsen
(Guest)
(Guest)
08/06/2009
Another example why the sport of boxing today is in shambles%2521 The poor decisons%252C mismatches and unfavorable rulings are endless.%250D%250ACheck out the WEC and other Cage fighting%2521%250D%250AYou will forget all about traditional boxing%2521
:)
I missed this one.
This fight should of been a no-contest but Bradley looked the better fighter in the first three rounds.
;-);-)
Yeah... even from a technical point of view, it isn't solely Campbell's call if he "can continue." Without support from the doctor, such a claim is dubious. Still, the ref's claim that the cut was opened on a punch after he acknowledged it following the headbutt - and all of this is on tape! - is either incompetent or corrupt.
:-)
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