It’s No Decision, Rules CSAC On Bradley-Campbell Fight

LOS ANGELES-Timothy Bradley, the WBO junior welterweight titleholder, had his technical knockout win over challenger Nate Campbell overturned by the California State Athletic Commission on Monday.

On Aug. 1, in Palm Springs, Bradley was ruled the winner when Campbell could no longer continue at the end of the third round after both fighters clashed heads accidentally.

“I saw black spots,” said Campbell after his head was butted by Bradley. Both fighters butted each other several times during the title fight.

Referee David Mendoza ruled then that a blow caused Campbell’s injury that included an ugly gash. The Commission ruled that it was a clash of heads and changed the fight from a win for Bradley to a No Decision by a 3-0 vote and two members abstaining.

“He quit,” said Bradley of Palm Springs. “Why do we have a referee if it’s going to be decided outside the ring?”

Both fighters were present at the Commission meeting that ruled 3-0 and two abstentions to change the win to a No Decision.

During the fight both fighters repeatedly clashed heads in the fight that lasted only three frames. In those rounds all three judges ruled that Bradley was ahead on points. In the third round, near Bradley’s corner, as both fighters engaged, the Palm Spring fighter’s head butted Campbell’s left eye. Seconds after, Bradley fired several blows including an uppercut.

“That’s when I saw blood,” said Mendoza at the hearing. “After a right uppercut.”

A video displayed showed a clash of heads and Campbell immediately signaling to the referee that he was butted. Bradley fired a flurry of blows and then the round ended.

Dr. Paul Wallace said that often blood does not spurt until many seconds later and also added that any kind of trauma could have caused Campbell to see black spots.

After the Commission ruled to overturn Bradley’s win and make it a No Decision, Bradley, his father Tim Bradley Sr. and Ken Thompson, the president of Thompson Boxing Promotions walked out of the meeting. Someone muttered “quitter” as the trio walked out of the door.

Outside the state building, both Bradley and Campbell exchanged angry words. The Florida fighter took off his suit coat and shouted words at Bradley. Both fighters refrained from fighting and walked away as onlookers on the busy downtown Los Angeles street stood and stared.

“I’m never going to fight him again,” said Bradley when asked if a rematch seemed the next step. “He don’t like me and I don’t like him. Why should I give him a payday?”

Thompson said that several lucrative offers have surfaced for Bradley.

“The phone has been ringing off the hook,” said Thompson who spoke on behalf of

Bradley at the meeting. “We do our fighting in the ring, not in a Commission meeting.”

Before the Commission had rendered its decision, Campbell asked people waiting to get inside if anyone could say he quit in a fight.

“I have never quit in a fight,” Campbell said.

Several minutes after both fighters exchanged words Bradley still fumed about the decision.

“Where do we draw the line?” Bradley said. “Is every fight going to be decided in a meeting?”

TV replay approved in California

One week after Nevada State Athletic Commission approved the use of television replay for boxing and mixed martial arts, CSAC also approved it for those same sports in California, 5-0.

Aside from Nevada, the only other state that uses video replay to determine rulings is New Jersey. That state has employed television replay since 2007.

CSAC will now research when and how to use television replay on boxing and MMA.