WBC rules Chad Dawson didn’t win fight against Bernard Hopkins

The World Boxing Council on Thursday ruled that Chad Dawson did not defeat light-heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins by technical knockout, as officials working the Saturday fight at Staples Center ruled.

Instead, the WBC ruled the outcome was a technical draw, allowing Hopkins, 46, to keep his belt.

“I’m obviously thrilled by that decision,” Hopkins’ promoter, Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions, said. “It’s the right decision. Bernard Hopkins did not lose that fight.”

Dawson was deemed the winner after Hopkins fell to the canvas and separated his left shoulder in the second round of their title fight. With Hopkins unable to continue, referee Pat Russell ruled Dawson the winner.

Schaefer has already appealed the outcome to the California State Athletic Commission, and commission executive officer George Dodd said a hearing on the matter is scheduled Dec. 13 in Los Angeles. Changing the Dawson victory to a no-contest is possible.

—Lance Pugmire

ETC.

U.S. wins gold in swimming, shooting

Gold proved to be scarce for the United States on Thursday in the Pan American Games at Guadalajara.

After days of winning title after title, the Americans stalled a bit on Day 6, earning only two gold medals — one in swimming and one in shooting.

Elizabeth Pelton finished first in the women’s 200-meter backstroke, the final swimming event of the night. Besides Pelton’s victory, the United States also earned its sixth shooting gold of the Games and 12th medal in the sport when Glenn Eller won the men’s double trap.

Although gold was tough to find Thursday, the medals still came. With 19 medal events on the program, Americans won 16 medals overall to increase their lead at the top of the table.

The United States now has 34 gold and 98 overall, and Brazil remains in second place with 13 gold and 41 overall.

::

Angels owner Arte Moreno has met in Florida with Tampa Bay Rays General Manager Andrew Friedman, the first evidence that the Angels are interested in an experienced general manager.

Although Angels Manager Mike Scioscia would continue to wield significant clout in the organization, the pitching-first philosophy implemented by Scioscia and former Angels GM Bill Stoneman would mesh nicely with the work Friedman has done in Florida, where the Rays have started a home-grown pitcher under 30 for a major league-record 764 consecutive games.

It is uncertain whether Friedman would leave the Rays, where he and owner Stuart Sternberg are reported to have a relationship so strong that Friedman works without a contract.

The meeting among Friedman, Moreno and Angels President John Carpino was first reported by the website DRaysBay.com.

—Bill Shaikin

Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers won the Warren Spahn Award, given annually to baseball’s top left-handed pitcher.

Kershaw was selected after finishing first this season among lefties in each of the categories included in the formula that determines the winner. He had 21 wins, 248 strikeouts and a 2.28 earned-run average.

::

Luke Donald got off to a strong start in his pursuit of Webb Simpson and the top spot on the PGA money list, shooting a six-under-par 66 in the opening round of the Children’s Miracle Network Classic to share the lead with six other players at Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Donald is playing the opening two rounds with Simpson, whose runner-up finish last week at Sea Island gave him a $363,029 lead in the money list. Simpson also played bogey-free on the easier Palm course for a 68.

::

Top-ranked Yani Tseng opened her home event with a four-under 68 in front of a large gallery to join Japan’s Ai Miyazato atop the leaderboard in the LPGA Taiwan Championship at Yang Mei.

::

The lottery to determine the top four picks in the 2012 WNBA draft will be held in New York on Nov. 10. The Sparks, who finished with a 15-19 record last season and missed the playoffs for the fourth time in their 15-season history, are one of four teams in contention for the top overall draft choice yet have the lowest chances (10.4%). The league has not yet set the draft date, but it is expected to be in mid-April.

—Melissa Rohlin