THE RING magazine will recognize the winner of the Chad Dawson-Jean Pascal fight on Aug. 14 as its light heavyweight champion, magazine editor Nigel Collins announced.

The 175-pound championship has been vacant since Joe Calzaghe retired in February of last year.

Dawson is currently THE RING’s No. 1-rated light heavyweight; Pascal is No. 3.

“Normally, filling a RING championship vacancy requires a match between the No. 1 and No. 2 contenders,” Collins said. “But under certain circumstances, we will recognize the winner of a bout between the No. 1 and No. 3 contenders, and the Dawson-Pascal match is such a circumstance.

“No. 2 contender Glen Johnson has already lost twice to Dawson, so it makes perfect sense to award THE RING light heavyweight championship to the Dawson-Pascal winner.”

The prestigious RING magazine championship dates back to 1922, when the very first RING belt was presented to then-heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey. THE RING’s current championship policy was launched in the April 2002 issue.