NEW YORK -- Hector Camacho Jr.'s technical win over Jesse James Leija was changed to a no-contest Thursday by the New York State Athletic Commission.

The fight was stopped when it was ruled that Camacho couldn't continue after the fifth round of the 10-round super lightweight bout early on July 8 because of a cut over his right eye caused by a clash of heads.

The official scorecards were totaled, and Camacho, ahead on all three, was declared the winner.

The commission, however, ruled that the bell should not have rung to begin the sixth round. Since the bell rang incorrectly, the official cards should not have been consulted under a New York boxing rule and there could not be a decision, the panel said.

Leija, a former WBC lightweight champion, and manager Lester Bedford of San Antonio, Texas, complained that Camacho could have continued the fight at KeySpan Park in Coney Island, but that he deceived the ringside physician into stopping it.

"We felt like James was going to knock the guy out," Bedford said by telephone.

Bedford protested in writing.

The ruling making the fight a no-decision was signed by the three commissioners -- chairman Melville Southard, Jerome Becker and Marc Cornstein.

"People told me it wouldn't do any good to protest," Bedford said. "I commend the commission for it's action. It very rare for a decision to be overturned. The evidence was so strong."

"We respect the commission's decision and we look to settle in the ring," said Dan Goossen, president of America Presents, Camcho's promoter.

Camacho, of Puerto Rico, the unbeaten No. 1 super lightweight contender of the WBA, was cut in the fifth round and at round's end was examined by Dr. Robert Polofsky.

After review of a tape of the fight and interviewing bout officials, the commission said that Polofsky examined the cut for 40 seconds. He then told referee Steve Smoger to let the fight go another round. The doctor's examination was still in progress when the bell to begin the sixth round was incorrectly rung.

Smoger said he realized the examination would not be completed before the one-minute rest period was over and he asked the timekeeper for time. The timekeeper, Catherine Paolillo, nevertheless rang the bell, and Smoger again asked for time.

Paolillo told the commission she rang the bell because she mistakenly believed she could not grant time until after she rang the bell for the next round.

After Polofsky left the corner, the fighters stepped toward one another. Smoger, who had not called "time in," took several seconds to separate them and send them back to their corners.

He took about 10-12 seconds more to get Camacho's cornermen to mop up water on the canvas. Smoger then realized he hadn't collected the judges cards after the fifth round and proceeded to do so.

Camacho then complained he could not see and a commission inspector, still on the apron, called Polofsky back. After a brief examination, the fight was stopped.

According to 19 NYCRR Part 212.7 (e), the official cards will be tallied and winner declared "in the event a butt was unintentional and the bell has rung for the commencement of the round following the conclusion of at least one-half of the scheduled rounds ..."

Since it was ruled Paolilo should not have sounded the bell to start the sixth round until the referee indicated he was ready, the commission ruled the cards should not been totaled and ruled the bout was a no-contest.