Boxing Thread

[orangeman]

Is boxing the most corrupt sport in the world or are the judges just incompetent ?


Pacquiao's first defeat in 16 championship fights over seven years, during which the Filipino has become an international idol, stunned the 16,000 crowd at the MGM Grand Arena. Veteran promoter Bob Arum — who handles both protagonists – labelled the judges' decision as "outrageous" and "one of the worst" he had ever seen, while former heavyweight world champion Lennox Lewis said it was "another stain on boxing", and branded the scoring "unbelievable and disgraceful".

"It was worse than my controversial draw with Evander Holyfield in 1999," he said.

Amir Khan, Pacquiao's stablemate, called the decision "a robbery", and likened it to his loss to Lamont Peterson in Washington DC in December. Arum added: "I've never been as ashamed of the sport of boxing as I am tonight. I'm going to make a lot of money on the rematch, but this was outrageous."

The biggest fight of Bradley's career earned him $5million (£3.2m). Pacquiao was guaranteed $20m (£12.9m). Bradley moved to 29 fights unbeaten. Pacquiao lost for the fourth time in his 60th bout.

It was confirmed that a second encounter is expected to take place between Pacquiao and Bradley on Nov 10 in either Nevada, Texas, or California.

[johnneycool]

Is boxing the most corrupt sport in the world or are the judges just incompetent ?


Pacquiao's first defeat in 16 championship fights over seven years, during which the Filipino has become an international idol, stunned the 16,000 crowd at the MGM Grand Arena. Veteran promoter Bob Arum — who handles both protagonists – labelled the judges' decision as "outrageous" and "one of the worst" he had ever seen, while former heavyweight world champion Lennox Lewis said it was "another stain on boxing", and branded the scoring "unbelievable and disgraceful".

"It was worse than my controversial draw with Evander Holyfield in 1999," he said.

Amir Khan, Pacquiao's stablemate, called the decision "a robbery", and likened it to his loss to Lamont Peterson in Washington DC in December. Arum added: "I've never been as ashamed of the sport of boxing as I am tonight. I'm going to make a lot of money on the rematch, but this was outrageous."

The biggest fight of Bradley's career earned him $5million (£3.2m). Pacquiao was guaranteed $20m (£12.9m). Bradley moved to 29 fights unbeaten. Pacquiao lost for the fourth time in his 60th bout.

It was confirmed that a second encounter is expected to take place between Pacquiao and Bradley on Nov 10 in either Nevada, Texas, or California.

Ker-ching $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Everyone's a winner.

[stew]

Arum should be ashamed of himself, he is at fault for this debacle as he promotes both fighters.

I used to love boxing but the likes of Arum and the rest of the scummy promoters have done nothing but take advantage of the fighters and the public who support said fighters, after watching that fight and seeing that result I have watched my last boxing match and hope it dies a quick death because it is the most corrupt sport on the planet bar none.

[nrico2006]

Has the decision been taken yet on who got the invitation places for the Boxing at the Olympics?  Joe Ward?

[washed_up]

Sorry to read today of the passing of Teofilio Stevenson the supreme Cuban boxer.He scared the daylights out of the heavyweight division at amateur level for years

[nrico2006]

Andy lee gets his chance on Saturday night, anyone know what time it will be on here?

[screenexile]

From Today's Times:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/0614/1224317876692.html

OLYMPIC GAMES BOXING: HOPES of participating in the London Olympic Games in July are all but gone for Irish light-heavyweight champion Joe Ward. The Moate boxer, who was controversially beaten by a local fighter Bahran Muzaffer in the Olympic Qualifier in Trabzon in April had hoped a mechanism called the Tripartite Commission could offer him a wildcard place.

However, sources in Lausanne where the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) have their headquarters, have said the Irish teenager will not be one of the names chosen by the commission.

The idea when the commission was first set up was to allow nations with little or no representation in the Olympic Games an alternative route to participation and was based on the principle of universal representation as specified in the Olympic Charter. Invitation places can only be allocated to countries with an average of six or less athletes at the last two editions of the Games.

As Ireland has six boxers in a team of over 50 qualified for London – five males and Katie Taylor – it is believed the commission's stance was that Ireland and Ward fell outside their criteria. Ward, whose world ranking has slipped in recent months from three to five is the European senior champion, a title he won in 2011 when he was 17-years-old.

Another issue that was put to the commission was that because boxing is an aggressive contact sport, an element of danger existed if the nominated individual was of insufficient standard to compete against European and World champions. That would have mitigated in favour of the Irishman but appears not to have swayed the decision makers.

One glimmer of hope is the International Federation can also make a recommendation for inclusion. However indications are the heavily-politicised decision-making process may also end in disappointment. Apparently there are two unofficial lists in circulation in Lausanne from the IABA, one which has Ward's name included and the other which does not. It was suggested by the source Ward's expectations should not lean too heavily on being nominated by the governing body of the sport.

Ward was the youngest on the Irish team that recently travelled to France for a pre-Olympic Games camp. Irish coach Billy Walsh had kept him in training with the other qualified boxers in the hope a mechanism could be found to have him included in the team. Part of that feeling came from the sense of injustice that lingered after Ward was judged to have lost 18-15 in his second bout in Trabzon to Muzaffer.

At the time outraged Irish Boxing officials lodged an official complaint, which was unsuccessful as organisers determined that no rules were seen to have been broken in arriving at the verdict. Such an outcome was always likely as boxing results are rarely overturned. Having had time to analyse the fight on video afterwards Walsh remained bemused at the decision. "Joe landed 12 punches but only got four points," he said at the time. "The Turk landed four, but got six points. I thought Joe did all the cleaner scoring. But that's what you're up against. You're here and there's a partisan crowd. Even if Joe's hitting sometimes they are pressing the wrong button."

No European team that attended the tournament in Trabzon qualified more than two boxers for London, while the hosts Turkey qualified with six fighters. They won four gold medals from 10, while no other nation won more than one. Before the tournament had finished an Irish boxing official had delivered a letter to the president of the International Federation, Dr Ching-Kuo Wu. But it all seems to have been to no avail.

This is scandallous the lad isn't allowed into the Olympics!

[Hound]

This is scandallous the lad isn't allowed into the Olympics!

He had two chances to qualify and messed them both up.

He didnt fight well against the turk, and tactically him (and in particular his corner) got it very wrong.

Of course they are going to cry foul rather than admit they messed it up. The fact is it was a very close fight, not even the Irish disputed that the first 2 rounds could have gone either way. There is some legitimate complaints to the 3rd round, when the judges reacted to crowd noise rather than actual scoring hits, but that's the way it goes when you are away in most sports. He needed to win well, and he didnt.

Close decisions in boxing usually go the way of the home fighter, but this wasn't anywhere near the scandal they are pretending it was.

[nrico2006]

From Today's Times:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/0614/1224317876692.html

OLYMPIC GAMES BOXING: HOPES of participating in the London Olympic Games in July are all but gone for Irish light-heavyweight champion Joe Ward. The Moate boxer, who was controversially beaten by a local fighter Bahran Muzaffer in the Olympic Qualifier in Trabzon in April had hoped a mechanism called the Tripartite Commission could offer him a wildcard place.

However, sources in Lausanne where the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) have their headquarters, have said the Irish teenager will not be one of the names chosen by the commission.

The idea when the commission was first set up was to allow nations with little or no representation in the Olympic Games an alternative route to participation and was based on the principle of universal representation as specified in the Olympic Charter. Invitation places can only be allocated to countries with an average of six or less athletes at the last two editions of the Games.

As Ireland has six boxers in a team of over 50 qualified for London – five males and Katie Taylor – it is believed the commission's stance was that Ireland and Ward fell outside their criteria. Ward, whose world ranking has slipped in recent months from three to five is the European senior champion, a title he won in 2011 when he was 17-years-old.

Another issue that was put to the commission was that because boxing is an aggressive contact sport, an element of danger existed if the nominated individual was of insufficient standard to compete against European and World champions. That would have mitigated in favour of the Irishman but appears not to have swayed the decision makers.

One glimmer of hope is the International Federation can also make a recommendation for inclusion. However indications are the heavily-politicised decision-making process may also end in disappointment. Apparently there are two unofficial lists in circulation in Lausanne from the IABA, one which has Ward's name included and the other which does not. It was suggested by the source Ward's expectations should not lean too heavily on being nominated by the governing body of the sport.

Ward was the youngest on the Irish team that recently travelled to France for a pre-Olympic Games camp. Irish coach Billy Walsh had kept him in training with the other qualified boxers in the hope a mechanism could be found to have him included in the team. Part of that feeling came from the sense of injustice that lingered after Ward was judged to have lost 18-15 in his second bout in Trabzon to Muzaffer.

At the time outraged Irish Boxing officials lodged an official complaint, which was unsuccessful as organisers determined that no rules were seen to have been broken in arriving at the verdict. Such an outcome was always likely as boxing results are rarely overturned. Having had time to analyse the fight on video afterwards Walsh remained bemused at the decision. "Joe landed 12 punches but only got four points," he said at the time. "The Turk landed four, but got six points. I thought Joe did all the cleaner scoring. But that's what you're up against. You're here and there's a partisan crowd. Even if Joe's hitting sometimes they are pressing the wrong button."

No European team that attended the tournament in Trabzon qualified more than two boxers for London, while the hosts Turkey qualified with six fighters. They won four gold medals from 10, while no other nation won more than one. Before the tournament had finished an Irish boxing official had delivered a letter to the president of the International Federation, Dr Ching-Kuo Wu. But it all seems to have been to no avail.

This is scandallous the lad isn't allowed into the Olympics!

+1.

[everymanaman]

Andy Lee stopped in 7th round

[Capt Pat]

The decision will eventually come down tomorrow according to reports. You can't say he has only himself to blame. He like all the other amateur boxers are reliant on the judges to deliver fair verdicts, it is hard to knock people out with head gear and big gloves.

This is scandallous the lad isn't allowed into the Olympics!

He had two chances to qualify and messed them both up.

He didnt fight well against the turk, and tactically him (and in particular his corner) got it very wrong.

Of course they are going to cry foul rather than admit they messed it up. The fact is it was a very close fight, not even the Irish disputed that the first 2 rounds could have gone either way. There is some legitimate complaints to the 3rd round, when the judges reacted to crowd noise rather than actual scoring hits, but that's the way it goes when you are away in most sports. He needed to win well, and he didnt.

Close decisions in boxing usually go the way of the home fighter, but this wasn't anywhere near the scandal they are pretending it was.

[Hound]

Capt Pat, your going on the word of his manager that he was robbed. Its laughable how easily sucked in as a nation we are to a supposed hard luck story.

Billy Walsh is hardly going to admit that he got the tactics wrong, and they only pushed on in the final round when the damage was done and the Turk's and the crowd's confidence were up.

He had two attemps to qualify, and failed in both. Thus, he doesn't deserve to go. Would be fantastic if he got a wildcard, but that aint goina happen

[gallsman]

Martinez-Chavez Jr. already made apparently.

[everymanaman]

Martinez-Chavez Jr. already made apparently.

Will Martinez insist on a drugs test beforehand?

[Asal Mor]

Capt Pat, your going on the word of his manager that he was robbed. Its laughable how easily sucked in as a nation we are to a supposed hard luck story.

Billy Walsh is hardly going to admit that he got the tactics wrong, and they only pushed on in the final round when the damage was done and the Turk's and the crowd's confidence were up.

He had two attemps to qualify, and failed in both. Thus, he doesn't deserve to go. Would be fantastic if he got a wildcard, but that aint goina happen

Have you seen the fight Hound? Just wondering is it available anywhere. You're right enough that everyone is going on hearsay but it also sounds fairly believable that he might have been done - with boxing being what it is.