What’s worse: incompetent MMA judges or corrupt boxing judges?
Corrupted boxing judges I will say, the last time I got sick to my stomach was when Paul Malignaggi lost a unanimous decision to Juan Diaz with some stupid scores, 115-113, 116-112 and a ridiculous 118-110 from Van Hoy. Many felt Malignaggi won. From my point of view, Malignaggi (26-3, 5 KO) largely dominated the fight defensively and with speed. Diaz (35-2, 17 KO) did survive a bad cut and didn’t fight badly but he had a horrible time closing the distance on the longer, taller and quicker Malignaggi and it was Paulie that made much of the fight go.
The 12-round junior welterweight rematch is scheduled for December 12 on HBO.
You will think because those judges were exposed, other judges will think twice before making a bad call, well the sport of boxing continues to produce some shocking decisions.
In the co-main event at the sold-out Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City, boxing fans witnessed another horrible call. Ali Funeka, in my point of view should have won a unanimous decision over Joan Guzman from the Dominican Republic.
The fight started with some great back and forth action, Guzman was really short next to Funeka, maybe that’s why they call him “Little Tyson”, but regardless it was Funeka who dominated the fight. It became a bloody fight when Guzman suffered a huge cut above his right eye due to an accidental head-butt. Tony Rivera, his cut man, did every thing he could to stop the bleeding, but Guzman continued to bleed heavily. At this point, I was under the impression that referee Jean-Guy Brousseau, or the ringside physician, was going to step in and stop the fight, not only because of the cut but the punishment the undefeated Dominican Republic fighter was taking.
At the end, Guzman survived the scheduled twelve-rounds and the judges came back with a majority draw. The scores were 114-114, 114-114 and 116-112 for Funkeka.
I literally spit out the beer I was juggling down when I heard the outcome.
Boxing Promoter Lou DiBella was quoted as saying“That was one of the five worst decisions that I’ve ever seen. That was an inexplicable decision. There should be a full investigation and background checks on those two judges. That was clearly a one-sided ass-whopping. If this is the best judging that boxing has to offer, then we’re in real trouble. HBO should not buy the rematch. I don’t want to see that fight again. Guzman got his ass kicked.”
It makes you wonder who is paying off these judges, the fighters or the promoters?
The fighters so they don’t lose or the promoters for them to sell a rematch? Take Paul Malignaggi vs.. Juan Diaz as an example, a rematch equals more ticket sales, bottom line it means more money.
What’s your opinion?
Photos by Ed Mulholland
Guzman lost bigtime. 117-111 if you ask me. And that’s being generous.
I actually had Diaz winning 115-113. I would have accepted a victory for Paul Malignaggi with that same score.
Nothing could be worst than the robbery of Sergio Martinez vs Paul Williams. 119-110 ??? Are you kidding me ?? That judge was smoking some good shit if you ask me.
All in the name of rematches if you ask me.
Joan got busted and those 2 scores were a joke. Got to be fines and suspensions for this type of thing.
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