The tri-focal vision of boxing judges never ceases to amaze me. Now it should go without being said that judges should do their respective jobs to the best of their ability, but when three judges see the same fight and two score it 114-114 respectively and the remaining judge scores it an overwhelming 117-111, the question arise concerning the competence and maybe integrity of some who officiate.
This past Saturday Hasim ‘The Rock’ Rahman, 41-5-2 (33) made the first defense of his newly acquired WBC heavyweight title against James ‘Lights Out’ Toney, 69-4-3-1 (43) at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in what turned out to be an interesting affair. After twelve rounds of action the contest was ruled a majority draw. I personally didn’t have a problem with the 114-114 verdicts by judges Tommy Kaczmarek and Nobuaki Uratani because a lean in any direction would have been fare. There would at least be no argument because of the truth that there is beauty in the eye of the beholder, but the scorecard of judge John Stewart on the other hand lets you know that love is blind, as his score of 117-111 for Rahman was like a kiss on the defending champion’s lips. That particular score card made most ask, what fight was he watching?
It is a common practice for the commissions to never second-guess the decision of the judges or referees, or at least not publicly, but far left and far right decisions like this and ones of the pasts have left bad impressions in the minds of viewers who feel that the officials are comprised of incompetent people.
Having worked with some topflight officials, I understand that relationships with these individuals aren’t too far from that of other people that you encounter. I may have a great deal of respect for them, but we both may see things a bit differently. That’s fine and dandy, but one can’t lose site that officials are a gigantic significant in the makeup of this sport, and one wrong decision can alter an individual fighter’s history and may forever change that of the sport as a whole in the process.
Lennox Lewis’ 1999 first meeting with Evander Holyfield for the undisputed heavyweight championship netted him a draw on his record after one judge scored it a 115-115 and one other scored it 113-115 in favor of Holyfield, in a fight that even Stevie Wonder would have shouted, Lewis was robbed! This verdict caused a huge media backlash, as this was a significant event, not only to the fighters, but also to the entire sport. It made it a must for these two to meet again. While Holyfield did much better in the return, Lewis won this time around. But what of the fighters that don’t and won’t get their chances to right what was wrongfully done to them?
I remember the 1989 long awaited rematch between Thomas ‘Hitman’ Hearns and ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard? After Hearns scored knockdown in the 3rd and 11th, the bout was declared a draw. The revenge that Hearns so desperately waited to achieve after his loss to Leonard in their 1981 first meeting over eight years earlier was stolen from him as if the officials had guns and knives drawn. Leonard didn’t admit that he lost that bout until years later, after it didn’t matter anymore. Of the terrific foursome of Hearns, Leonard, Marvin Hagler and Roberto Duran who defined the early 80’s, it may have been that disputed draw that would have lifted Hearn’s status in the minds of the masses. Unfortunately, the officials made it official, and Leonard will go down as holding the upper hand in the meetings between these two.
Even referees can alter history. It can be from those who may think referee Richard Steele’s stopping of the 1990 junior welterweight unification bout between Meldrick Taylor vs. Julio Caesar Chavez with just two seconds left as being too soon; to those who feel referee Tony Weeks just may have stopped the tragic 2005 IBF lightweight title bout between Leavander Johnson vs. Jesus Chavez too late; the decisions of those officials, whether rightfully labeled too fast or too slow, or not, will forever alter the sport’s history.
In all fairness, it is easier from the outside looking in to think that it is simple to be an official. It definitely takes time and training to be skilled in these fields, but the fact is, officials are trained and go through a process. It’s human error that probably always will remain. It’s just sad that one error may be all it takes to cause permanent damage.
Just as in your overall titles beyond judge and beyond referee – your decisions are crucial, and more over, your decisions are official.
|
|
|
|
© Copyright / All Rights reserved: Doghouse Boxing 1998-2006
|
By Rob Scott (March 24, 2006) 
