On this audio edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman speaks with our colleague and correspondent Keisha Morrisey.
In the August 13 bantamweight title fight in Las Vegas, Nevada, between Joseph Agbeko and Abner Mares, referee Russell Mora let Mares land countless low blows without even deducting a point, much less disqualifying him. In the eleventh round, Mora even counted for a knockdown after Agbeko went down from a clear shot to the groin by Mares. This was one of the worst refereeing jobs in modern boxing history, and made the majority decision victory awarded to Mares virtually meaningless.
Outrage has been virtually unanimous among those who saw the fight (except, of course, from the referee), and many are calling for an immediate rematch, as well as nullifying the decision. The New Jersey commission suspended all three judges after their absurd decision in the Lara-Williams fight earlier this year, so it will be instructive to see what action if any the Nevada commission takes regarding Mora.
We spoke by phone late Saturday night right after the Agbeko-Mares fight with Keisha Morrisey. We discussed the refereeing in this fight, what it says about the continuously declining state of boxing, what should be done next, and much more.
CONTROVERSY IN LAS VEGAS- Post-Fight Press Links
Controversy looms over Las Vegas (and it smells like stale beer) after inexplicable officiating--which went beyond mere incompetence--marred the main event of the Bantamweight Tournament Final at the Hard Rock on Saturday night.
Please see links, below, to the first of what will certainly be many descriptions and accounts of something that went horribly wrong.
Alan Hopper
DKP
Yahoosports.com – by Kevin Iole
http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news;_ylt=Auj16BtN1cc5t0cAZ.YnaAOUxLYF?slug=ki-iole_mares_beats_Agbeko_controversy_081311
Controversy erupts as Abner Mares wins bantamweight belt from Joseph Agbeko
Immediate rematch likely on tap after unsatisfying finish to Showtime tournament
Las Vegas Sun - By Case Keefer
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/aug/14/abner-mares-controversy-joseph-agbeko/
Abner Mares beats Joseph Agbeko for world title
Challenger from Hawaiian Gardens is the new International Boxing Federation bantamweight champion by majority decision.
The Los Angeles Times - By Lance Pugmire
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-boxing-mares-abeko-20110814,0,2490395.story?track=rss
Mora taints Mares victory over Agbeko, ruins good fight
RingTV.craveonline.com – Doug Fischer and Mike Rosenthal
http://ringtv.craveonline.com/blog/168561-mora-taints-mares-victory-over-agbeko-ruins-good-fight-
Looked Like Ref Russell Mora Beat Joseph Agbeko
The Sweet Science – By Michael Woods
http://www.thesweetscience.com/news/articles/13107-russell-mora-beats-joseph-agbekostay-tuned-for-avila-from-ringside
In a great action fight Saturday marred by puzzling officiating by the referee that left fans at The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, those watching on SHOWTIME® and the telecast team themselves totally perplexed, Abner Mares won The Bantamweight Tournament Final: Winner Takes All and the International Boxing Federation (IBF) bantamweight title with a majority 12-round decision over defending IBF titlist Joseph King Kong Agbeko.
The unbeaten Mares (22-0-1, 13 KOs), of Hawaiian Gardens, Calif., scored two knockdowns – one in the first and one in the 11th that was one hotly disputed – en route to outpointing the New York-based Agbeko (28-3, 22 KOs) of Ghana by the scores of 115-111 twice and 113-113.
But talk afterward centered less on the terrific performances of the talented, proud prizefighters and more on the referee, Russell Mora, whose failure to deduct a point from the winner despite at least five warnings for low blows and several other shots that seemed south of the border left many in disbelief.
During the telecast, SHOWTIME ringside analyst Antonio Tarver said, “Mora robbed all of us of a great fight.’’
There were 1,394 punches thrown in a give-and-take slugfest. Mares connected on 318 of 732, Agbeko on 318 of 732.
“I thought the first knockdown was clear,’’ said Mares, who made history by becoming the first homegrown Golden Boy Promotions boxer to capture a world title. “On the second I hit him on the belt and the ref chose to give him a count. I agree with the ref’s choice.
“I like to work the body but I was making the fight and all he did was counter-punch.
“I’m open to fight anybody (next). I love this tournament and would love to be in another one like this.’’
Said Agbeko, who demanded an immediate rematch, “I felt as though I was fighting two opponents in the ring tonight, Abner Mares and the referee. The referee ruled incorrectly on the knockdowns and he allowed Mares to hit me low repeatedly. Then, in the 11th, he called what everyone could see was another obvious low blow a knockdown.
“I don’t why these things happened to me. I felt the ref was against me from the start. All I wanted was a fair fight.
“I like Abner. He’s a good fighter. But I’m sure he didn’t want to win a fight this way.’’
A 12-round fight promoted by Don King Productions and Golden Boy Promotions will re-air this week as follows:Tuesday, Aug. 16, 10:30 p.m. ET/PT SHO EXTREME
Saturday’s fight will be available ON DEMAND beginning on Tuesday, Aug. 16.
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Mayweather Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and MGM Resorts International are proud to announce that the most anticipated boxing mega-event of 2011, "STAR POWER: MAYWEATHER vs. ORTIZ", will be available via closed circuit viewing for all fight fans in Las Vegas Saturday, Sept. 17. The global event will attract fight fans worldwide and to ensure everyone has the opportunity to be a part of this unprecedented event, it was announced today that MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Monte Carlo, New York-New York, Luxor and Circus Circus will host the closed circuit telecast. "STAR POWER" will be produced and distributed by HBO-Pay-Per-View® with the live telecast beginning at 6:00 p.m. PST.
