Agbeko vs. Mares; Post-Fight

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.’’

♔EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess♔, See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time.EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 All photos other than specified by "EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess" Keisha Morrisey, for ♔Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios♔, KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and ★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved.

Ghana Boxing Authority to protest Agbeko/Mares verdict‏

The Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) is preparing to lodge an official protest over the verdict of the unification bout between Ghana’s Joseph Agbeko and Mexican Abner Marez, last Saturday at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Nevada, United States of America (USA).

Agbeko was said to have lost the bout on points to the Mexican, as two judges scored 115-111 each with the third scoring the fight 113-113 to hand the International Boxing Federation (IBF) title to Mares.

Amin Lamptety, Communications Director of the GBA told GNA Sports in Accra on Monday that they are preparing the necessary documents with strong evidence to make a case with the IBF and the World Boxing Council (WBC) and the organizers of the event.

The verdict has been hugely disputed by boxing fans across the globe with referee Russel Mora being bashed with criticisms for denying the world a great fight between two great boxers with his strange decisions.

He said the protest will seek to compel the organizers to constitute an independent jury to watch the fight again and do another compilation of the scores.

According to Lamptey, his outfit with urge for the verdict, supervised by referee Mora is overturned to enable Agbeko retain his title, whilst efforts would be made at calling for a rematch.

The Communications Director told GNA Sports that the management of Agbeko headed by the Don King Boxing Promotions is also preparing a similar protest describing the verdict as a clear robbery.

Lamptey said the GBA will pursue the matter to its logical conclusion to ensure that fairness reigns.

Mares, a product of Golden Boy Promotions, organizers of the event, by the controversial verdict has thus unified the IBF and WBC Bantamweight titles.

Agbeko has meanwhile called for an immediate rematch, saying after the fight that he felt he fought two opponents, Mares and referee Mora and thus the strange decision.

♔EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess♔, See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time.EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 All photos other than specified by "EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess" Keisha Morrisey, for ♔Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios♔, KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and ★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved.