THE VIRUET CAPER; REFEREE MISSES FLIGHT, SCRAMBLE ON FOR SUBSTITUTE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 13 Nov 2014
Referee Samuel Viruet who was appointed by WorLd Boxing Organization president Francisco "Paco" Valcarcel to referee the WBO light flyweight title defense of Donnie "Ahas" Nietes of the Philippines against Mexican challenger Carlos "Chapito' Velarde at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu on Saturday apparently missed his flight from the US and informed WBO Asia Pacific head and fight supervisor Leon Panoncillo on Thursday (Manila Time) that that he couldn't make it.
Philippine media including this reporter who will be on the ABS CBN TV panel that will telecast that fight couldn't understand the appointment of Viruet in the first place since his controversial handling of the world super flyweight title fight between Z "The Dream" Gorres of the famed ALA Gym and Mexican world champion Fernando Montiel when Gorres was disadvantaged by Viruet and lost the fight on February 24, 2007 when Viruet deducted a point twice from Gorres (one in the 10th and another in the 12th round) for holding. Montiel won the fight and defended the title in a split decision.
The Manila Standard/Viva Sports called Panoncillo who was in China and inquired what he planned to do about the fiasco and he informed us he would appoint Filipino referee Danrex Tapdasan to take Viruet's place which we ourselves strongly objected to out of delicadeza.
We pointed out that to have a Filipino referee in addition to Filipino judge Salven Lagumbay working the Nietes-Velarde fight was improper, at least in terms of image and that Tapdasan who received flack for his premature stoppage of the light welterweight bout between Jason Pagara and Mexico's Mario Meraz some months ago had incurred the ire of the Mexicans.
ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer also told us he was not in favor of having a Filipino referee replace Viruet because it would hurt their image even though they have nothing to do with the assignment of officials.
We suggested that efforts be made to secure IBF approval for internationally respected referee Robert Byrd who was assigned by IBF Championship Committee chairman Lindsey Tucker to referee the Intercontinental super bantamweight title bout between champion Prince Albert Pagara and Mexico's Raul Hirales be requested to work the Nietes-Velarde title bout.
ALA Promotions vice president Dennis Canete informed us late Thursday that Panoncillo who was scheduled to arrive in Cebu at 8:00 a.m. on Friday in time for the 11:00 a.m. official weigh-in had informed him he would discuss the issue with WBO president Valcarcel before a final decision is made.
The failure of Viruet to catch his flight was inexplicable and would cost ALA Promotions a tidy sum for the roundtrip ticket since airline companies don't usually refund the cost of a ticket if a passenger misses his flight and doesn't use the ticket at all.
The Mexican camp was unaware of the developments but are certain to raise a howl if Tapdasan in particular, or any other Filipino is named as a replacement for Viruet.
As a last resort we suggested that if Byrd is unable to do the fight that a referee from Thailand be contacted to be the third man in the ring since flying time from Bangkok to Manila is under four hours.
Photo: Referee Samuel Viruet (R) with Referee Joe Cortez (L) during last month's WBO Convention in Las Vegas. Photo by Dong Secuya.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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