Black eye for boxing
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 20 Sep 2017
Last Saturday, two fights were held on opposite sides of the globe and brought back the excitement of high-quality competition in the sport whose popularity has been severely challenged by the raw action in mixed martial arts over the past few years.
In Las Vegas, WBA/WBC/IBF/IBO middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin of Kazakhstan retained his multiple titles via a hard-fought, 12-round split draw with Mexican challenger Saul (Canelo) Alvarez before a live audience of 22,358 at the T-Mobile Arena and a closed-circuit crowd of 17,931.
In Cebu, IBF lightflyweight titlist Milan Melindo survived nasty cuts over both eyes and a bulge on the bridge of his nose to beat South African challenger Hekkie Budler on a split 12-round decision that was sealed with a knockdown in the final stanza.
While both fights were barnburners, they were marred by disgraceful judging. That was the unfortunate twist. The fights restored the purity of boxing as an art and science but did little to protect its integrity. To be sure, the boxers did their part in reviving fan interest in the sport. The supervising authorities, however, could?ve done a better job of screening judges. There have been too many blunders that erode the reputation of boxing and create the impression of judges with hidden agendas.
****
In the Golovkin-Alvarez fight, female judge Adalaide Byrd scored it 118-110 for the Mexican. She awarded the first three and the last five rounds to Alvarez plus the fifth and sixth, meaning Golovkin took only two in her scorecard. Even Alvarez said Byrd went overboard in her generosity as he thought he won seven or eight rounds. Was it a case of incompetence or corruption? Another judge Don Trella scored the seventh round for Alvarez when Golovkin clearly dominated as even Byrd saw it the Kazakh?s way.
It wasn?t the first time that Byrd exposed her inabilities. In 2008, she saw Bernard Hopkins a 114-113 winner over Joe Calzaghe in a fight that was doubtlessly won by the Englishman despite suffering a first round knockdown. The two other judges gave it to Calzaghe as Chuck Giampa had it 116-111 and Ted Gimza 115-112. There was no excuse for Byrd?s irrational judgment.
Golovkin and Alvarez put up a thrilling show. They gave it their all in a competitive match. It wasn?t one-sided like Floyd Mayweather?s disposal of Conor McGregor in a bout where fans felt short-changed for the money they spent on the event. It wasn?t like Mayweather?s ho-hum win over Manny Pacquiao in a fight where Money played safe to the fans? disappointment. Alvarez raced to a strong start then Golovkin took control only to run out of gas in the late going. Golovkin landed 218 punches, 96 percent of which found the head, while Alvarez connected 169, 74 percent of which went upstairs. Golovkin outpunched Alvarez in 10 of the 12 rounds. The Kazakh also outjabbed Alvarez, 108-of-361 to 55-of-233. The stats appeared to establish Golovkin?s win but Alvarez didn?t only make it exciting but also close. The draw was acceptable, Byrd's scorecard wasn't.
****
In Cebu, the consensus was Melindo deserved the verdict but judge Takeo Harada?s 117-110 count was an embarrassment. Glenn Trowbridge had it 115-112 for Melindo and Carl Zappia 115-113 for Budler. You could argue about how Trowbridge and Zappia scored it but Harada?s call was excruciatingly non-debatable. Harada?s score left a bad taste in the mouth particularly as Melindo fought on home soil.
Nevada State Boxing Commission executive director Bob Bennett said Byrd had a ?bad night.? So presumably, Harada did, too. In Las Vegas where the betting is heavy, a draw in the Golovkin-Alvarez fight carried odds of 20-1, meaning a $100 wager earned $2,000. Those who put money on a draw wound up with a whopping pay-off. You wonder if the judges had bets on the fight.
Mismatches, unexciting fighters, unfair refereeing and incompetent judging are the reasons why fans aren?t as keen in following boxing as in the past when Sugar Ray Leonard, Tommy Hearns, Roberto Duran and Marvelous Marvin Hagler lorded it over. It?s so unfair to throw-back fighters like Golovkin, Alvarez, Melindo and Budler who put their lives on the line in the ring only for their efforts to be tainted by extraneous circumstances.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 2 DECEMBER 2025: Kavaliauskas Wins by Split Decision Over Molina; Whittaker Stops Gavazi in 1; Malajika Wins by UD Over Paras
By Eric Armit, Wed, 03 Dec 2025WBC Strips Terence Crawford of Super Middle Title
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 03 Dec 2025Soledad wins WBC Asian Continental title
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 03 Dec 2025A night of power, legacy, and UAE pride: IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships opens in spectacular fashion in Dubai
Wed, 03 Dec 2025OKC Thunder is NBA 2025-2026 Strongest Team
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 03 Dec 2025Who was Clever Sison?
By Joaquin Henson, Wed, 03 Dec 2025MATCHROOM BOXING RETURNS TO FONTAINEBLEAU LAS VEGAS WITH MURATALLA-CRUZ FIGHT, JAN. 24, 2026
Wed, 03 Dec 2025TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Undefeated Featherweight Luis Nuñez Prepares for Hector Sosa Showdown on PBC on Prime Video
Wed, 03 Dec 2025Darry Bernardo, 4 other Pinoys in hot start in 3rd Asian Chess Championship 2025 for players with disabilities
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 03 Dec 2025Two Pacquiaos on same card?
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 02 Dec 2025OLYMPIC BOXING 4: 1924 OLYMPICS AT PARIS, FRANCE
By Maloney L. Samaco, Tue, 02 Dec 2025Cebuana Lhuillier-Backed UTP National Team Shines at 40th Penang Open, Captures Multiple Titles
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 02 Dec 2025WBC 63th Annual Convention Opens in Bangkok
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Tue, 02 Dec 2025Undefeated Brooklyn heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor closing out a strong 2026
Tue, 02 Dec 2025USA Boxing Announces Partnership with Xempower USA
Tue, 02 Dec 2025