CASAMAYOR?S CONTROVERSIAL WIN
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 13 Nov 2007
In the undercard to Miguel Cotto-Shane Mosley at Madison Square Garden, Joel Casamayor won a very controversial split decision over Jose Armando Santa Cruz.
Ringside spectators were calling it the ?worst boxing decision of the year.? Frank Lombardi and Ron McNair scored the bout, 114-113 for Casamayor and Tony Paolillo had it 114-113 for Santa Cruz. The huge crowd at Madison Square Garden noisily booed after the judges' ruling was announced.
Casamayor was clearly outboxed and outpointed yet he kept his World Boxing Council interim lightweight title. Santa Cruz, a Mexican now residing in California, connected with a short counter that sent the Cuban boxer down in the first round. Casamayor was coming off a thirteen-month layoff and it had a clear consequence on him. He was completely out of form, could not connect with his punches well and had taken Santa Cruz, his former sparring partner, too carelessly.
Casamayor resorted to holding frequently enough but referee Steve Smoger did not deduct any points. In the seventh round, Santa Cruz used his hard lefts to sprinkle the champion with punches, clearly controlling the fight as it went on to the final bell.
Santa Cruz knocked down Casamayor 50 seconds at the start of the fight and appeared to be in command of of the fight but was not fortunate enough to get back the interim title he lost 15 months ago to American David Diaz, who now holds the WBC lightweight crown.
The 36-year-old Casamayor admitted the long lay-off affected his fight He had not fought since winning the WBC lightweight crown from Diego Corrales 13 months ago, improved to 35-3-1, 21 KOs while Santa Cruz fell to 25-3, 14 KOs.
The Associated Press scored it 117-109 while Boxing Scene had it 118-109 all for Santa Cruz., who was the WBC's No. 1 ranked challenger. Casamayor is a Cuban boxer, who turned pro after defecting to the United States on the eve of the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
As an amateur, Casamayor won the gold medal in the bantamweight division at the 1989 Junior World Championships and the gold medal in bantamweight at the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics.
Casamayor is a former WBC and WBA world lightweight titleholder and current WBC interim lightweight champion. Prior to the Sta. Cruz bout, he is The Ring magazines? world lightweight champion. It could possibly change after the controversy.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Inoue on Replacement, Mismatch Spree
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Tue, 15 Apr 2025FUNDORA VS. BADILLO UNDERCARD TO BE STACKED WITH GOLDEN BOY’S FUTURE STARS
Tue, 15 Apr 2025NM Nika Juris Nicolas finishes fourth in Cincinnati Chess Open
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 15 Apr 2025May 10: Andres Cortes-Salvador Jimenez Junior Lightweight Showdown Featured on Navarrete-Suarez Undercard at Pechanga Arena San Diego LIVE on ESPN+
Tue, 15 Apr 2025BOOTS AND HEARN TELL WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONS – DARE TO BE GREAT!
Tue, 15 Apr 2025UNDEFEATED BANTAMWEIGHT ANTHONY GARNICA READY TO SHINE IN 2ND MAIN EVENT AGAINST ASTON PALICTE ON APRIL 19
Tue, 15 Apr 2025Kevin Brown Training Camp Notes
Tue, 15 Apr 2025Undefeated Dallas Super Middleweight Sam Arnold III returns home to Graduate from Prospect to Contender
Tue, 15 Apr 2025King's Promotions Adds Boxing Commentating Trailblazer Claudia Trejos Ambassador For Women's Boxing
Tue, 15 Apr 2025Cebuano Caparino in a tie for lead in Bangkok tourney; Bernardino bounces back
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 15 Apr 2025LA Clippers Beat Golden State in OT, 124-119, Drop Dubs to Play-in Versus Memphis Grizzlies
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Mon, 14 Apr 2025Almost P2 million in prizes up for grabs as RFS Onslaught kicks off in Vermosa, Cavite
Mon, 14 Apr 2025The Civic’s Sacred Ring: Filipino Fighters and the Heart of San Francisco
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Mon, 14 Apr 2025NOEL MIKAELIAN SET TO FACE BADOU JACK FOR WBC CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP ON MAY 3 IN RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA
Mon, 14 Apr 2025Muhammad Waseem Returns Home for Title Fight in Quetta Against Venezuela’s Wiston Orono
Mon, 14 Apr 2025