IBF HAS GREAT RESPECT FOR WHEATLEY
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 14 Jan 2008
IBF Championship Committee chairman Lindsey Tucker says he has ?great respect for Ray Wheatley? who has been assigned as supervisor for the super flyweight title eliminator between Z ?The Dream? Gorres and former IBF/IBO flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan.
Tucker made the comment to Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today after the Gorres camp had objected through Samson Lewkowicz to the assignment of John Wright as referee alongside judge Cec Perkins since both were Australians along with Wheatley.
IBF president Marian Muhammad reluctantly replaced Wright who is regarded as one of Australia?s top referees with former New Zealand boxing champion and that country?s top referee Lance Revill so that Gorres doesn?t enter the ring with any preconceived notions that he won?t get a fair break. However, she flatly refused to entertain any requests to also replace Revill since he was from New Zealand which is considered close to the Australians.
Muhammad said officiating has nothing to do with geography even as Tucker himself turned down a suggestion from the Gorres camp that Raul Caiz Jr be named referee. Tucker said ?we always want IBF trained officials working our fights? adding ?I personally would not assign Raul Caiz Jr or Sr because they are not IBF members. We have lots of referees that are just as good.?
At the same time Tucker reiterated his faith in Wheatley stating that ?If Rey says he (the referee) will be fair and impartial that?s good enough for me.? He said ?I know Rey thinks highly of the referee from New Zealand and John Wright from Australia.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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