BEBOT ELORDE TO FILE PROTEST WITH IBO ON RUBILLAR DECISION
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 02 Mar 2010
Promoter and boxing manager Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde says he will file a protest with the IBO over what was widely perceived to be a hometown decision in the IBF light flyweight title eliminator between veteran Juanito Rubillar (48-14-7, 23 KO’s) and South Africa’s Hekkie Budler (14-0, 5 KO’s) at Emperors Casino, Kempton Park in South Africa last Sunday, Manila Time.
Elorde claimed that Rubilllar dropped Budler in one of the late rounds (Round 9 by his recollection) but that after referee Pete Podgorski counted to two he suddenly stopped the count and ruled it a knockdown.
In fact Super Sport in South Africa reported that two judges who scored the fight for Budler by margins of 117-113 (Lulama Mtya) and 115-113 (Deon Dwarte) “gave the fight” to Budler and said “gave may be the operative word.” The third judge ( Isaac Tshabalala) scored it even at 114-114.
The report stated that Rubillar and “many in the crowd will call it a hometown decision. It will be hard to argue against them” even as it said Rubillar staggered Budler on a number of occasions and while the undefeated South African started aggressively and took the early rounds, Rubillar came back in round four and connected with a number of shots to the body as Budler backed off.
Dispatch Online reported that “while an unmarked, composed Rubillar appeared to outclass Budler for much of the 12 round fight after a slow start in the opening three rounds, a panel of judges made up of South Africans saw fit to award the decision to their battered, out-fought and out-punched countryman.”
After the fight we sent IBO president Ed Levine an email pointing out that based on South African media reports themselves the decision was “a really poor if not bad decision” and inquired whether the IBO would “review a tape of the fight and take whatever action is deemed appropriate including a possible rematch.”
The IBO president informed us that he had received a report from his fight supervisor – South Africa’s Len Hunt – and referee Podgorski and that “both have indicated that in their opinion, keeping in mind that they were not actually scoring the fight, that it was a very close contest and they were not surprised by the result.”
However, Levine said Rubillar’s management “is entitled to file a protest” and if they do the IBO will review the tape of the fight.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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