FUNEKA SUSPENDED, FINED HEAVILY BY NSAC
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 11 Jun 2010
South African lightweight Ali ?Rush Hour? Funeka has been effectively robbed in the ring in back-to-back title fights but now has to face up to an even bigger problem of a nine-month suspension and a fine of $35,000 plus being directed to return $15,625 that he got for making the 135 pound limit against Joan Guzman who came in a ridiculous 9 pounds overweight.
Funeka was tested positive for using a banned diuretic following post-fight tests conducted after he had dropped a twelve round split decision to the hugely overweight Guzman.
With a total payback of over $50,000, the lanky South African would effectively lose almost 50 percent of his purse of $105,000.
Lem Satterfield, news editor of boxingscene.com and AOL FanHouse quoted promoter Gary Shaw as saying he felt terrible for Funeka ?but if you break the rules, you break the rules -- even though you do so unknowingly," since Funeka claimed he didn?t know or that he deliberately took the diuretic which is used at times to lose weight.
Funeka lost his rematch with Guzman by a questionable split decision on March 27, 2010. In their first meeting at the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec, Canada the judges decision came under bitter criticism which forced the IBF then headed by Marian Muhammad who has since been replaced by Daryl Peoples to act.
Funeka was clearly robbed of the IBF lightweight title when two of the three judges mysteriously scored the fight a draw despite the fact that Funeka bloodied and battered Guzman for most of the twelve round bout.
It was Funeka?s second painful setback having lost a majority decision to Nate Campbell last February 14 when Campbell failed to make the weigh and lost his title on the scales but prevailed in a controversial decision majority decision.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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