THE World Boxing Council will immediately act on the controversial championship fight between Australia-based Tanzanian Omari ?Lion Boy? Kimweri and Filipino southpaw Randy ?Razor? Petalcorin for the vacant WBC Silver flyweight title held Friday night at the Melbourne Pavilion in Victoria, Australia.
?WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman said that there is really a problem and that they will evaluate to the fullest,? said Petalcorin?s young manager Jim Claude Mananquil of Sanman Promotions from General Santos City.
?He requested us to send also the full video of the fight aside from the highlights,? said Manangquil, who already sent it together with their formal complaint by his co-manager Peter Maniatis of Australia.
The 12-round fight ended in a controversy as Kimweri still won by a split decision despite being knocked down four times by Petalcorin.
The decision aggravated by the failure of referee Malcom Bulmer to call the four knockdowns by Petalcorin shocked those watching the fight on live streaming in the Philippines including some of the leading TV commentators and boxing writers.
Manangquil and Maniatis expressed their ?shock and disgust? over the decision.
Petalcorin, a native of Davao City, even relinquished his WBA light flyweight Interim title to fight Kimweri for the WBC Silver belt.
Bulmer?s wife Samantha was also one of the three Australian judges, who also scored the fight for Kimweri.
?This is horrible for boxing. This is killing the sport that we love and also hurts the boxers who work hard? said Manangquil, who is now in Manila.
Petalcorin and trainer Renie Gabawan will follow him tomorrow. ? LITO DELOS REYES
TANDEM. Jim Claude Manangquil (left) and Randy Petalcorin going for an ice-cream the next day after the controversial fight.
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