In a horrendous decision that brought back memories of how the South Koreans robbed American middleweight Roy Jones Jr in what was considered one of the worst injustices in the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, the Koreans repeated the infamy by robbing 19 year old Ian Clark Bautista of a well-deserved victory in the flyweight round of 16 bout late today in Incheon, South Korea.
In the boxing events marred by several bum decisions, Bautista suffered one of the worst eventually losing 30-26 (courtesy of a one point deduction by the referee for ducking low) when as ABAP executive director Ed Picson pointed out the Filipino was some four inches shorter than Korea?s Sangkon Choe.
Despite dropping the Korean twice one of which was not ruled a knockdown by the referee, Bautista lost on the scorecards of the two other judges 29-28 to give the Korean a unanimous decision win.
ABAP executive director Ed Picson told the Manila Standard/Viva Sports he initially wanted to file a protest and pay the $500 filing fee which would be forfeited if the protest in turned down and after talking to the officials he decided against it because the judges decision could not be contested, only the referee?s decision could and even if he removed the one point deduction Bautista would still have lost.
The decision was booed by the fans and TV5?s sportscaster Charlie Cuna who was there said ?Our boxer Bautista just got robbed. He beat up a lousy Korean fighter, knocked him down even, but lost on pts. Robbery!?
ABAP president Rick Vargas as well as Picson told us they ?feel for the boy? who cried on Picson?s shoulder unashamedly and said ?I sacrificed four years for this only to be robbed.?
Picson said the Philippines is not the only country that has suffered in Incheon saying even China has complained about the decisions in boxing.
Thai lightweight Saylom who lost to South Korea?s Han Soon-Chul 29-28, 29-28, 29-28 said he believed he did better than the host fighter.
The Thai pointed out, ?I knew it would be tough to beat a Korean opponent on his home soil? and added ?I think I landed more punches.?
It was Saylom?s first defeat against Han in three meetings. He said ?In fact, I did better than the previous two fights.?
Photo: Ian Clark Bautista (R) poses with ABAP Executive Director Ed Picson.
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