ANOTHER Filipino fighter has fallen victim to a bum decision and bad officiating in South Africa.
Jerry Castroverde and his coach Jingjing Tepora cried foul after losing by unanimous decision to South African Aphiwe Mboyiya at dawn last Saturday in East London.
?It was very controversial because in the first round, I dropped him and when he stood up and was counted he was still very groggy but the referee let him recover. It should have been a knockout,? Castroverde told Sun.Star Cebu.
Castroverde dropped Mboyiya in the opening round with an overhand punch. But allegedly survived with a little help from the referee.
Mboyiya was also deducted a point in the third round for excessive clinching. However, all three judges scored it in favor of the hometown boy, 116-109, 115-110 and 116-109.
?I believe the scores were wrong. I knocked him down and he was deducted a point. And in every round he was groggy,? said Castroverde.
Castroverde and Mboyiya fought for the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) Africa super featherweight titlep.
The 19-year-old Cebuano prospect can?t believe that he lost and wants an immediate rematch with Mboyiya.
?That?s what I want. I want to win the belt,? said Castroverde.
Castroverde dropped to 9-3 with five knockouts, while Mboyiya improved to 14-2-1 with six knockouts.
Omega Pro Sports International (OPSI) vice-president Chad Ca?ares said that he has to see the fight video and talk with the team on what to do next.
?We still have to check the video before we can comment but if it shows that there?s controversy, we?ll discuss it with the group what actions to take thereafter.?
