THE fire that rages in the midst of battle can provoke a fighter to do anything to repel the heat. Abner Mares should not be criticised too severely for firing low in round 11 against Joseph Agbeko on Saturday night. Nor should he be complimented on his bad aim, but when every bone in your body is screaming for mercy, you?d be surprised what you?re capable of.
Of course, the flagrant foul that caused his African opponent to fall to the canvas was not the first dirty dig that Mares planted in Agbeko?s private land. He had done it several times ? some you could argue were accidental, some it would be very hard to stake the same claim. But boxing is a contact sport, its protagonists will ? completely understandably ? do whatever is necessary to win. It is up to the referee to prevent things getting out of control, and keeping contests as clean as possible.
This is no easy task but Russell Mora, the man in the middle in Las Vegas, turned in a shambolic exhibition of officiating that will undoubtedly stain this thrilling encounter?s place in history. Mares kept firing low because he was allowed to ? there were no point reductions despite several warnings. Had a penalty been imposed by Mora, it is extremely likely Abner?s aim would have improved.
But that low punch in round 11, launched while Agbeko was enjoying a storming resurgence and threatening to take over, came from Mares probably knowing it would go unpunished. What he couldn?t have expected was, not only would it land with impunity, it would also fell Agbeko and be deemed a legitimate knockdown.
Mora, who couldn?t have hoped for a better vantage point, explained afterwards, ?First and foremost I have to enforce the rules. That punch was on the beltline. It was a fair punch and I have to call it fair. It would be unfair to give the other guy [Agbeko] an advantage just because he said it?s low.? But is it fair to give Mares an unfair advantage after landing an illegal blow? Of course not.
