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Philippines, 21 Nov 2025 |
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OPEN LETTER TO IBO PRESIDENT EDWARD S. LEVINE PhilBoxing.com Tue, 13 Nov 2012  November 12, 2012 MR. EDWARD S. LEVINE President, International Boxing Organization Coral Gables, Florida Attn: Chairman Juan Ramon Guanzon and Commissioner Fritz Gaston Philippine Games and Amusements Board (GAB) Sir: I am Manny Pinol, former Governor of the Province of North Cotabato in the Philippines, patron and manager to boxer Edrin "The Sting" Dapudong, who figured in an IBO world junior bantamweight championship fight against Gideon Buthelezi in Johannesburg, South Africa on Nov. 10, 2012. I am writing to you to file a formal complaint against one of the judges in the fight, American Michael Pernick, who abused his discretionary authority in scoring the fight, especially Round 9 of the fight when Dapudong scored a knockdown which he scored 10-9, a round which British judge Reg Thompson and even the South African judge, Tony Nyangiwe, who was obviously biased in favor of Buthelezi scored 10-8. Mr. Pernick, whom I confronted the morning after the fight over his questionable scoring not only of Round 9 but also of the first three rounds which were clearly won by Dapudong as reflected in the scorecards of Judge Thompson, arrogantly bragged that he had judged over 60 world championship fights, including the fight of Manny Pacquiao against Ricky Hatton, as if to insinuate that this gives him the license to score the fight as he wishes. "That's how I saw the round," Mr. Pernick arrogantly declared in front of the IBO vice president for South Africa, Len Hunt, and Judge Thompson. Mr. President I have been involved with boxing for the last 30 years as a journalist, broadcaster and as a boxing patron. I believe I understand boxing, its intricacies and the realities, including its bright and dark sides. I believe that if a contender in a World Championship Fight does nothing but run around the ring in all of 12 rounds to avoid being hurt, if his face is turned into a bloody mess and if he gets knocked down, he does not deserve to be crowned a WORLD CHAMPION. Otherwise, we will be making a mockery of the title WORLD CHAMPION. In the Dapudong-Buthelezi fight, I and the many spectators of that 12-round fight at the Emperor's Palace in Johannesburg were convinced that the Filipino was the better fighter. Mr. Pernick's scoring was anomalous considering the fact that he claims to be one of IBO's resource speakers during the training of boxing referees and judges. Please take note that I am not filing a complaint against Mr. Nyangiwe because from the very start I knew that he would be biased in favor of the South African fighter. Basically, I believe that since we agreed to having a hometown judge to sit at ringside, we have no reason to complain. It was like allowing a thief to guard your jewelry. Besides, it is obvious that he is not in the league of Mr. Pernick whose irregular actions during IBO world title fights would tarnish the reputation of the world boxing body. In view of this, may I formally ask for the following actions from the IBO: 1. An immediate review of the video recorded fight between Dapudong and Buthelezi to be conducted by an impartial panel of respected boxing judges. I believe that had Pernick correctly scored the first three rounds where he gave the second round to Buthelezi even while the South African fighter was flailing on the ropes and badly punished, and had he correctly scored the knockdown in the 9th, Dapudong would have won the fight in his scorecard 114-113 and he could won the title. 2. The immediate suspension of Mr. Pernick as an IBO sanctioned boxing judge pending the results of the review of the video recording of the fight. 3. Should the IBO review panel conclude that the judging in the Dapudong-Buthelezi fight was irregular, that an order for a rematch be issued by the boxing body. Sir, I have considered IBO as one of the more respectable boxing organizations and an admirer of your computerized ranking program. I believe that your immediate action on this formal complaint would prove to us who work hard to help young boys achieve their dreams in the sport that the IBO represents what is right and what is just in the sport. May I also take this opportunity to commend Golden Gloves Boxing Promotions of South Africa for the kind attention that we were given during our stay and the excellent preparations they made for the world title fight. I also believe that the actions of Mr. Pernick do not necessarily mean that the promoters were a party to his act of injustice. I also would like to commend your Africa Vice President Len Hunt for his professionalism and for encouraging me to formally write to you to file this complaint. Yours in boxing and in supporting the youth. Respectfully, MANNY F. PINOL Former Governor, North Cotabato, The Philippines Registered Manager to Edrin Dapudong copy furnished: Mr. Gabriel "Bebot" Elorde Event Matchmaker 
The official scorecard of the Dapudong-Bhutelezi fight.  |
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