BAD officiating may have deprived Milan Melindo of a world title.
Instead of a technical knockout victory for Melindo, the fight was ruled as a technical decision after International Boxing Federation (IBF) light flyweight champion Javier Mendoza suffered a huge gash above his left eye yesterday at the Campo Nuevo Ensenada in Baja California, Mexico.
The ring physician advised referee Gerard White that Mendoza was unfit to continue in the sixth round because of the cut that was bleeding profusely and the fight went to the scorecards.
Judge Bill Lerch scored it 59-53, judge Chris Wilson had it 60-52 and judge Richard Ocasio also saw it 60-52 all for Mendoza for the technical decision win.
“I believe Milan won by TKO after watching the replay because the referee didn’t rule an accidental headbutt, meaning it was a legal blow by Milan,” Melindo’s coach Edito Villamor told Sun.Star Cebu.
In the replay, it looked as if both banged heads in the sixth round but Melindo landed a huge right that apparently caused the cut.
“It was a punch. It was clear on TV,” insisted the 27-year-old Melindo.
The fight was marred with headbutts the whole night and in the fifth round Melindo was deducted a point for a low blow.
The 24-year-old Mendoza remained the champion and improved to 24-2-1 with 19 knockouts, while Melindo dropped to 32-2 with 12 knockouts.
Because of the controversial decision, Melindo and his team wants a rematch to settle on who the true winner is.
“Yes, a rematch, that’s the plan,” said Villamor.
This was Melindo’s second loss in his second attempt at a world title after losing to Juan Francisco Estrada by a clear unanimous decision in 2013.
The coveted gold continues to elude Melindo, may it be controversial or not.
