TWO boxing promoters in Cebu City have split views on Nevada’s new boxing rule regarding the use of instant replay.
ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer and Manny Pacquiao close friend Rex “Wakee” Salud have different opinions on the instant replay rule recently approved by the Nevada Athletic Commission for boxing fights and mixed-martial arts events.
Aldeguer, who handles fighters from the ALA Gym, believes that the new rule could destroy the essence of the sweet science.
“For me, when you do a replay you take away the jurisdiction of the ring official. This may hold true in a basketball game because there are 10 players inside the court. However, in boxing it’s just two warriors fighting each other to win,” Aldeguer told Sun.Star in an interview yesterday.
Aldeguer that the rules of boxing should be left the way it is, the traditional way.
“I think it’s close to a hundred years and you can’t just change the game. It might destroy it. It might take away the taste of the game,” he said.
On the other hand, Salud is more open to the new rule and believes that could improve the quality of the game.
“It would be better because it would be fair. They could determine if a boxer did it (a low blow or a head-butt) intentionally or unintentionally,” said Salud.
Salud said the new rule could help minimize controversial decisions.
“It’s great rule. It would be good for boxing. It would avoid controversy.”
Just recently, the Nevada Athletic Commission permitted the limited use of the technology to help referees evaluate hits that end fights, including knockouts and hits like low blows or head-butts if they cause the bout to end because of injury.
Illegal blows can disqualify fighters if the referees say they were delivered on purpose. However, it would go to the judges if it is ruled an unintentional hit by the referee.
The first major fight that could use the new rule is the Floyd Mayweather vs. Juan Manuel Marquez bout on Sept. 19.
