I hate it when boxing becomes a laughingstock.
But, I hate it even more when a laughingstock turns into a laughingstock, which is why right now I’m almost at a loss for words.
In the case of the grossly incompetent but probably not corrupted scoring of Saturday night’s Sergio Mora-Sugar Shane Mosley PPV TV bout, and I use the term bout loosely, I think Jim Lampsley’s constant sarcasm summed it up.
“This decision sucks!”
That’s what the veteran HBO voice said after hearing Michael Buffer intone the incredible scoring of novice judge Kermit Bayless 115-113 in favor of Mora, the 116-112 Mosley score of David Denkin and the gutless 114-114 tally of Lou Moret, who had judged (according to HBO) 37 world title bouts.
Unofficial HBO judge Harold Lederman had the 39 year old Mosley ahead by six points or nine rounds to three. If you told me Mora won four of 12 rounds I would not throw a hissy fit
Watching at a Manhattan movie theater for a $20 fee alongside former Mosley promoter Cedric Kushner, I concurred with that Mosley ballot of Lederman, though.
Already the boxing excuse makers are out with the usual “it was a difficult fight to score” rubbish.
No it wasn’t for anyone with normal visual acuity.
No way did Mora win.
No way did Mosley lose.
No way this no knockdown boreathon should’ve come out a deadlock on the scoring sheets.
Mosley did not even argue his own case, shrugging off the bogus decision in speaking to Larry Merchant.
And Mora did not have the common decency to admit he deserved to lose a wide points verdict.
I’ll have full review of this garbage scow later.
I will say I’m glad I got a good look at rising Mexican star Saul “Canela” Alvarez, who nearly beheaded Carlos Baldomir.
Baldomir and another KO loser on this travesty of a card, Vivian Harris, need to retire.
Judges Bayless, the rookie, and Moret, the veteran, should follow suit.
I’m straining here for good news but here it is, not even Golden Boy would rematch this pair.
