WBC CABOFE title fight...GBBC enquiry shoots down Sakima Mullings’ ‘raw deal’ claims

WBC CABOFE title fight…GBBC enquiry shoots down Sakima Mullings’ ‘raw deal’ claims

Feb 27, 2015 Sports

Merely one week after his defeat to Clive Atwell for the WBC Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE)

Sakima Mullings

light/welterweight regional title, Jamaican Contender welterweight champion, Sakima Mullings, is crying foul and has petitioned President of the subject organization, Peter Abdool, for a review and/or to rescind the decision arrived at by the three judges at ringside. Mullings has listed several key points for his disgruntlement and shortly after the decision was announced, had instructed his management team to lodge the complaint.
The Jamaican’s major contentions were (1) that throughout the duration of the bout Atwell continuously held onto him, contrary to the rules, without stern warning or points deducted. (2) Late in the bout, he (Mullings) felt that he had knocked Atwell down and that the knockdown was improperly ruled a slip by the referee thereby depriving him of one (1) point which would have been deducted from Atwell had the knockdown been properly called by the Referee.
Mr. Abdool has since acquiesced to the Jamaican pugilist’s request and in a comprehensive report issued to Kaieteur News stated that there is no merit in the complaint that Mullings was cut by an accidental or deliberate head butt among other contentions.
The committee also found that there is no merit in Mr. Mulling’s complaint that one (1) of the four instances in which Atwell touched the canvas may have been as a result of a legal blow by virtue of the referee having failed to issue a warning to Mullings which would have indicated it to have been an illegal blow.
Consequently, a point has been deducted from Atwell on all scorecards consistent with a knockdown in round eleven. The investigating team also pointed out that of significant note, the point deducted from Atwell on each scorecard would not have materially changed the outcome of the fight.
Officials further reasoned that the cut suffered to Mullings over his left eye in round six was occasioned by a head butt which may have been, in his opinion, either accidental or deliberate but in any case, not caused by a legal punch as indicated by the referee.
“The rules applicable to this type of injury are specified in the World Boxing Council (WBC) rules for Championship Fights clauses 13 and 14,” the release stated. Mr. Abdool said that the review has covered the gamut of rules applicable to Mullings’ contention and contended that consistent with the boxer’s petition, the entire recording of the fight was closely scrutinized by the committee.
“It is noteworthy that point deductions or lack thereof for holding are not reversible as they are given or not, solely at the discretion of the referee,” the release further noted. The committee therefore determined that there is no merit in the complaint that Mullings was cut by an accidental or deliberate head butt.
Further, there is merit in Mr. Mulling’s complaint that one (1) of the four (4) instances in which Mr. Atwell touched the canvas may have been as a result of a legal bow by virtue of the referee having failed to issue a warning to Mr. Mullings which would have indicated it to have been an illegal blow.
Consequently, a point has been deducted from Atwell on all scorecards consistent with a knockdown in round eleven and that the point taken from Atwell on each scorecard does not materially change the outcome of the fight.
Those scores would have been thus reflected; Judge Clifford Brown’s score of 113 Atwell / 115 Mullings now becomes 112 Atwell / 115 Mullings; Judge McKenzie Granger’s score of 117 Atwell / 113 Mullings now becomes116 Atwell / 113 Mullings and Judge Francis Abraham’s score of 117 Atwell / 111 Mullings now becomes116 Atwell / 111 Mullings.
Consequently, the decision remains in favour of Atwell though by reduced scores. Meanwhile, Mr. Abdool said that in support of the committee’s findings, a copy of the unedited recording used in the review will also be sent to Jamaican broadcasters.
Meanwhile, Mr. Abdool has congratulated both fighters for an exceptional fight while saying that each has made his country justifiably proud. “The fight was fought at the highest level of skill and competence and has demonstrated the continual efforts of both Jamaica and Guyana to produce world class professional boxers. We would also wish to reiterate the confidence vested in the referee as a competent and experienced official,” exhorted the CABOFE boss.
Mr. Abdool further said that whilst a re-match would be of great interest to boxing fans across the Caribbean and indeed one to be encouraged, there exists, in the circumstances, no justification for the sanctioning body to so mandate. He further posited that a much desired, possible rematch remains in the hands of the boxers and their respective management teams.