Fiji's Alivereti Kauyaca, left, lost on split points to New Zealand boxer John Parker in Hamilton. Photo: Facebook / Ironfist Promotions
The World Boxing Association (WB) Oceania has supported the split-points decision that gave New Zealand boxer John Parker, the new WBA Oceania cruiserweight boxing title.
Parker was awarded the decision in his fight against Fijian Alivereti Kauyaca in Hamilton a fortnight ago.
But Kauyaca's manager trainer, Farmaan Ali, complained about the decision and asked the WBA to overturn the decision or award a 'no contest', claiming two judges were biased in their decisions.
WBA Oceania president Ferlin Marsh sought the assistance of three international professional boxing judges, who were each asked to review their fight video and make their own judging of the fight.
"After reviewing the fight, myself, and getting expert advice of three other international boxing officials, they all gave their scores in favour of John Parker who was declared the winner of our WBA Oceania Cruiserweight title," March said in his response to Ali on Monday.
The Australia-based judges gave their scores as follows - Brad Vocale 96-94, Paul Tapley 97-93 and Phil Austin 98-92 - all in favour of Parker.
Marsh said he respects the independent judges and had worked with them for many years.
"With many world title fights with the WBA, WBC and WBO, I respect their evaluation of this fight," he said.
"This was an unusual fight to judge as neither fighter really wanted to mix it up and take control of the fight. Yes, Parker won more rounds but not by much."
Queensland judge and referee, Vocale said while it appears that Fijian boxer Kauyaca was the busier fighter, "he wasted opportunities as he was inaccurate and often missed the scoring zone of his opponent".
"Many blows strayed around the back of the head and the kidney area, and many blows struck the gloves and the arms," Vocale said.
"While boxer Parker often was not throwing as many blows as boxer Kauyaca, but when he did let his hands go, he was faster, cleaner and a lot more effective giving him some vital rounds.
"I would not discredit the judge who split the decision in favour of Alivereti Kauyaca, he was seated ringside, and could easily have seen something the other judges failed to see.
"It was a relatively close contest, as both competitors at times appeared tired, they both missed scoring clean blows, also their workrate slowed considerably. Kauyaca tried his hardest, and while John Parker may have started slowly, he was often the most accurate boxer, while at times he wasn't as busy as his opponent, he was more accurate also his speed was clearly evident along with his consistent work ethic."
But Vocale's wife Jill, who is also an accredited Judge of more than six years' experience with Ringsports Australia, and the Australian Boxing Council, scored the fight a draw, her scores being 95-95 for both boxers.
'Off the mark'
Meanwhile, Ali said he did not accept the independent judges' decisions and will be seeking the opinions of other boxing judges in the US and Europe.
He also questioned Vocale's assessment that Kauyaca's kidney punches were not scoring points and said Parker's corner deliberately raised his groin guard to protect his kidney.
"I have seen Brad Vocale's thesis, within his own statement there are ambiguity. Like he mentions that my boxer was throwing kidney punches," he said.
"Isn't it a scoring area to land punches there (kidney)? While Parker was getting hammered in kidney area on his left, his corner had raised his groin guard right up, to protect the kidney area. They cheated.
"Referee had no idea nor did the judges intervene. So, Brad's observations are off the mark.
"Therefore, I am still not content with the decision. I am reaching out to other independent judges from other independent boxing bodies from USA and/or Europe. Once I get the analysis, I will be in better position to accept the decisions."