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WRONG RESULT – Munguia-Hogan judging review embarrasses WBO


The fall-out from Dennis Hogan’s controversial world title defeat to Jaime Munguia has descended into farce following the latest update from the World Boxing Organisation.

The Brisbane-based Kildare light middleweight lost out to WBO champion Munguia in Monterrey, Mexico, in a fight many believed he won and looks to face an uphill battle to secure a rematch.

Hogan dropped a 114-114, 112-116, 113-115 majority decision and the outcry and protest from Team Hogan led to a review from the WBO, the jumbled results of which were released last night.

An independent, non-Australian, non-Mexican, anonymous five-judge panel were assigned to score the bout and a majority of these felt the fight was a draw.

The review could not overturn the original results confirmed by the three ringside American judges on the night but could have seen the WBO order a rematch – which they have not.

The five scores which came back were a 115-113 each for both fighters and a trio of drawn 114-114 verdicts – with both boxers winning 30 rounds apiece across the five new scorecards.

scorecards

However, the report published by the WBO is more gymnastics than boxing, with the methodology making out an obvious draw to be a win and arguing that it justifies the original verdict.

Breaking down the review scores, Munguia won the 3rd, 5th, and 6th rounds unanimously, the 12th round on four cards, and the 2nd, 7th and 9th rounds on three cards. Hogan, on the other hand, won the 1st, 8th, 10th, and 11th, rounds unanimously and the 4th round on three cards.

Going round-by-round, Munguia ‘won’ seven rounds with a majority of judges while Hogan got five, the same as what occured across the three judges on fight night – although, as we know, this is not how fights are scored.

The WBO’s review said that “it can be established from the Judges’ scorecards that on the date of the bout Munguia won 7 rounds while Hogan won 5 rounds; and on the (5) independent Judges’ panel, Munguia also won 7 to 5.”

While the WBO are keen to show the similarities and consistencies between fight night and the independent review, there are stark differences – even when using the methods which just so happen to suit this argument.

Earlier this month, Munguia claimed four rounds unanimously and Hogan just one. While he was given just one round unanimously with three judges at the Monterrey Arena, the lilywhite took four rounds on all five cards in the review – one more than Munguia.

While they felt, and still feel, that they won at least seven rounds – with Hogan himself scoring the bout 8-4 in his own favour – DDP Sports are keen to stress that the official review, in blck and white, has deemed the fight to be a draw.

The outfit, fronted by Dubliner Paul Keegan, do have the option of an appeal

“This is a final decision of the WBO World Championship Committee,” explained Luis Batista, chairman of the WBO Championship Committee.

“The decision may be appealed to the Complaint and Grievance Committee, pursuant to WBO World Championship Section 34, which as per Rule 3(e) of the WBO Appeals Regulation, must be submitted in writing to the WBO President within fourteen (14) days of the date of this decision as its sole and exclusive remedy.”

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Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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