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IBF confirm scoring error in Haskins v Burnett world title fight

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The International Boxing Federation have confirmed that Ryan Burnett’s split decision world title win over Lee Haskins in Belfast on Saturday was scored incorrectly.

Burnett took the fight, and the bantamweight title, with scores of 119:107, 119:107, and 108:118.

Clark Sammartino’s 118:108 scoreline in favour of Haskins, who was dominated throughout by the Irishman, came in for widespread condemnation.

Most realised immediately that this scoreline was a mistake and most likely intended to be in favour of Burnett.

It would be claimed by Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn in the immediate aftermath that the 79 year old Rhode Island judge had been unsure of the identities of both fighters, and had asked a ringside photographer to identify which boxer was Haskins.

Burnett, wearing red shorts, took to the home (blue) corner when he entered the ring, perhaps helping explain although not excuse the error.

A statement from the IBF read as follows:

On Saturday, June 10, 2017 the IBF Bantamweight bout between Lee Haskins and Ryan Burnett held at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast, Ireland was ruled a split decision victory for Burnett as a result of a error with the scorecards.

Due to this error, in which one of the scores after each round was recorded on the individual scorecards for the incorrect fighter, the bout was declared a split decision when it should have been ruled a unanimous decision in favor of Burnett.

An error of this nature and at this level of the sport should not have occurred.

The IBF carefully considers the officials it recommends for appointment to a bout. Judge Clark Sammartino has been a member of the IBF for many years and has been a solid, reliable and consistent judge.

He has an active officiating career and has worked at the world-class level.

The IBF remains committed to recommending qualified and reliable officials to work its sanctioned bouts, and is fully intent on deterring a situation such as this one from occurring again in the future.

Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)

LISTEN: Gavan Casey and Joe O’Neill speak to Luke Keeler and Paddy Barnes on Episode 6 of The Irish Boxing Show:

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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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