CBC to review Cox-Sai controversy following ‘unprecedented complaints’
The Commonwealth Boxing Council is to consider taking action in the aftermath of Jamie Cox’s dubious points victory over Ghana’s Obodai Sai on Frank Warren’s DebRA charity show on Friday night. The unbeaten Cox was awarded a hotly disputed unanimous decision to relieve Sai of his Commonwealth light-middleweight crown, despite being deducted two points for a string of low blows as the Swindon man flirted with disqualification from lenient referee, Mark Green.
Whilst all three judges (Richie Davies, Ian John-Lewis and Marcus McDonnell) were in agreement that Cox deserved the nod, ringsiders, television viewers and Sai’s own camp were left in total bemusement by the controversial scoring and have subsequently besieged the Commonwealth Council with complaints.
Speaking exclusively to BoxRec News Simon Block, Honorary Secretary of the Commonwealth Council, said: “I cannot recall receiving the amount of emails that I have following this contest than for any other. “
“Clearly the decision was controversial and I have received an official protest from the Ghana Boxing Authority, with which I shall be dealing. Consulting with Directors all over the Commonwealth renders any immediate announcement from unlikely, but I can confirm that the protest I have received will be dealt with as expeditiously as possible,” Block confirmed.
The Commonwealth Council have since released the following official statement: ‘Following last night's successful challenge for our Lightmidleweight Championship by Jamie Cox I have received an unprecedented number of emails of complaint, a few from Ghana, but the majority from British fans. Included is a formal protest from Mr Samir Captan, Chairman of the Ghana Boxing Authority who is critical of both the decision of the judges and the refereeing of Mr Mark Green.
The protest will be forwarded to our member federation, the British Boxing Board of Control, who, as the host nation were responsible for the appointment of the officials, for initial consideration and following a response from them the Directors will consider what would be the most appropriate course of action in the interests of the contestants, our Commonwealth Championships and the image of the sport of Boxing.’
Let’s hope, at the very least, that the CBC orders an immediate rematch between Cox and Sai. To my knowledge, Friday must have been the only charity event in history which involved taking things from poor Africans.
