Castillo gets a chance to face Mdantsane's golden girl once again
THE WBA has handed Mdantsane golden girl Noni Tenge a reprieve after it threw out the protest by Dominican Republican Oxandia Castillo about her disputed loss to Tenge in East London three weeks ago.
Castillo filed the protest with the Panamanian-based world body crying robbery after she lost a majority points decision to Tenge for the WBA interim welterweight crown at Orient Theatre.
Two South African judges, Wally Snowball and Siya Vabaza-Booi, scored the fight 97-93 and 96-94 respectively in favour of the local girl.
Spanish judge Reyes Garcia had the fight even at 95-95.
However the general feeling among spectators and members of the media was that Castillo had easily won the fight by a mile.
Even a trainer judge had Castillo winning all the 10 contested rounds
The controversial outcome sparked pandemonium.
Some local promoters confronted the officials and accused them of plotting to rob the visiting Dominican Republican boxer.
Castillo was even consoled by government officials including provincial sports, arts and culture MEC Pemmy Majodina on her ‘undeserved’ loss.
But at the weekend the WBA in the Dominican Republic found there was nothing amiss with the outcome of the fight.
WBA executive committee member Stan Christodoulou said the absence of a video footage to support the protest of Castillo dealt their case a big blow.
“Remember that fight was not televised so the WBA could not just take their word for it,” Christodoulou said shortly after returning from the Dominican Republic.
He said the WBA made inquiries from the fight supervisor Dr John Flemming as well as Boxing SA Eastern Cape manager Phakamile Jacobs who all conceded that the fight was close.
“The mere fact that even the Spanish judge scored the fight a draw means that the outcome was not controversial at all.
“Look, there was unanimity in the scoring of the fight by the judges including a foreign one and that itself rules out any suggestion of foul play.”
Christodoulou added that the WBA could not take action using the media reports alone which suggested that Castillo had been robbed.
“For instance it happens that people at the ringside see a different fight and that happens with the media as well,” he added.
However the WBA decision did not spell doom and gloom for Castillo as it gave her the opportunity to fight Tenge again for the newly created regular title after Norwegian lass Cecilia Braekhus was elevated to the super champion status owing to her holding three world titles – the WBA, WBC and WBO.
The WBA resolved to keep Castillo and Tenge in first and second spots in the ratings qualifying them to dispute for the regular title.
“It is up to their handlers to apply for the rights to contest for this available title.”
Tenge’s promoter Siphatho Handi expressed delight with the WBA ruling saying it vindicated his belief that the judges had made a correct decision by awarding the fight to his charge.
“I know that people had differing opinions about the outcome but the officials who were entrusted with scoring the fight rendered a correct decision,” he said.
Asked if he would apply for Tenge to contest for the vacant regular title against Castillo, he said his charge’s interest was to challenge Braekhus for the super championship.
'She Bee' wins WBA reprieve
THE WBA has handed Mdantsane golden girl Noni Tenge a reprieve after it threw out the protest by Dominican Republican Oxandia Castillo about her disputed loss to Tenge in East London three weeks ago.
Castillo filed the protest with the Panamanian-based world body crying robbery after she lost a majority points decision to Tenge for the WBA interim welterweight crown at Orient Theatre.
Two South African judges, Wally Snowball and Siya Vabaza-Booi, scored the fight 97-93 and 96-94 respectively in favour of the local girl.
Spanish judge Reyes Garcia had the fight even at 95-95.
However the general feeling among spectators and members of the media was that Castillo had easily won the fight by a mile.
Even a trainer judge had Castillo winning all the 10 contested rounds
The controversial outcome sparked pandemonium.
Some local promoters confronted the officials and accused them of plotting to rob the visiting Dominican Republican boxer.
Castillo was even consoled by government officials including provincial sports, arts and culture MEC Pemmy Majodina on her ‘undeserved’ loss.
But at the weekend the WBA in the Dominican Republic found there was nothing amiss with the outcome of the fight.
WBA executive committee member Stan Christodoulou said the absence of a video footage to support the protest of Castillo dealt their case a big blow.
“Remember that fight was not televised so the WBA could not just take their word for it,” Christodoulou said shortly after returning from the Dominican Republic.
He said the WBA made inquiries from the fight supervisor Dr John Flemming as well as Boxing SA Eastern Cape manager Phakamile Jacobs who all conceded that the fight was close.
“The mere fact that even the Spanish judge scored the fight a draw means that the outcome was not controversial at all.
“Look, there was unanimity in the scoring of the fight by the judges including a foreign one and that itself rules out any suggestion of foul play.”
Christodoulou added that the WBA could not take action using the media reports alone which suggested that Castillo had been robbed.
“For instance it happens that people at the ringside see a different fight and that happens with the media as well,” he added.
However the WBA decision did not spell doom and gloom for Castillo as it gave her the opportunity to fight Tenge again for the newly created regular title after Norwegian lass Cecilia Braekhus was elevated to the super champion status owing to her holding three world titles – the WBA, WBC and WBO.
The WBA resolved to keep Castillo and Tenge in first and second spots in the ratings qualifying them to dispute for the regular title.
“It is up to their handlers to apply for the rights to contest for this available title.”
Tenge’s promoter Siphatho Handi expressed delight with the WBA ruling saying it vindicated his belief that the judges had made a correct decision by awarding the fight to his charge.
“I know that people had differing opinions about the outcome but the officials who were entrusted with scoring the fight rendered a correct decision,” he said.
Asked if he would apply for Tenge to contest for the vacant regular title against Castillo, he said his charge’s interest was to challenge Braekhus for the super championship.
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