THE judges' decision to award Hekkie Budler a split-decision victory over Nkosinathi Joyi in the much-publicised IBO strawweight title fight at Emperors Palace on Saturday night was "daylight robbery".
This was the view expressed on Sunday by Joyi's manager and trainer, Siphatho Handi, who said a complaint over the judges' decision had been forwarded to the IBO, with the request that the controlling body order a rematch between South Africa's two top-10 ranked strawweight fighters.
"I don't care if the fight took place close to midnight and two of the judges might have dozed off instead of watching the proceedings," said Handi. "The only words that come to mind over their action is that it was daylight robbery.
"The German judge had Nkosinathi a clear-cut 116-112 winner, so I can't fathom what the other two gentlemen were thinking."
Handi, however, did admit that Joyi, who was once rated the top strawweight fighter in the world by Ring magazine, was not at his best and might have seen his best days as a boxer.
"At 23 or 24, Nkosinathi would have knocked Budler out in a couple of rounds," said Handi. "At the age of 30, he is still a far more accomplished boxer than Budler - and will prove it in a rematch."
In what was billed the "Final Reckoning", the decision went in favour of Budler after two of the judges gave him a 115-113, 116-113 advantage and the third ruled in favour of Joyi by 116 to 112 points.
Edrin Dapudong had shed tears of frustration when South Africa's Gideon Buthelezi was given a surprise and inexplicable points victory over him in the IBO junior-bantamweight title fight at Emperors Palace seven months ago. But this time The Philippines' Dapudong shed tears of joy after leaving nothing to chance as he sent Buthelezi crashing to a stunning first-round defeat in a fight that lasted no more than 2min:29secs.
A straight left to the body from Dapudong followed by a lethal left hook to the head sent a spread-eagled Buthelezi to the canvas in obvious pain and the referee declared a knockout decision without bothering to complete the count.
In what lived up to its billing as a grudge fight, Rayno Liebenberg secured a points victory over a bloodied Johnny Muller to earn the vacant IBO light-heavyweight title.
The judges declared Liebenberg a 117-109, 115-111 and 115-111 winner.
Budler win branded daylight robbery - PICTURES
THE judges' decision to award Hekkie Budler a split-decision victory over Nkosinathi Joyi in the much-publicised IBO strawweight title fight at Emperors Palace on Saturday night was "daylight robbery".
This was the view expressed on Sunday by Joyi's manager and trainer, Siphatho Handi, who said a complaint over the judges' decision had been forwarded to the IBO, with the request that the controlling body order a rematch between South Africa's two top-10 ranked strawweight fighters.
"I don't care if the fight took place close to midnight and two of the judges might have dozed off instead of watching the proceedings," said Handi. "The only words that come to mind over their action is that it was daylight robbery.
"The German judge had Nkosinathi a clear-cut 116-112 winner, so I can't fathom what the other two gentlemen were thinking."
Handi, however, did admit that Joyi, who was once rated the top strawweight fighter in the world by Ring magazine, was not at his best and might have seen his best days as a boxer.
"At 23 or 24, Nkosinathi would have knocked Budler out in a couple of rounds," said Handi. "At the age of 30, he is still a far more accomplished boxer than Budler - and will prove it in a rematch."
In what was billed the "Final Reckoning", the decision went in favour of Budler after two of the judges gave him a 115-113, 116-113 advantage and the third ruled in favour of Joyi by 116 to 112 points.
Edrin Dapudong had shed tears of frustration when South Africa's Gideon Buthelezi was given a surprise and inexplicable points victory over him in the IBO junior-bantamweight title fight at Emperors Palace seven months ago. But this time The Philippines' Dapudong shed tears of joy after leaving nothing to chance as he sent Buthelezi crashing to a stunning first-round defeat in a fight that lasted no more than 2min:29secs.
A straight left to the body from Dapudong followed by a lethal left hook to the head sent a spread-eagled Buthelezi to the canvas in obvious pain and the referee declared a knockout decision without bothering to complete the count.
In what lived up to its billing as a grudge fight, Rayno Liebenberg secured a points victory over a bloodied Johnny Muller to earn the vacant IBO light-heavyweight title.
The judges declared Liebenberg a 117-109, 115-111 and 115-111 winner.
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