There has been a lot of debate (as expected) concerning what happened this past Friday night in the USBO Junior Middleweight title bout between Ishmail Arvin and Anthony Thompson at Ibiza Nightclub in DC.
Here's an opinion from truly one of the best boxing writers in the world -- Dan Rafael of ESPN.com. Rafael truly pulls back no punches on his opinion.
Disgusting and unconscionable. That is all that can be said about this decision, which shoots near the top of the most outrageous calls made in the recent history of boxing. The D.C. Boxing and Wrestling Commission covered itself with utter shame by the way it screwed Thompson out of what should have been an obvious technical decision victory. Thompson manager Cameron Dunkin told ESPN.com that he will lodge an official protest. Hopefully it will be given true consideration instead of lip service.
Here's what happened: Thompson, 27, of Philadelphia, was fighting for the first time in 14 months, since losing a controversial decision to Yuri Foreman and subsequently being released by Top Rank. Trying to reignite his once-promising career, Thompson faced virtual hometown fighter Arvin, of nearby Baltimore, in the "Friday Night Fights" main event. Everything was going as planned for Thompson, who looked good despite what would happen to him.
In the third round, Thompson suffered a cut over his left eye. Referee Malik Waleed ruled it was caused by a punch, which seemed odd given the severity and placement of the cut. It would turn out to be the ruling on which the outcome hinged. Despite the cut, Thompson proceeded to score two official knockdowns and one that Waleed clearly missed later in the third round. Although the cut steadily got worse as the fight wore on, Thompson was dominating. But after the sixth round and an examination by the ringside doctor, the fight was stopped.
Although Waleed had ruled a punch, the video replays employed by ESPN2 clearly -- CLEARLY -- showed the cut was caused by an accidental head butt. FNF broadcaster Joe Tessitore, sensing what was about to happen to Thompson, literally placed a monitor inside the ring after the stoppage to allow those involved to see the replays. Waleed, Thompson and others involved with the commission and event all watched the replay. Obviously, the fight should have been ruled a technical decision and sent to the scorecards, where Thompson was leading 59-53, 58-54 and 57-55. But the commission, which has no rule disallowing replay, refused to go by common sense and instead allowed a blatant wrong result to be rendered. Even Waleed admitted after seeing the replay that the cut had been caused by a butt. Sure, he made a mistake by missing it in the first place, but at least he was man enough to admit the error. Not good enough for the incompetent commission.
So Thompson got robbed as badly as any fighter who ever lived and Arvin, 33, with his fans cheering for the theft, got a victory he simply did not deserve. Results such as this are the epitome of what is wrong with boxing. The video evidence is irrefutable, but that wasn't good enough for a bunch of clueless political hacks who run the commission. And Thompson has to pay for it. A damn shame.
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36 comments:
I think what was most outrageous was ESPN's media people trying to lobby the Officials and the Commissioner to make a decision based on an instant replay. They wouldn't let it go. Was this going to be the first time in history a decision was changed at ringside after the fight based on instant replay? The corner of Thompson didn't seem as much concerned about the cut early on when they thought Ishmail was going to get knocked out. I don't blame them for wanting to stop the fight, in fact I think it was a wise thing to do. Did they request a rendering on the cause of the cut when it happened or did they wait till it was advantageous to their cause and assume the decision was already made to be a headbutt? If it where the latter than perhaps the Thompson corner would be to blame. Now Ishmail has the belt and good for him. He was brought in as an opponent and he stole the show. I was at his last fight where it appeared that he had been robbed of a win. What comes around goes around... He has paid his dues now he gets his 15 minutes of fame. He will have to prove himself to a greater degree in his next battle.
yeah. they did do that a lot in fight.....
joe - here it is again. no cut. cut.
one more time. before the headbutt - no cut.
headbutt - clearly a cut.
run it again. no cut. headbutt. cut.
did joe bet on the fight? or did he just want a fair win?
You are okay with it because it is your guy. Arvin is the guy you went to see, and were pulling for him to pull the upset. Otherwise you would be as disgusted my the decision as the rest of the boxing community. Being a homer doesnt make it right. There is precedent for decisions being overturned due to replay. But for that to happen, you need common sense to rule, somthing this boneheaded commission is apparently not capable of.
I agree; there is precedent for replay but until replay instituted there is protocol that must be followed. The rules are the rules. Most people involved agree to follow the rules. Some sign documents in agreement of following and administering the rules. I give credit to the Referee and the Commissioner for the having the courage to stick by the decision even though they where well aware of the mistake that had been made. Regardless of who won the fight.
Mr. Middendorf, if you're reading this:
How about an Arvin-Thompson rematch?
as reported on another thread, Joe Tessitore at 1:45 of the fourth round reports on espn that the referee has just told him that it was a head butt. I am sure that he would not make that up. So if Malik tells espn in the middle of the fourth round that there was a butt, then why does he say the opposite at the ned of the fight?
The DC Commission needs to watch the video and hear that comment. They then need to speak to Malik and then do the obvious thing which is to declare the fight a no-contest. Together with the IBO, whose supervisor also must share in the embarassment, they should then order an immediate rematch.
To allay Team Thompson's concern, the IBO and the DC Commission should work together to chose officials from this area and from PA. Now the fight might not be able to be made, because it was an expensive fight. But hopefully with the interest across the country there will be a big enough audience to make the fight happen again.
I was sitting in back of Joe T's table.
Malik walked over to that side of the ring and it appeared to me that Malik was stressing to the judge sitting there that it WAS NOT a head butt. I remember thinking I did not see the punch.
Look at how that teabag Dan Rafael puts the spin on the story...
First, he describes Thompson's predicament coming into the bout, how important for him it was to win this fight... nothing is mentioned about how important the fight is for Arvin.
Second, he ridicules Waleed's call, saying it was "odd" due to the "severity and placement" of the cut... even though the cut was bang on a spot that repeatedly gets hit by punches and the injury was not that severe when it first appeared.
Then he uses the phrase, "... the commission, which has no rule disallowing replay...". But what that also means is that the commission has absolutely no rule ALLOWING replay to determine the outcome of a decision.
If the political hacks and appointees running the DC commission know one thing, it's how not to get sued for making an illegitimate decision. Luckily, Dan Rafael is not in charge of anything except the drivel that comes off his keyboard. Otherwise, somebody could be in serious trouble somewhere.
Notice that another thing he doesn't mention at all, is how Arvin was coming on like gangbusters in the last two rounds. He paints the picture he wants you to see and anything to the contrary is just a nuisance that can be ommitted.
We need more of Digital Williams style level reporting and more Dan Rafael pictures sitting on the bottom of birdcages. No, but that might offend the birds.
True that Boxbible.
I do wish the DC boxing commission would grow up and get real though. If you compare them to the VA Boxing Commission they are like the silliest slapstick comedy. Turner speaks of and I hope it will come to pass...great things to come and I know that was a rough way to make his national appearance, but did he have to look so like the deer in the headlights?
I wish they would visit other commissions and see how they operate. Sure some are probably as bad, but VA really seems to have a handle on their role and how to really HANDLE it.
Give me a break boxbible. Arvin was only coming on because of the cut, Thompson could not see out of that eye and was clearly affected by that. Arvin would never beat Thompson straight up. He is a club fighter at best.
John S., what do you say?
Much respect to Brother Waleed. He recognized his mistake and notified the commission. he was trying to coach them into the right decision, which was to go to the scorecards, but they decided otherwise. Common sense must rule.
Oh, God, I've been called out . . .
I love Dan R., but Thompson was not dominating this fight. The scorecards of the judges show the tide turning in the last three rounds fought. Not just because of the cut, but because Arvin was still there, and there were still more rounds to go. Despite the overwhelming (10-7 on my card) third round won by Thompson, the bout was up for grabs.
I don't care what Joe Tessitore did or heard -- it is not his or ESPNs responsibility to try to get involved in making the decision. Their job is to report what is happening. This was not an ESPN fight; it was a fight ESPN was televising. I can't, at this time, know what Waleed told Tessitore or know what Tessitore heard or presumed he heard (it was loud in there), but from my ringside vantage point and that of others near me, we didn't see any explicit advisory from the referee to judges that there was a headbutt in the third round. I have to believe there wasn't one, giving the commission the benefit of the doubt, because after what felt like a week, they made the decision they did. If Malik Waleed did, in fact, try to change his ruling -- I'm sorry, but you can't do those things retroactively AFTER THE FIGHT! no matter what the video or anyone else says. The decision made in the moment -- or, at least, in the round -- is the one that must stand for the sake of propriety and fairness.
These commissioners had no interest in gifting Arvin; they just wanted to try to get it right. They didn't need any outside pressure or influence from ESPN murking their thinking. ESPN should stick to its job and let others do theirs. So, with all respect to Dan, this was a poorly rendered but ultimately correct decision -- John S.
can anyone from the DC boxing commission just give their take?
then we'll know for sure the whys, wherefores, and whats.
however, I am respective and appreciative of the comment given by John S.
They say this Kat John S. "is a bad mutha shut sho muth", well I am talking about John, and we can dig it. John's view is so dead on correct that all crooked roads have been laid straight and all mountains made level.
Do not allow yourself to fooled by that man behind the curtain, but rather the facts of really happened in the fight. Though Thompson, the clear craftsman in the fight was putting it on Arvin, all must admit that Arvin never for a single second submitted to Thompson. Though he was in desperate trouble and looked to be a dead man, he fought on courageously. It is clear that he intention was nothing short of winning that fight. Such an incredible effort like that should not be ignored and lowered to the status of insignificance. The man fought with all that his god given him and that must respected.
I do believe that Thompson, after his incredibly successful knock downs which would have finished 90 per cent of all the other fighters alive, was shocked and amazed to see Arvin come back like he did in the forth round. Thompson had shot his load and when Arvin did not go, a lot of wind came out of his sails. As a trainer myself, I could see Thompson's delivery of his shots did not have the precision that they possessed earlier in the fight. That is a fact that should not be overlooked. Ultimately a fight is a test of wills and Thompson's will was tested seriously. I do not count Thompson out this fight at all, I am just saying I could see that he had lost a step from his earlier momentum.
The espn crew whipped up the controversy with their instant replay and comments favoring Thompson, but the fact is simply that the ref did not see the head butt.
Thompson could feel the fight moving away from him. He knew that he had a man in front of him who had a life and death commitment to winning this fight and he wanted out. He though he had the fight in the bag because of the big lead he had on the scorecards. So he claimed he could not see, the fight is stopped and he ends up feeling shocked. Arvin did what he came to do. He gave it his all. He snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. So this is his hour, and his day to let the sun shine on his career. chin from the honeycomb boxing gym
Oh please if they were so bent on doing the right thing, then why look at the ESPN replay. The ESPN crew asked if they wanted to see it (they being ref and commish) and they both said yes. Matter of fact the commish asked to see it more than once. If he was going to do the "right thing" all along then why ask see the replay. Just watch it when you get home. To me he was watching the replay to justify giving the gift to Arvin, when he noticed how obvious the replay was, he changes his mind and decides that they will go with the original ruling. This is as corrupt as it gets.
"Do ya want to see it...see it, see it,... here ... hey look here want to see it? jumping up and down like a pup with it's first bone. Very edgy in a frantic kind of way for ESPN. Almost like watching funniest video series. Have to say the whole tone of the evening didn't feel like ESPN was in the house. Felt more like an opportunistic Enquirer. Talk about a sucker punch!!!
Boxbible?
At least Boxbible stands behind his acerbic observations. Guess he hits your weak spot, raw nerve or spinelessitis, lack of... oh who cares what ails you anon.. guess we don't know because you just whoof whoof whoof and don't come out and actually articulate/validate your case. I find Bb delicious in how he brings his view.
Much respect for Malik Waleed, but he made an honest mistake on the initial call. Much credit to his character for admitting the mistake before the audience and directly to the commission. Too bad, the commission did decide to make the right call and go to the card. And if you read the boxingtalk.com interview with BJ Flores, you'll learn that's not the only mistake they made that night.
The bottom line is, if the commission decides to do the right thing, the decision will be changed to a no contest and an immeidate rematch will be warranted. If they don't, it will remain the same. Thompson will move on and Ishmail will move on.
Whoever said the VA Commission knows what they're doing obviously doesn't know the VA Commission. I've been all around the country and even overseas for fights and they are, hands down the absolute worst run commission in the entire world! They have the worst commissioner, the worst judges, and the worst refs on the planet!
How so? Easy to say they are bad. If you going to make that accusation against VA, better back it up with some examples.
Linda, right on.
Honeycomb, thanks for the words...
You wrote . . .
"Thompson could feel the fight moving away from him. He knew that he had a man in front of him who had a life and death commitment to winning this fight and he wanted out."
Hemmingway would have been proud to write that!
Beautiful!
-- John S.
KEEP IT REAL SPORTS MAGAZINE
Well the whole sum of the matter is that the bum arvin lost the fight clear and simple ..........by watching the fight no matter what Thompson should have did or did'nt do . The fight was won the three drops arvin sufferd in the 3rd cause by thompson power and accuracy was not called by the Ref , because it would have been the end of the fight. But i guess in Washington there's no 3 knock down rule either hahaha it was a conspiracy and, The Messenger Team which i dont know dealt with that situation like real professional's ...........put your self in his shoes or boxing boots before commenting .As a editor i try to do so myself as often as possible, because if we never fought or box its just all opinions so the The Messenger showed good spirit , just keeping it real if that ref would have made the right and proper decision which ESPN and the world watching know should have been done so ,it would have been a news flash ,,,,,not only was there of robbery of Anthony Thompson but a Homicide>>>>>Washington local gang bangers which the arena was filled with outside of the hand ful of American citizens that was there to enjoy a good fight and not a circus they would have killed that Ref so he was saving his A$$ not Thompson career and Washington commitee would not be able to make a couple of more extra dollars off the local Bum arvin true Facts
20.08.08 @ 02:29:31
BOXING FANATIC - email
FIRST THING FIRST ISHMAIL ARVIN IS A LOCAL BUM, WHOM NEVER FOUGHT OUTSIDE OF IS HOME TOWN DC>> HE'S A OPPONENT FOR PROSPECT'S THAT'S WHY THE MESSENGER TOOK THE FIGHT AFTER A YEAR AND A HALF LAY OFF FUTHER MORE THE BUM ARVIN COULD NEVER DREAMED TO SEE THE PLACES THE MESSENGER BOXING TALENT HAS TAKEN HIM ,AND WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE HIM>>>ARVIN WAS GETTING BEAT SO BAD WHEN HE GOT DROPP 3 TIMES IN ROUND 3 >>I THOUGHT HE WAS JAMES BROWN THE WAY HE DID THAT SPLIT. THOMPSON KILLED THIS GUY IN THE FIGHT AN ON ALL SCORE CARDS 6 RNDS TO NOTHING , IT'S THE LOCAL BUMS IN WASHINGTON CURRUPT COMITEE VERSUS>>> THE MESSENGER , ESPN2 AND THE WORLD AND YAHOWAH THE GOD OF THE ISRAEL YOU GUYS WILL LOOSE>>>>AND IT WILL BE OVERTURNED TRUST ME>>>>> I LIKE TO THANK GOD AND WAHSINGTON FOR ALOWING THE MESSENGER TO BE THE ONE CHOOSEN ,TO EXPOSE THE MOST CURRUPT COMITEE IN BOXING THANKS MESSENGER FOR DUMPING A DUCK BY THE WAY THIS IS PROFFESIONAL BOXING NOT WWE WRESTLING ,TELL THE BUM ARVIN STOP DUCKING HIS HEAD LIKE HE'S DIVING IN A SWIMMING POOL IM SORRY THOMPSON DID WITH THE UPPERCUT HAHAHAH AND JUST FOR THE RECORD IF IM CORRECT IS'NT THOMPSON THE FIRST FIGHTER TO MAKE THE BUM ARVIN FRENCH KISS CANVAS, AFTER A YEAR AND A HALF LAY OFF:),,,,
18.08.08 @ 23:23:04
Holy crap!!! Now we got religion and politics in the mix!!!
Unbelievable hatred...
Ishmael Arvin... keep your head up and move on. Whether you got a lucky break or not, we all witnessed your blood and guts. We know we got a real fighter at home.
And I hope these are not acquaintances of Thompson because they surely do not reflect the class and sportsmanship he showed during and after the fight.
And Linda... thanks much for the props.
I agree it was a bad decision, but Ishmail Arvin is no bum. He fights from the beginning to the end of EVERY fight I've seen him in (about 8-10). Have a little dignity and take your anger out on the commission (send them an email or letter or phone call), but don't take it out on the fighter.
Hey "Keep It Real," as an "editor" it might be in your best interest to learn how to spell and use proper grammar. You might want to keep the language real.
Let the hating rain down !
Boxbible - thank GOD for the firtst admendment - cause otherwise you'd be thrown to the lions
Peace and blessing to all, I enjoyed the fight last friday night on ESPN >> Thompson vs Arvin very instresting bout.How ever Honestly speaking I think Thompson is the better fighter, more accurate and more experienced. Although Arvin showed alot of guts, and heart >>> nobody cant take that away from the Kid! but for that matter either fighter! they came do a job. But the way Arvin was asking to fight Thompson for at least 3 years now. I would have expected for Arvin to do alot more, and not be trailing on the score cards or getting up of the canvas. Instead being the fighter to control and dictate the fight, but it was clearly the other way around......... easly in Thompson favor. Honestly speaking to talk about what Arvin was going to do......... in the later rounds is dreaming we are dealing with facts here , both fighters had 5 or 6 rounds to display talent, Arvin dispaly heart ,Thompson display Talent and heart thats why he was up on all 3 judges score cards! and it was such big thing! my best wishes, to the Team Thompson and Team Arvin!
KEEP IT REAL SPORTS MAGAZINE.... that was and interesting outlook that you put forth in your comment. I have to say that you are pretty much accurate in your perspective that Thompson had heart and more skill and Arvin had heart and less skill. ( I cleaned that up for you just a little bit). Here is where I think you may be missing the boat. We do not know what would have happened because the fight was stopped, but couldn't you see a fad the technique of Thomson? When two men fight in that ring, there is an interchange of energy and will. Each fighter has a point at which begin to break down. This is what we mean when we say fighting is a contest of will. When Thompson did not get Arvin out in the third round, do have any idea what he must have been thinking? I might have said what in the hell do I have in front of me. This will make a whole lot of fighters lose their momentum and confidence.
I like the way you give respect to both camps. Chin from the honeycomb boxing gym
Anon said: "Boxbible - thank GOD for the firtst admendment - cause otherwise you'd be thrown to the lions"
Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Mayor Fenty needs to get commissioners who know something about Boxing ,putting these political puppets in positions that have an effect on a PROFESSIONAL Boxers life is totally CRAZY.....they have folks that know nothing about Boxing at all and it could be very detrimental to the fighters and the city.
Let's be real about this. Very few boxing comissions in this country have people who are "boxing folk." This is what makes the firing of someone like Larry Hazzard in New Jersey so ridiculous.
The recent lineage of boxing commissioners in DC runs from Bobby Mitchell to Cora Wilds to York Van Nixon to Jeffrey Gildenhorn to Burtell Jefferson to Paul Artisst to Arnold McKnight to the present chair, Jason Turner.
I would only consider three of those folk (Van Nixon, Artisst and McKnight) "boxing folk."
In defense of Turner, he at least has been willing to get to know folk and is more than willing to listen to folk who are involved in the boxing business.
Turner gave great support to the Mayor's Cup, not by just lending his name and the name of the comission, but he was physically there and was there for the duration of the Championship day.
Turner did not coming in thinking he knew everything about the sport. He and the commission were thrown into a rather unique situation two weeks ago. I think more will come out of this situation.
In defense of Turner, he at least has been willing to get to know folk and is more than willing to listen to folk who are involved in the boxing business.
Well YEAH, that is how it should have and should be. He's still a pup, but I want to see the big dog. A man who can pull it off. I give him one more year at best. that is being generous from what I have seen thus far.
Despite y'alls derrogatory comments about Arvin, he'll move on successfully. He'll continue going hard. Y'alls act as though 'all of a sudden' politics and technical shit aint a part of boxing, and can't apply to 'niggas from round Pennsylvania Ave. I guess it can only apply to those yall 'smooth-stroke'.
Furthermore, 'da nigga Ish just got robbed in his previous fight.
When 'nem hammers started driving the nails', old boy and his corner wanted out.
P.S.- Hi haters.
Eager & Broadway!
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