Alexandria, VA junior welterweight Kay Koroma lost his Global Boxing Union Intercontinental Junior Welterweight title this past Saturday by a 12-round split decision to Nassar Athumani of Kenya in Nairobi, Kenya.
According to the Kenyan newspaper The Standard, the decision was one of a number of reportedly controversial decisions that allowed hometown boxers to win decisions.
The Standard did not give details on the Koroma contest, however, Richard Mwangi, a reporter for another Kenyan media outlet -- The Daily Nation -- said that "Koroma spent most of the time faking all manner of injuries and by the time the 12 rounds were over, he had become very unpopular with the crowd."
Koroma loses for the first time in his career, falling to 5-1, three KO's. Athumani is now 21-6-2, 16 KO's.
Koroma's manager, the Beltway's own "Fight Lady" Wanda Bruce, was involved in not only Koroma's contest also a bout that featured veteran female boxer Belinda Laracuente. The Standard reported that the decision in that bout that gave Kenyan boxer Fatuma Zarika the victory was so controversial that spectators carried Laracuente on their shoulders and chanted "USA, USA" and "Obama."
Bruce made her feelings publicly known to Erick Ochieng of The Standard:
"Yesterday we slept on cold floor here at the airport. We are feeling terrible, we have nothing, we have no tickets, we haven’t been paid and the promoter is doing nothing."
Meanwhile, the pro debut for Capitol Heights, MD's Gary Russell, Jr. seems to have finally found a home. The bout is slated to take place at the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi, MS on Saturday, January 17. The featherweight contest will be on the non-televised portion of the HBO telecast featuring the WBC Welterweight title bout between champion Andre Berto and challenger Luis Collazo.
I hope they all make it back okay and I hope there is no backlash against Wanda, Kay, or anyone in their group about Wanda's comments (although I am sure they are 100% true). When you're in a foreign country like that it's best to just keep a tight lip and not say a word. I'm sure Kay was robbed. It's a darn shame he has to go half way round the world to be able to fight.
ReplyDeleteGary Russell Jr. will redeem himself and most likely be a world champ before 2012. This young lad has it all. He is extremely fast, he is a south paw and he has a huge amateur background. Word is out of Mississippi that Gary Jr. will take on Ludumo Galada on his very first bout. Ludumo has over 10 bouts to his credit as a pro but not much of an amateur back ground. I say Gary ko,s him in 3.
ReplyDeleteremember-you heard it here first...