Sporting Chance

Angeles City-based referee Bruce McTavish said the recent World Boxing Council (WBC) superflyweight title fight between In Joo Cho and Gerry Peñalosa in Seoul should have been declared a no-contest.

"It was a terrible fight--the worst world championship fight I've ever seen," said McTavish, a 59-year-old New Zealander who has worked over 50 title bouts as a referee and judge. "I watched it on TV. After five rounds, I threw away my paper and pencil--it was useless to score. Cho didn't come to fight. I hate the guy. He's no champion. Gerry's one of the most beautiful fighters in the world -- it's a pity he didn't make any adjustments from their first fight. The rematch was like an instant replay. Gerry should've turned it into a Pier 7 brawl. He should've muscled his way in, put pressure on Cho, and not let him just dance around. But I guess that's not Gerry's style."

McTavish said brawlers like Joe Frazier know how to cut the ring off on dancers like Cho. "They butt, elbow, and use every trick in the book," he continued. "I'm not suggesting Gerry should've done that although he probably would've gotten away with it because (referee Marty) Denkin was so slow he was never close to the action."

As for Denkin, McTavish confided the former California State Athletic Commission head was once busted for extortion but later exonerated.

"It happened about seven years ago," related McTavish. "The case went to court but Denkin got off the hook - that was a big laugh. Everyone knew what the real score was."

McTavish said Denkin "screwed it up" by not ruling a knockdown in the ninth round when Peñalosa floored Cho with a left to the midsection and slapping a point deduction on the Filipino challenger for a wet corner.

" Unfortunately, pro boxing is more a business than a sport," lamented McTavish, who has lived here for over 30 years. "Gerry scored a knockdown--that was clear. It was no slip. And deducting a point for a water corner--that was ridiculous, a first in boxing history. That's never been done before."

McTavish clarified that under WBC rules, a fighter who scores a knockdown doesn't automatically win a 10-8 round. "It depends on how close the round is," he pointed out.

If Denkin called a knockdown instead of a slip, it could've turned the tide for Peñalosa. That would've shaken up Cho and breathed new life into Peñalosa's attack. So a 10-8 round would've been a possibility.

McTavish said Denkin should have retired two years ago when he underwent intestinal surgery. "He's too slow to work fights in the lighter divisions," added McTavish.

In 1980, Denkin suffered a black mark in his record when he failed to stop the Lupe Pintor-Johnny Owen fight for the World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight title before disaster struck. An unconscious Owen was carried out of the ring on a stretcher and died because of injuries sustained in the fight.

When the decision in last Sunday's fight was announced, McTavish said he cried. His tears didn't only fall for Peñalosa. They fell for Denkin, too.