Panel to assess Hogan’s controversial world-title defeat

THE President of the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) Paco Valcárcel has said he will order an independent panel of judges to assess the controversial scoring in Dennis Hogan’s world title fight in Monterrey, Mexico last weekend.

The Kilcullen fighter (right) lost on a majority 2-0 decision, though most observers felt he had beaten the defending WBO super-welterweight champion Jaime Munguia, who was the overwhelming favourite. It has also emerged that neither boxer was drug tested after the fight. Drug testing is supposed to be mandatory after world-title contests.

However, Valcárcel has said that while the failure to have testing was disappointing, there would not be grounds to order a rematch. “There was supposed to be testing,” Valcárcel said. “But the lab didn’t show up.”

Asked why the absence of drug testing – regardless of the controversy over the scoring – wasn’t grounds for a rematch, Valcárcel said: “We have to presume the guy (Munguia) was clean. He has no history of any issues. The testing should have been done, but the lab didn’t show up, so there was nothing that could be done.”

None of the three judges scored the contest in Hogan’s favour. Richard Levine had it as a 114-114 draw, Rocky Young gave the verdict to Munguia 115-113, while Waleska Roldan’s score of 116-112 – which meant she only had Hogan winning four of the 12 rounds – was greeted with disbelief. It remains to be seen whether the WBO will order a rematch.