TOMMY SLAMS JUDGE
USUALLY Thomas “Tommy Gun” Oosthuizen does not complain or question the judges’ decisions. He says he can feel when he has done well or underperformed.
But it was a different story altogether on Saturday night after the rangy, talented fighter was denied a deserved opportunity to register what looked like a lopsided points decision against Ryno “The Lion” Liebenberg in winning the vacant IBO light-heavyweight title.
Instead, Oosthuizen had to settle for a split decision after judge Sazi Xamlashe incredulously scored the fight 115-113 in favour of Liebenberg, while his counterparts, Ace Makaluza and Deon Dwarte, both scored it 117-111 in favour of Tommy Gun.
“Can somebody show me that judge,” said a visibly angry Oosthuizen, whose record improved to 26-0.
“I have something to discuss with him. I’m not a judge and I do not know how to score a fight, but I know I was on top of my game and won clean. You know such decisions are terrible.”
Liebenberg said: “Tommy is very awkward. I tried to corner him but he gets himself out of trouble.”
In spite of showing only a quarter of his true potential in the fight, Oosthuizen cruised against his rugged foe.
In the main supporting contest, Dowayne Combrink and Giovanni Bushby ’ s fight in their fiercely contested 12-rounder for the vacant WBA Pan African middleweight title was declared a draw.
Ashley Dlamini and Thompson Mokwana gave in meekly after not even trying in their fights for the SA junior-lightweight and the Commonwealth lightweight belts.