Ghana Boxing Authority to protest Agbeko/Mares verdict

The Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) is preparing to lodge an official protest over the verdict of the unification bout between Ghana’s Joseph Agbeko and Mexican Abner Marez, last Saturday at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Nevada, United States of America (USA).

Agbeko was said to have lost the bout on points to the Mexican, as two judges scored 115-111 each with the third scoring the fight 113-113 to hand the International Boxing Federation (IBF) title to Mares.

Amin Lamptety, Communications Director of the GBA told GNA Sports in Accra on Monday that they are preparing the necessary documents with strong evidence to make a case with the IBF and the World Boxing Council (WBC) and the organizers of the event.

The verdict has been hugely disputed by boxing fans across the globe with referee Russel Mora being bashed with criticisms for denying the world a great fight between two great boxers with his strange decisions.

He said the protest will seek to compel the organizers to constitute an independent jury to watch the fight again and do another compilation of the scores.

According to Lamptey, his outfit with urge for the verdict, supervised by referee Mora is overturned to enable Agbeko retain his title, whilst efforts would be made at calling for a rematch.

The Communications Director told GNA Sports that the management of Agbeko headed by the Don King Boxing Promotions is also preparing a similar protest describing the verdict as a clear robbery.

Lamptey said the GBA will pursue the matter to its logical conclusion to ensure that fairness reigns.

Mares, a product of Golden Boy Promotions, organizers of the event, by the controversial verdict has thus unified the IBF and WBC Bantamweight titles.

Agbeko has meanwhile called for an immediate rematch, saying after the fight that he felt he fought two opponents, Mares and referee Mora and thus the strange decision.

Source: GNA