Boxing, controversy go hand-in-hand

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

Boxing is often laced with controversy and the J. Wray and Nephew Contender boxing series, one of the most popular programmes now on local television, has had its fair share.

The rural areas are represented by the Yellow Team while the Green Team carries the hopes of the urban areas.

The Yellow Team has taken a battering since the series started as after Martin Anderson got them off on a winning note, they lost the next four fights.

The eventual winner will take home the top prize of $1,000,000. The runner-up will receive $500,000, third place $250,000. and fourth place $200,000.

Controversy hit the competition from the opening week following Raymond Gordon's claim that his right eye was damaged by illegal methods during his loss to Anderson by way of a technical knockout (TKO), at 1 minute 18 seconds into the second round.

Sakima Mullings, who is heavily touted as the Green Team's top fighter, rubbished the claims.

"In this day and age ... the thumb on the gloves is large, it is almost four to five times the size of a normal person's thumb and also the stitch on the gloves attaches it (the thumb) to the four fingers," Mullings explained.

"There's no way that you could 'thumb' a person in this day and age," he further declared.

just what boxing needs

The 28-year-old Mullings, who trains at the Bruising Gym and has a professional record of three wins and no losses with two knockouts (KO) is of the view that the series is just what boxing needs in Jamaica.

"Overall, I like the series and I think it is a great opportunity for boxing and the catalyst that boxing needed in Jamaica to get it back to the level that it once was."

According to coach Carl Grant, who is also the manager and owner of the Bruising Gym, the series is already having a positive impact on the sport.

"It is one of the best things that you could ever wish for in the sport of boxing. It has transformed the sport from a dying one to one of the most loved sports in Jamaica right now," Grant stated. "As the manager and owner of the Bruising Gym, every day someone new either calls me or comes to the gym wanting to sign up," he further shared.

In the second week of competition, the Green Team's Planter scored a TKO victory over Patrick Miller from the Yellow Team, at 1 minute 10 seconds into the second round. Planter's triumph was, however, also marred by controversy as Miller suffered a cut over his left eye that caused the doctor to advise the referee to stop the contest. Television replays showed that on at least one occasion, the two fighters' heads collided.

Planter, who is 28 years old and trains at the Stanley Couch Gym, admits that one of the cuts suffered by Miller was as a result of a head butt, but maintains that it was an accident.

"It was definitely totally accidental; the guy was rushing me a lot," Planter stated. "Unfortunately for him, he kept rushing me with his head up. I think the first cut was from a right hook and the second one was from a butt.

"It was unfortunate. I didn't want the fight to finish like that as it is going to leave a lot of questions, but that is just how it is. It is a part of the sport," he concluded.

Mullings believes that in instances such as those where the outcome of the fight could be affected, instant replays could be used.

"There are certain circumstances where somebody could throw a flag in and 30 seconds or a minute is allowed for instant replays just to get things right and no one suffers through human error."

Yellow cry foul

The judges were not to be left out and had their first controversial moment in the fourth week of competition when some members of the Yellow Team were left crying foul, after their former team member Patrick Taylor lost a very close majority decision to Donovan 'Police' Campbell of the Green Team.

Green Team's coach Grant, admitted to having been surprised by the decision but believes that controversy is good for the sport. The 42-year-old Campbell, who has registered 12 wins with four coming by way of KO, and four losses as a professional, explained the reason for him being awarded the fight.

"I was ahead for the first three rounds; the last three rounds they (the judges) gave to him (Taylor), but just because they took a point away from him (for holding) made it 57-56," Campbell explained. "Two judges scored it 57-56 and one judge scored it 58- 55, so that 57-56 gave me the fight," he added.