(Photo Wende) By Rob Moore: It has been a little while since I felt the need to write another article for ESB. Most fans on ESB are sufficiently well informed that it is is quite rare that I feel the need to make a point that has not already been covered as well or better by another writer. However, having expressed my disgust with a number of title decisions in Germany recently, notably the Huck v Lebedev and Sturm v Macklin fights where champions were gifted decisions, I felt I should redress the balance.
I wanted to express how heartened I was to see a much fairer set of score cards being returned in the Sturm v Murray contest on Friday and how I felt this was at least in part down to the disgust expressed by fans on websites such as ESB. It was a clear a victory for the fans and public pressure. I wanted to applaud all of you. The days when a foreign challenger had seemingly no chance of winning on points in Germany are maybe coming to an end.
Having written half the article, I was privileged enough to watch the Helenius v Chisora fight. A genuine heavyweight battle. Chisora more than redeemed himself after coming in out of shape for the Fury fight, and won by 5 rounds on my card. As we all know, a majority decision was gifted to Helenius. I am old enough to know better, but I still feel a sense of deep outrage when I see a guy robbed in this way. I do not apologise for using the word “robbed”, for that is exactly what is was.
I like to believe that I am a fairly typical boxing fan in that I am a supporter of boxing the sport first and foremost and do not wish to see any fighter, whether from my homeland or not, receive anything less that fair treatment. I boxed only as kid and never showed anywhere near the talent to consider professional boxing. It was still enough to tell me that inside the ropes is one of the most honest places a person can ever be. There is no hiding place. Your mental and physical character is tested to the full. To see such dishonesty from those outside the ring betrays the fighter and the sport. It should simply not be allowed to happen, particularly at this level of the sport. Money may still rule the sport, but I remain an optimist and believe now more than ever in the power of the fans voice. If the organisers and judges do not show the integrity the sport deserves – please keep writing, keep shouting until the fighters and sport gets the officials they deserve.