GAB ASKED TO REVIEW CONTROVERSIAL OZAMIS FIGHT

Kidapawan City - North Cotabato Vice Governor Manny Piñol today formally asked the Games and Amusements Board to investigate the controversial fight between top featherweight prospect Lorenzo Villanueva of Midsayap, North Cotabato and Eric Macas of Lanao del Norte last May 23 in Ozamis City which ended in a technical decision victory for Macas.

In a letter to Commissioner Angel P. Bautista, Officer-In-Charge of the GAB, Vice Gov. Piñol who manages Villanueva said the fight scheduled for 10 rounds was clearly dominated by Villanueva, who as early as the first round inflicted a cut over the right eye of Macas.

In the fifth round, Macas suffered another cut below the right eye and the ring physician declared that Macas was not fit to continue. "To our surprise, referee Delbert Pelegrino declared that the cut was caused by a headbutt. Confounding the situation was the questionable scoring of the local judges who had Macas winning in two of the three scorecards," Vice Gov. Piñol said.

Vice Gov. Piñol, who was sitting in the TV panel doing the coverage of the fight for ABS-CBN, said he asked the technical director to immediately replay the action preceding the stoppage of the fight which showed that there was never a clash of heads and the cut was caused by a legitimate blow.

"I immediately declared publicly that I was protesting the decision and asked the GAB supervisor Vic Cabalog to review the tape but Cabalog ignored my request. Instead, he suggested that he will just talk to the parties to declare the fight a draw."

"Of course, that did not happen as the technical decision victory for Macas stood and was never changed," Vice Gov. Piñol said. Vice Gov. Piñol said he finds two valid grounds for the GAB to conduct an investigation into the actions of the ring officials and the GAB supervisor during the fight.

First is the questionable scoring of the fight in favour of Macas while it was clearly dominated by Villanueva. Added to this was the irregularity committed by Cabalog of including in the panel of judges Cyrusman Manatad, son of boxing referee Andres Manatad who is a known employee of Macas’s boxing manager, Bong Yap.

Second is the questionable call made by referee Pelegrino declaring that the cut was caused by a headbutt when there was not enough evidence to support it.

Vice Gov. Piñol said he will submit to the GAB a copy of the videotape of the fight which will show not only the proof that there was no headbutt prior to the stoppage of the fight but also the irregular judging of the bout which highly favored local boy Macas.

“Villanueva is one of our top prospects in the featherweight division with a record of 14 wins and 14 knockouts prior to the fight with Macas. For him to lose through cheating is highly unacceptable to me,” he said.

Vice Gov. Piñol also informed Commisioner Bautista that his lawyer is now preparing administrative and criminal charges against GAB supervisor Vic Cabalog for grave misconduct and dereliction of duty.