IBF bans Lazarte

CEBU, Philippines - The International Boxing Federation (IBF) has banned Luis Alberto "El Mosquito" Lazarte in the aftermath of an ugly riot that marred the fight between the Argentine ring idol and Filipino boxer Johnriel Casimero exactly a week ago at the Club Once Unidos in Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires.

The IBF has cracked the whipped on Lazarte for threatening to kill referee Eddie Claudio of New York after he was slapped with a one-point deduction in round six for unsportsmanlike behavior.

In that particular instance, according to a report by USA Today, Lazarte looked at Claudio and said, in Spanish, "Do you want to make it out of here alive?"

In a letter to Argentine Boxing Federation president Osvaldo Bisbal, IBF president Darryl Peoples said what Lazarte did was completely unacceptable.

"Lazarte is banned from being involved in any capacity in any IBF related fight that takes place in Argentina or around the world. I believe that I do not have to express to you that Lazarte's threat to Claudio, which can be clearly heard in the telecast, is completely unacceptable, should not be taken lightly and merits punishment. Behavior of this nature by a fighter is not and will not be tolerated by the IBF," stated Peoples.

Casimero stopped Lazarte early in the 10th round to snatch the vacant IBF light flyweight title but even before the decision could be formally announced, a swarm of hostile Argentine fans stormed the ring and attacked Casimero and his team that includes his business manager Sammy Gello-ani, trainer Pingping Tepora and American agent Sean Gibbons.

Bottles, chairs, punches and other hard objects were flying all over the arena at the height of the melee. Some cooler heads who tried to prevent the situation from getting worse were not spared by the wrath of irate fans.

In the same letter to Bisbal, Peoples condemned the shameful incident, which he says has no place in boxing or any other sporting event.

"I take this opportunity to address you in regards to the deplorable acts of violence that transpired after the Lazarte-Casimero bout. This type of violence has no place in a boxing match, or any sporting event for that matter, as it completely goes against the grain of what competition is about. Surely you agree to that. It is important that all of us in the boxing community, because this act is not exclusive to Argentina, utilize this experience as one to learn from and develop better ways to protect the perimeter around the ring and the people that are in it, while also insuring the safety of all those attending a boxing match," said Peoples.

"Furthermore, I would like to know what steps have been taken with the local police department to bring those individuals that entered the ring and assaulted Mr. Casimero and his camp to justice. There are a number of individuals that can likely be identified in the video recording of the fight and who should be investigated through the proper legal channels. I expect that you will do what you can to further inform me on this matter."

Here at home, the Philippines has already filed a protest to the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs, condemning the riot.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has also summoned Argentine Ambassador to Manila Joaquin Otero to express the government’s concern over the riot and at the same time ask for explanation on the action taken by the Argentine government on the incident.

At the Senate, the country's senators condemned the assault, even as they also directed the DFA to recall Phl Ambassador to Argentina Rey Carandang. (FREEMAN)