Bum judging knocks off Payla; officials, fans cry foul

BUSAN – Flyweight Violito Payla was bumped off the medal race yesterday, absorbing a very controversial loss that won’t easily be forgotten even after the final bell sounds in the boxing competitions of the 14th Asian Games here.

Payla, supposedly the brightest medal hope of Team Caltex, fought well against Pakistan’s Nouman Karim, exchanging hard, powerful punches with the fighter whom he could have, should have and would have beaten on any given day.

To many, the fight should have been Payla’s, and to some, it could have gone either way.

But in the eyes of the judges, the Pakistani was the clear winner, and a big one at that, assuring himself of a bronze medal after being declared a 31-19 winner.

Overshadowed by Payla’s bitter loss was the 20-14 victory posted by lightweight Anthony Igusquiza over Syria’s Hamidi Yousef, earning the native of Aklan province a seat in the quarterfinals.

Payla, a 23-year-old Armyman from Cagayan de Oro, cried after the loss, knowing too well that he gave it his best, and that all those months of training on the road and at the gym have gone up in smoke as well as his bid to win the Asiad gold on his first try.

"Ginawa ko po lahat ng makakaya ko pero ayaw ibigay sa atin. Talagang nakakalungkot," Payla said during a short telephone call made from the Masan Gymnasium.

"Sa kanila kasi lahat ng judges at referees. At hindi naman malilinaw ang mga patama niya sa akin. Lalu na sa first at second rounds," added the Filipino boxer who trailed 8-3 after the opening round, then 19-10 after the second, and 26-16 after the third.

"Talagang halos bawat round ay sa atin pero lumabas pa rin na kanila lahat.

Milya-milya ang inilamang," said the RP team manager, Atty. Liberato Reyna.

After the final verdict was announced, a large portion of the crowd expressed their dissatisfaction.

"Nagboo talaga ang tao," said Philippine Sports Commission media bureau officer Arsenic Lacson who watched the fight seated beside Commissioner Leon Montemayor.

"Pati si commissioner nag-tatanong kung paano nangyari ’yon. Ulo pa ni Payla ang kinuha nila. Grabe ang pagkakayari," Lacson added.

It was the second loss by a Filipino to a Pakistani fighter here, following lightmiddleweight Chris Camat’s 17-11 setback to Hafeez Imran three days ago.

The entire RP coaching staff was so devastated, disgusted and disappointed after the fight and reportedly kicked their way inside the dugout.

A couple of Thai boxers told the RP camp that Payla should have been declared the winner while a couple of Indian boxing officials urged the Filipinos to file a formal protest.

As if it would help.