Ref says Gerry was robbed

MANILA, Philippines - Veteran international referee Bruce McTavish said yesterday he scored it 115-113 for Gerry Peñalosa in his interim WBO bantamweight title fight against Eric Morel and couldn’t understand how the San Carlos City southpaw lost a split 12-round decision at the Las Vegas Hilton last weekend.

McTavish, who has worked in over 100 world title bouts, said Morel got off to a strong start but Peñalosa clearly controlled the action in the last six rounds. He added that referee Russell Mora should’ve penalized Morel at least a point for repeated holding.

“Morel was warned three or four times for holding,” said McTavish. “If you’re the referee, you deduct a point after the third warning or else why issue a warning in the first place? I thought he did a good job except for the holding.”

McTavish noted that under WBO rules, it isn’t mandatory to deduct a point from a fighter who inflicts a cut on his opponent with an accidental headbutt. However, it is mandatory under WBC rules outside of the US.

“In a WBC-sanctioned bout, a fighter who cuts up an opponent with an accidental headbutt is penalized a point even if he didn’t initiate the contact,” said McTavish. “That’s because of the handicap of a cut fighter. However, the rule doesn’t apply in the US even if it’s a WBC fight. Japan opposed the WBC rule at first but eventually accepted it.”

Morel inflicted severe cuts over both Peñalosa’s eyes with headbutts, causing the Filipino visual difficulty. Twice, Mora called on the ringside physician to check on Peñalosa’s wounds. On one occasion, Peñalosa told the doctor he couldn’t see clearly but wanted to continue fighting.

Although Mora wasn’t obliged to penalize Morel for the headbutts, he should’ve at least docked a point for repeated holding, said McTavish. Morel often locked Peñalosa’s arm when they came close and even held his head down with an arm to throw a punch with his free hand.

The judges’ scoring showed a stark disparity. Duane Ford, 72, saw it 116-112 for Morel, a margin that raised a lot of eyebrows. Paul Smith, 65, had it 115-113, also for the Puerto Rican. Richard Houck dissented, scoring it 115-113 for Peñalosa, the same tally as McTavish.

If Mora penalized Morel two points for holding and other foul tactics, the fight would’ve been a split draw.

Mora has worked in only 10 world title bouts, including four in the women’s category. He was the referee when Juan Alberto Rosas pounded out a 12-round decision over Filipino Federico Catubay in Las Vegas last November. Mora’s inexperience in handling a bout between two veterans – Peñalosa is 37 and Morel, 34 – was evident last weekend.

McTavish said the loss shouldn’t be a reason for Peñalosa to retire despite his age.

Former WBC secretary-general Rudy Salud, who was once Peñalosa’s manager, left the decision to retire up to the fighter.

“My heart tells me he should stop before he gets seriously hurt,” said Salud. “But if you compare Gerry with Filipino contenders like Ciso Morales, he’s way ahead so why should he stop? He might be one small step slower but he’s still good enough to win big fights. When to quit is his decision.”

As for Peñalosa’s fight against Morel, Salud said he agreed with the decision although the four-point margin in Ford’s card was ludicrous.

“I thought Gerry lost a close fight,” said Salud. “Morel had the early lead and Gerry tried to catch up but it wasn’t enough. Gerry got in some good body shots and at one stage, Morel looked like he was going down. Gerry’s deficiency is his size. He’s short in height, reach and limbs. It’s like he has to take a shot before being able to give one back. His physical make-up is a disadvantage. He’s often shorter than his opponents and his reach is less. That’s how it was against Daniel Ponce de Leon, Juan Manuel Lopez and even In Joo Cho.”

Salud revealed that when Peñalosa was under his care, the fighter was given a $20,000 step aside fee for another contender to fight for the WBC superflyweight title and called out Morel as an interim opponent. That was about 10 years ago and Morel refused.

Peñalosa, whose cuts were stitched up in a hospital after the fight, was consoled by Manny Pacquiao’s remarks that he was robbed of a victory. Pacquiao said in his opinion, Peñalosa took at least seven rounds. But the word from Las Vegas was Peñalosa is close to making an announcement of his retirement.