Ni: Gilbert Espena
Patuloy na naniniwala si ESPN broadcast analyst Teddy Atlas na kuwestiyonable ang pagwawagi ng bagong WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn kay eight-division world titlist Manny Pacquiao sa mga iskor na 117-111, 115-113 at 115-113 sa Brisbane, Australia kamakailan.
Beterano at ekspertong broadcaster ng ESPN si Atlas na naniniwalang minaniobra ang score cards pabor kay Horn na boksingero na rin ni Bob Arum ng Top Rank Promotoions.
“For the sake of time and space, let’s just say in simple terms I thought one guy was throwing a lot and another was landing a lot more cleanly, and if one sticks to the set forth criterium of scoring a boxing match, that would mandate that you score in favor of the person landing more cleanly,” sabi ni Atlas sa New York Daily News.
'Pikon daw?' UAAP fan na nag-dirty finger, agaw-eksena sa San Juan Arena!
“Now, if put forward strictly into the arena of public opinion, well, yes, I could see some people’s thoughts that one guy was ‘roughing up’ the other. And I can even understand the natural human instinct or reaction to give ‘extra’ credit, whether consciously or subconsciously, to the guy who was not expected to have a chance.”
Nilinaw ni Atlas na hindi siya naniniwala sa pagrepaso ng WBO sa score4cards ng mga hurado na nagpanalo kay Horn laban kay Pacquiao.
“I understand the subjective nature of looking at a sporting event. What bothers and scares me is when people start to say, ‘Well, it was close, and after all, I’ve seen worse decisions in boxing.’ Judges who have the responsibility of a fighter’s career in their charge are supposed to be - have to be - better than that. We should be better than that,” ani Atlas.
“I would hope that when it came to an explanation or settlement of how we saw that fight or any other one - that as people with some capacity, if not responsibility, to think for ourselves would not be satisfied by representatives of the WBO, the very organization that scored this controversial bout - when they tell us, ‘Don’t worry, we re-scored it and once again we have come up with the same conclusion,.”
Naniniwala siya na dapat aminin ng WBO na may anomalya sa resulta ng laban.
“Perhaps that old-time character I knew through my life who once told a kid I knew that no matter what you get caught doing, never ever admit to it,” sabi pa ni Atlas.
“Sooner or later, at least some of the people who saw you do whatever you did will start to doubt what they saw. I never agreed with what he told that kid, but I do wonder at times like this about just how many other people he may have given that same advice.”
