Romero Wins Controversial Decision Over Maríñez Sparking Outrage

by Kris Anthony (krisanthonyboxing@gmail.com

Rolando “Rolly” Romero (12-0, 10 KO’s) W PTS 12 Jackson Maríñez (19-1, 7 KO’s)

This was for the WBA interim lightweight title and both were unbeaten going in. Romero spent the majority of the fight loading up and stalking while Maríñez intelligently placed his shots and seemed to land more of the clean punches as opposed to the harder ones.

The judges controversially scored it 115-113, 116-112, 118-110 for Romero that has brought on outrage by the camp and across social media to the point of WBA president Gilberto Jesus Mendoza in tweeting, “I just spoke with both teams and we are going to study the possibility of a rematch.”

“I don’t think I had a bad performance,” said Romero “I thought I won the fight. Regardless of everything, I’m the world champ now. I’m happy. He came out a little bit tougher and slicker than what I thought, but all he did was move around the entire fight. He didn’t even try to engage. 

“It’s hard to knock out someone who doesn’t try to engage. I hurt him multiple times with body shots and a few hooks. There was one moment I hurt him with a right hand and he pulled my head down. It was just hard to finish him off. Yeah [I would give him a rematch]. He didn’t do anything special.”

Marinez’s manager Jorge Herasme added “I appeal to the WBA to force a rematch. What happened on Saturday is so bad for boxing. It makes boxing lose all credibility. It becomes a crooked farce. I expect the WBA to intervene in this scandal. I’m counting on Gilbertico Mendoza. I know he will not accept what happened.”

Showtime had it 117-111 going the other way.