/ 16 September 2003

Boxing judge defends Mosley fight decision

The judge in the Shane Mosley/Oscar de la Hoya championship fight has defended the decision to score the fight unanimously in favour of Mosley. Judge Duane Ford said he had no second thoughts despite the opinion of many others, like De la Hoya, who felt he was robbed.

The judge in the Shane Mosley/Oscar de la Hoya championship fight on Monday defended the decision to score the fight unanimously in favour of Mosley.

Judge Duane Ford told USA Today newspaper that he has no second thoughts despite the opinion of many others, like De la Hoya, who felt he was robbed.

”It doesn’t surprise me to have this heat after a fight,” said Ford. ”A good judge has to be able to take the heat.

”You have to train yourself. Don’t read the columns. Don’t listen to people. I woke up today knowing I did a good job.”

Mosley, who captured De la Hoya’s WBC and WBA 154-pound titles, woke up Monday talking about giving De la Hoya a rematch.

There was no repeat suggestion from De la Hoya on Monday about retiring, something he said he would do if he lost the fight.

All three judges scored the 12-round fight 115-113 in favour of Mosley, who landed less punches but impressed Ford with a number of powerful shots.

”At the end of seven rounds De la Hoya seemed to own Mosley. But then things changed and it was kind of like De la Hoya hibernated.”

Some of the strongest criticism of the three ringside judges came from De la Hoya’s trainer, Floyd Mayweather, who said: ”These old judges are blind and senile. Clearly Oscar won the fight.”

Mosely simply landed the harder and more damaging blows, said Ford.

”If it was an amateur fight, De la Hoya would have won because all the punches are equal,” said Ford.

”In pro boxing harder shots are judged differently. A hard punch counts more. Oscar de la Hoya could have been my brother and I would not have favoured him any more than I did Mosley.” — Sapa-AFP