Bad taste in the mouth for boxing once again

Phil D. Jay

WBN Editor

Adamek win rankles with fans

Another judging decision has caused many boxing fans to become disillusioned with the sport once again after the shambolic announcement of Tomasz Adamek’s win over Steve Cunningham in Pennsylvania last night.

Even veteran ring announcer Michael Buffer could not hide his embarrassment as a 115-115 scorecard reading was rectified to hand the Pole a decisive 115-112 third card and the undeserved victory in Bethlehem.

The general consensus amongst fans on social media sites and through forums was that Cunningham came through the entertaining twelve-round battle with a closely-fought points win, which mirrored my card of 115-113 to the American.

Although ‘USS’ was given that score by Tom Miller, cards by Debra Barnes and Dave Greer ultimately saw the fight Adamek’s way to the disbelief of the neutral and Cunningham fans and has once again opened a debate for an overhaul of judging.

High profile scoring mishaps, as in the Pacquiao v Marquez III and Pacquiao v Bradley bouts in the past year or so have already cause uproar in the sport - although poor scoring seems to be widespread and is beginning to make a mockery of some great battles.

The WBC are moving closer to introducing an electronic scoring system after running several tests over the past few months, but this still has room for human error and scoring based on successful punches landed would be more of a step in the right direction.

Let's hope it is not too long in coming.

WBN Remembers: "Gypsy Boy" Ernie Smith

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor (picure by boxrec.com) After almost a year and a half without one of boxing’s great journeymen, World Boxing News is looking back at the 161-fight career of Worcestershire warrior Ernie Smith, concentrating on his contribution in the ring, rather than the tragic way his life ended out of it. Smith turned professional at super-featherweight in 1998 at the Park Hall Hotel in Wolverhampton, losing a six rounder against Welshman Woody Greenaway. One month later, Ernie was thrown in with an unknown prospect by the name of Gavin Rees (former world champion and current British Lightweight Champion) who he also took the distance over four rounds. The “Gypsy Boy” then managed to string together a four fight unbeaten run together in early 1999 and ended the year winning five out of his twelve contests, but by this time had already delved into the journeyman pool of boxers with a record of 5-8-1. After settling at the welterweight limit, Ernie gained a su

BBC make Luke Campbell mum and sister death gaffe

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Picture from the BBC Gabby Logan announces wrong family tragedy The BBC made a major mistake on the final showing of their Olympics Tonight show as host Gabby Logan sparked an anxious quizzing by boxer Luke Campbell’s fans as they announced the ‘loss’ of his mother and sister at a young age. Campbell, 24, took the gold medal in the men’s bantamweight final earlier in the day and was then congratulated by Logan, who announced his victory as a triumph over adversity after the Hull fighter suffered the tragedy six years ago. Unbeknown to presenter Logan, it was Welshman Freddie Evans, who also boxes in an Olympic final tomorrow, who suffered the tragedy as he lost his mother Tracy and sister Scarlett in a car accident in 2006. Fans of Olympic champion Campbell and boxing in general, immediately began handing out sympathy to the boxer after believing what was announced to be true. Logan, after an outcry on social networking website Twitte

The Tragedy of Billy Collins Jr.

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Collins after the fight Williams Ray Collins Jr. or Billy Collins Jr. as he became known, was born to a boxing father in Antioch, Tennessee in 1961. His father William Sr, once fought Welterweight Champion Curtis Cokes and wanted his boy to follow in his footsteps, so decided to train Billy himself. Collins Jr. turned pro in 1981, a welterweight, just like his father before him and impressively won his first 14 professional contests, 11 by knockout with eight inside the first three rounds. It was 1983 and Billy was matched up against Puerto Rican journeyman Luis Resto on the undercard of Roberto Duran v Davey Moore at Madison Square Garden in a ten rounder. Resto wasn’t known for his punching power but Billy took a sustained beating for the full ten rounds, his face, badly damaged and his eyes were almost shut. After the fight, which Resto won on decision, Billy’s father shook Resto’s hand and noticed there wasn’t much padding in his gl

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