N.Z. referee part of boxing controversies

Press, 28 December 1988, Page 29

N.Z. referee part of boxing controversies

It was a year of controversy for boxing, highlighted when a New Zealand referee, Keith Walker, featured in a frenzied Seoul Olympics bout that reflected little credit on the sport. A near riot, instigated by Korean officials, and a 67-minute sit-down protest by the home bantamweight, Byun Jong-11, followed a 4-1 decision in favour of Alexander Hristov, of Bulgaria. Keith Walker, a Matamata referee, who had twice issued public warnings to the Korean southpaw for dangerous use of the head, came under attack in the ring from the chief Korean boxing coach and a security official. Soon the ring was being bombarded by chairs and a bucket. Walker drove away from the Chamsil Gymnasium and caught the first flight home. Another highlight of one of the most controversial boxing tournaments in Olympic history came when the Korean lightmiddleweight, Park Sihun, was awarded a 3-2 decision over Roy Jones of the United States. The verdict, coming after repeated accusations of biased judging, was immediately condemned in nearly every quarter. And it was small consolation for the American when the A.1.8.A. nominated him the best boxer of the tournament and presented him with the Vai Barker Cup. In the professional ring, Mike Tyson needed less than 20 minutes to make three successful defences of his undisputed world heavyweight crown and bank an estimated SUSSO million in 1988. The rest of the year he spent dealing out head-

lines which kept the sen-sation-seeking tabloids working overtime. Frank Bruno’s title challenge was back on the rails — a fight postponed so often since the summer that when the British fighter heard the news he couldn’t resist telling reporters: “The.date looks like being February 25. The trouble now is fixing the year.” Tyson opened his year in Atlantic City by annihilating 38-year-old Larry Holmes. Holmes, who had reigned as title-holder for seven years, crashed to a humiliating fourth-round defeat — the referee, Ferdie Pacheco, sparing the old champion the indignity of a final count by signalling an end as Holmes hit the canvas heavily for the third time in the round. There was no hint of compassion as Tyson tore in for the kill, catching Holmes with some of the most painful punches the former champion had ever had to endure. Watching the massacre was a chilling experience. It was even worse five months later when Tyson destroyed and retired another former heavyweight title-holder, the previously unbeaten Mike Spinks — in just 91 seconds. The opponent being groomed to tangle with Tyson in another major money-spinning fight in 1989 is the unbeaten and undisputed world cruiserweight champion, Evander Holyfield. The most unlikely Tyson challenger remains George Foreman, who will be 41 years old next month and who has been knocking over carefully handpicked opponents in a jomeback campaign