Australian boxer Stevie Spark robbed of world title win by judges
Australian boxer Stevie Spark was denied the WBA intercontinental super lightweight title on Sunday, May 7, 2023, in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico, in a split decision against Mexican star Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela. The fight was on the card ahead of the Canelo Alvarez vs John Ryder bout, with fans convinced that Spark had done enough to earn the title. However, the judges saw it differently and awarded the victory to Valenzuela via split decision, with scores of 96-93, 94-95, and 95-94.
Many fans watching the fight were quick to point the finger at the judges, as they believed that Spark had the upper hand throughout the majority of the 12 rounds. Spark was even knocked down by a body shot in the sixth round but managed to recover well and outland his rival significantly in power punches, landing 176 to 86. He was also the more active boxer. Despite this, the judges awarded the victory to Valenzuela.
Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn immediately took to Twitter after the final bell, expressing his opinion that Spark had edged it. Other fans and pundits also weighed in, with many believing that Spark had been robbed of the victory.
The controversial decision to award the victory to Valenzuela could be seen as a further example of hometown bias in boxing, with many fans believing that the result of the main event between Alvarez and Ryder was already decided. Alvarez, in front of his home fans, was the heavy favorite against his British opponent, but with the result going against Spark on the cards, fans were not convinced.
Alvarez had not fought in Mexico for almost 12 years, and he was expected to deliver a show for his local fans in the main event. The highly-regarded pound-for-pound boxer had a mixed 2022 and was ready to show why he's one of the most dangerous men on the planet. Alvarez acknowledged that his opponent Ryder, who headed into the bout on a run of four straight wins, had nothing to lose.
In conclusion, the split decision in favor of Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela over Stevie Spark for the WBA intercontinental super lightweight title was a controversial one, with many believing that Spark had done enough to win. It's another example of how judges' decisions can be influenced by hometown bias, which can be a major issue in boxing.
0 Comments