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I've just watched and scored this fight again. And I still feel sorry for Pernell. I might be a bit biased because I always liked Sweet Pea and never had too much sympathy for the Golden Boy but I tried hard to score the fight as fair and objective as possible. In the end I had it a 113-113 draw (due to this ****** WBC rule that takes a point away for a meaningless accidental headbut).
My scorecard was like this:
10-9 PW
9-10 DLH
9-10 DLH
8-10 DLH
10-9 PW
10-9 PW
10-9 PW
9-10 DLH
10-8 PW
9-10 DLH
10-9 PW
9-10 DLH
113-113
There were one or two very close rounds that could've gone either way. I wont argue with anyone who had DLH winning. The sad thing about it is that the offical scores were 116-110(2), 115-111. DLH never won that fight by a six point margin.
I understand that it was a matter of how you score a fight in the end. Which style you prefer. If you score flurries and power punches or jabs and consistent punching.
Maybe the importance of this fight and the questionable decision is a bit underrated. Where would DLH be today if he lost that fight? If he never won the Welterweight Title? And how would Pernell's legacy be looked upon if he won that fight?
DLH was the rising star coming into this fight, undefeated and with some names on his record. Pernell was slowly getting older and losing some of his speed and reflexes. He surley was past his prime. In the end it might have been better for boxing in general that DLH got the decision. What do you think? And how do you remember that fight which surley wasn't a great war but an interesting tactial bout?
My scorecard was like this:
10-9 PW
9-10 DLH
9-10 DLH
8-10 DLH
10-9 PW
10-9 PW
10-9 PW
9-10 DLH
10-8 PW
9-10 DLH
10-9 PW
9-10 DLH
113-113
There were one or two very close rounds that could've gone either way. I wont argue with anyone who had DLH winning. The sad thing about it is that the offical scores were 116-110(2), 115-111. DLH never won that fight by a six point margin.
I understand that it was a matter of how you score a fight in the end. Which style you prefer. If you score flurries and power punches or jabs and consistent punching.
Maybe the importance of this fight and the questionable decision is a bit underrated. Where would DLH be today if he lost that fight? If he never won the Welterweight Title? And how would Pernell's legacy be looked upon if he won that fight?
DLH was the rising star coming into this fight, undefeated and with some names on his record. Pernell was slowly getting older and losing some of his speed and reflexes. He surley was past his prime. In the end it might have been better for boxing in general that DLH got the decision. What do you think? And how do you remember that fight which surley wasn't a great war but an interesting tactial bout?