By Mike Coppinger
CARSON, Calif. -- After the unpopular verdict was announced Saturday, Banner Promotions president and owner Artie Pelullo still was in disbelief.
He, like most of the press ringside for the HBO bout, thought Bryan Vera deserved the decision over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. And though his fighter didn't officially gain the victory, Pelullo says HBO is treating it like a win for Vera.
"He did win the fight. The judge that saw it 98-92 (Gwen Adair), she wasn't in the arena," Pelullo told BoxingScene.com in frustration. "She had the score before she sat down. That's what she was going to do. Bottom line is: HBO wants him back. It's an exciting kid. He went from '62 to '64 to '68 to '73 and won the fight. And Mexicans booed. Not anybody, his (Chavez's) fans.
"So the key is, be calm, make a deal, figure out how to do a rematch, maybe we do a rematch in Texas, maybe we fight (Sergio Martinez), maybe do something else," Pelullo added. "But he'll be back on HBO. Vera not only won the fight but handled himself well. At the end of the day, everybody knows and so does Julio in his heart."
Pelullo also mentioned Gennady Golovkin has a potential opponent for Vera. Whomever the foe ends up being, Pelullo made one thing clear: Vera will campaign at 160 pounds.
"They (HBO) just loved him," Pelullo stated. "The bosses at HBO said terrific job, he did better than anybody expected, he won the fight -- everybody saw him win the fight -- and he'll be back on the network."
One thing Pelullo made clear to Vera as they departed the StubHub Center following the controversy: "keep your head up, you won the fight."