By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Teddy Alivio’s days as a boxing judge appear to be numbered but he is almost certain to remain as a referee.
This was the view of Games and Amusements Board chairman Eric Buhain and Boxing Division chief Noli Flores after a panel of GAB officials along with this reporter reviewed a DVD of OPBF bantamweight champion Malcolm Tunacao’s title defense against young Kohei Ohba of Japan which ended in a split draw. The Australian scoring referee had Tunacao the winner by one point, the Japanese judge scored it for Ohba by two points and Alivio scored the fight dead even.
Alivio’s 115-115 scorecard came under fire from Tunacao and his handlers with the former world champion claiming that while his Japanese manager, respected businessman-sportsman Yasuo Matsuoka was doing everything to help Filipino boxers, a Filipino like Alivio turned against him. When the decision was announced Tunacao sat down in the ring and hammered the canvas in protest before Ohba embraced and carried him up.
The panel who watched the fight scored it on a round by round basis and at the end of the fight the scorecards were an identical 116-112 in favor of Tunacao.
Buhain said Tunacao “really won the fight and outclassed the opponent” although the chairman didn’t appear too pleased with the lanky southpaw’s tendency to showboat. Buhain noted “there were a lot of opportunities to go for a knockout but he didn’t pursue them.”
Buhain pointed out that under OPBF rules where he is a vice president, scoring even rounds is discouraged but Alivio scored two rounds even as he gave Ohba the last round to turn in an even scorecard despite the consensus that Tunacao won the round.
Buhain stated that Alivio’s judging “is in question” and that his performance would be re-assessed and re-evaluated and the recommendations acted upon by the GAB board. However, Buhain gave strong indications that Alivio’s days as a boxing judge are numbered but that he would remain as a referee. Buhain said “he has been with us for a long time and he still has the credibility to act as a referee but when it comes to judging that’s something else. We are not questioning his ability as a referee because he has been of good service. But right now judging is a big question mark.”
Buhain also stressed that he was against scoring referees pointing out that a referee had to do too much during a fight to also have to worry about scoring the fight as a judge.
