By Rick Reeno
Luis DeCubas Jr., co-manager of WBA 'regular' junior middleweight champion Erislandy Lara (19-2-2, 12KOs), sat down with BoxingScene.com to discuss Saturday's close split decision loss to Mexican superstar Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (44-1-1, 31KOs), which headlined a Showtime Pay-Per-View event from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
BoxingScene.com: What are your thoughts on the fight?
DeCubas: It was a good fight, it was the best two guys in the division. I thought Lara won the fight. It was close, 7-5 or 8-4 [for Lara] but there's no way it was 9-3 Canelo. It's a shame that Levi Martinez turned in such a disgraceful scorecard.
BoxingScene.com: Your entire team is obviously very upset with Martinez's score of 117-111.
DeCubas: He's either corrupt or incompetent and he can choose which one he is, but either way he should never judge a fight of that magnitude ever again. I will tell you one thing he is a judge who is known for having the right score so you can take your own conclusions from that.
BoxingScene.com: What are your thoughts on the other scorecards [115-113 for Canelo and 115-113 for Lara]?
DeCubas: I'm fine with both of the scorecards, it was a close fight and both of those cards reflected that, but 117-111 just doesn't cut it. Martinez had his scorecards written out before the fight there's no question in my mind. I mean the last round he gave to Lara, which he didn't win but if Levi Martinez would have given that round to Canelo it would have been a 10-2 fight on his scorecard. That is just flat out pathetic. Absolute disgrace!
BoxingScene.com: What happened in the ring after the decision was announced? Jim Gray said there was an altercation in the ring. Word around ringside is that you and members of Team Canelo nearly went at it.
DeCubas: Nothing happened. Team Canelo knew they got a gift and I let it be known to them and they didn't take it that well. The truth hurts and they know in their hearts that they did not win that fight.
BoxingScene.com: What is next for Lara?
DeCubas: We will sit down with our team and look at all the options. I feel there should be a rematch a fight that close with a disgraceful judge like Levi Martinez being the difference maker is absurd. Let's do it again. If Canelo feels Lara moves too much we can do it in a 15 foot ring, it doesn't matter. I think we all saw that Lara was the better fighter and that's taking nothing away from Canelo - he's still the second best fighter in the division in my opinion.
