By Keith Idec
Kenichi Ogawa’s disciplinary hearing related to his positive performance-enhancing drug test was delayed yet again Tuesday by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Ogawa’s case was on the agenda for the NSAC’s regularly scheduled monthly meeting Tuesday in Las Vegas. Anthony Marnell, the NSAC’s chairman, announced at the start of the meeting that Ogawa’s hearing would be pushed back to the NSAC’s meeting next month, on an undetermined date.
The NSAC revealed during its January 18 meeting that it suspended Ogawa because he tested positive for synthetic testosterone following his controversial split-decision victory over Tevin Farmer in their IBF 130-pound championship match December 9 in Las Vegas. Ogawa’s disciplinary hearing first was scheduled for the NSAC’s meeting February 14, but it was postponed that day until Tuesday.
A second postponement means Farmer will have to wait at least another month to learn how to proceed with his stalled career. If Ogawa’s suspension is upheld and the result of their 12-round fight is changed to a no-contest, the IBF either could order a rematch or strip Ogawa and have Farmer face another fighter for its vacant 130-pound title.
“As a lawyer, I understand due process and I respect Ogawa’s right to due process,” Lou DiBella, Farmer’s promoter, told BoxingScene.com. “And I respect [executive director] Bob Bennett and the Nevada Commission. But in the future, commissions need to take a look at how they handle these cases. By having this pushed back again and having to continue to wait for this to be resolved, Tevin Farmer, the person who may have been aggrieved, is being denied potential financial opportunities.
“It’s costing him money and it’s holding up his career. He can’t fight before then because the title could become vacant and he could get another shot at the title in his next fight. So however unintentional it might be, Tevin is being penalized, even though he didn’t do anything wrong.”
DiBella acknowledged that there could be information the NSAC cannot reveal to him that has caused these delays.
DiBella had petitioned the IBF for an immediate rematch even before he was made aware of Ogawa’s positive PED test. He initiated that process because Farmer seemingly did more than enough to earn a victory over Ogawa three months ago at Mandalay Bay Events Center.
Philadelphia’s Farmer (25-5-1, 5 KOs) appeared to clearly out-point Ogawa (23-1, 17 KOs) during a bout HBO televised.
Only one judge, Tim Cheatham, scored their fight for Farmer (116-112). The other two judges – Burt Clements (116-112) and Max DeLuca (115-113) – had it for Ogawa.
Harold Lederman, HBO’s unofficial ringside judge, credited Farmer with a decisive victory (117-111).
CompuBox counted 158 of 525 overall punches landed for Farmer in its unofficial tally, 59 more than Ogawa (99 of 445). Farmer connected with 132 of 299 power punches, according to CompuBox, 40 more than Ogawa (92 of 292).
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.
