So much for "Hometown scoring" in Little Rock

[Easy-E]

Well, last night's fight pretty much ends the theory that Taylor would get a gift in his hometown.
Scoring was actully totally against Taylor, which suprised me e****ially.
That also kinda kills Winky "I beat the dude in his hometown" Wrights theory of getting robbed in every close fight as well.
But as I said, why Taylor picked Ouma to look impressive against I have no idea. Ouma has a nice chin, a difficult style and tons of heart.
Jermain still has alot to learn, and really really needs to stop backing up for no reason. I expected to see a big change in Jermain this fight but he didnt show many improvements. He is still raw and has tons of talent, but I dont think he should fight Joe C until he matures.

[Mr. David]

Point-by-point response for my Bostonian comrade:

Well, last night's fight pretty much ends the theory that Taylor would get a gift in his hometown.
Scoring was actully totally against Taylor, which suprised me e****ially. That also kinda kills Winky "I beat the dude in his hometown" Wrights theory of getting robbed in every close fight as well.

Interesting point, but I think there's something different in this case. With Ouma, he was backed by an outspoken promoter in Russell Peltz, who co-promoted the bout and who stood up for his fighter about the weigh-in time and likely had a voice in judge selection. Often times when a fighter goes in front of his opponent's hometown crowd and complains about the decision, he is a guy, like Winky, whose promoter isn't finding him much in the way of opportunities and doesn't stand up for him. Larry Donald and John Ruiz had complaints about the decisions in their respective fights against Nicolay Valuev, but Don King just wanted a piece of the seven-foot attraction. Another example? Look at Glencoffe Johnson, who often found himself reportedly ripped off while he was known specifically as a journeyman. He was forced to travel to his opponents' spots, because no one else was giving him work.

But as I said, why Taylor picked Ouma to look impressive against I have no idea. Ouma has a nice chin, a difficult style and tons of heart.

I think they chose Ouma because he wasn't a pushover, and I think Taylor didn't care about looking impressive as much as looking impressive against a good foe. Ouma does have a difficult style, though he definitely wasn't as active or as accurate. Strange matchmaking indeed, but at least Taylor got a non-controversial victory.

Jermain still has alot to learn, and really really needs to stop backing up for no reason.

Yes and no. Prior to the Hopkins fights, he enjoyed counterpunching, e.g. the Raul Marquez and William Joppy bouts. But some of his backing up saw him with poor footwork, not necessarily setting him up in the best spot with distance -- the thing he was looking for against a swarmer.

I expected to see a big change in Jermain this fight but he didnt show many improvements. He is still raw and has tons of talent, but I dont think he should fight Joe C until he matures.

Agreed. I think he needs to fight more often and get more gym time with Steward.

[-EX-]

I think he still doesn't have a definition. It doesn't look like he will be a big KO guy anymore against top competition, and is no pure boxer. I think he needs to stop being wild with his punches, do something about his balance, and learn to somewhat save energy. He got tired in this fight and the first fight with Hopkins.

He's a good fighter but still needs a lot of work, but pretty much shut out Ouma.

[TomRiddle]

I like the Berto guy, a real prospect.

[Easy-E]

Point-by-point response for my Bostonian comrade:



Interesting point, but I think there's something different in this case. With Ouma, he was backed by an outspoken promoter in Russell Peltz, who co-promoted the bout and who stood up for his fighter about the weigh-in time and likely had a voice in judge selection. Often times when a fighter goes in front of his opponent's hometown crowd and complains about the decision, he is a guy, like Winky, whose promoter isn't finding him much in the way of opportunities and doesn't stand up for him. Larry Donald and John Ruiz had complaints about the decisions in their respective fights against Nicolay Valuev, but Don King just wanted a piece of the seven-foot attraction. Another example? Look at Glencoffe Johnson, who often found himself reportedly ripped off while he was known specifically as a journeyman. He was forced to travel to his opponents' spots, because no one else was giving him work.


I think they chose Ouma because he wasn't a pushover, and I think Taylor didn't care about looking impressive as much as looking impressive against a good foe. Ouma does have a difficult style, though he definitely wasn't as active or as accurate. Strange matchmaking indeed, but at least Taylor got a non-controversial victory.



Yes and no. Prior to the Hopkins fights, he enjoyed counterpunching, e.g. the Raul Marquez and William Joppy bouts. But some of his backing up saw him with poor footwork, not necessarily setting him up in the best spot with distance -- the thing he was looking for against a swarmer.



Agreed. I think he needs to fight more often and get more gym time with Steward.

Im not saying hometown decisions dont exist, but for fights on such a high level (ie televised, championship fights) there is less chance for a massive robbery to occur.

[Mr. David]

Im not saying hometown decisions dont exist, but for fights on such a high level (ie televised, championship fights) there is less chance for a massive robbery to occur.

Okay, I see your point. There's much more accountability. The judges worry less about the hometown fans and more about being revealed worldwide as incompetent or corrupt, and thus having their prestigious jobs taken away.

Since I like to research, I'll back up your point with the two terrible hometown judges from the first Emanuel Augustus-Courtney Burton bout.

Since that July 2004 travesty, Robert Paganelli (99-90 Burton) has worked only three minor bouts in Michigan. Ed Mosley (97-92 Burton) has worked just four minor bouts, three of which were on the same card. But Jake "Jack" Richards (98-94 Augustus) has worked 21 fights. ESPN2 caught the perpetrators in the act, questioned the commission and made the state take action.

Then again, the judges from Pernell Whitaker-Julio Cesar Chavez are still around.

[Easy-E]

Okay, I see your point. There's much more accountability. The judges worry less about the hometown fans and more about being revealed worldwide as incompetent or corrupt, and thus having their prestigious jobs taken away.

Since I like to research, I'll back up your point with the two terrible hometown judges from the first Emanuel Augustus-Courtney Burton bout.

Since that July 2004 travesty, Robert Paganelli (99-90 Burton) has worked only three minor bouts in Michigan. Ed Mosley (97-92 Burton) has worked just four minor bouts, three of which were on the same card. But Jake "Jack" Richards (98-94 Augustus) has worked 21 fights. ESPN2 caught the perpetrators in the act, questioned the commission and made the state take action.

Then again, the judges from Pernell Whitaker-Julio Cesar Chavez are still around.

True.
I actully think the poor scoring for the Taylor fight was because of the fact that it was in Little Rock. Many times judges will actully give close rounds to the visiting fighter on a big stage so they will not seem biased.
Take Tito v DLH for example. The judges, knowing that many believed DLH recieved gift rounds, e****ially in the Quarty fight, actully went out of their way to give rounds to Trinidad.
I cant see any other explanation than that for the 115-113 scoring.