By Mark Vester
Canada's Chronicle Herald, reports that the California State Athletic Commission will hear Kirk Johnson’s appeal of his March loss to Javier Mora, this Monday morning in Los Angeles.
Johnson wants the knockout loss to Mora changed to a no-contest at worst and a victory by technical decision at best. Johnson’s argument is going to be that he was ahead in the fight when it ended due to a knee injury that did not result from a boxing-related action by Mora.
"Because of the rules, we feel and we know … we should win on points," Johnson said "We should be able to get them to go to the scorecards and win the decision on points."
The fight took place at the Pechanga Resort in Temecula, and televised to a national U.S. audience. During the seventh round, Johnson slipped because of a damp ring surface, and says that he wasted no time in complaining about it to referee Tony Crebs. A few seconds later Mora stepped on his left foot and Johnson slipped again, this time taking a bad fall which resulted in him tearing his right patellar tendon and dislocating his kneecap.
After Johnson could not continue, the referee awarded Mora the technical knockout win. At the time of the stoppage, Johnson was leading on the cards with scores of 59-55, 58-56 the third card had a draw score of 57-57. The fact that the ref quickly ruled the fight a slip, Johnson feels that ruling will work in his favor when the CSAC listens to his appeal.
"He (Crebs) ruled it a slip right away, so that’s on our side," said Johnson. "He (Mora) threw a jab, but I slipped the jab. The jab was a mile away."