Thabiso Mchunu should be the third SA WBC champion

Thabiso Mchunu from KwaZulu-Natal should be arriving home with the WBC cruiserweight belt wrapped around his waist to join South Africa’s other two illustrious WBC champions Thulani “Sugarboy” Malinga and Dingaan “The Rose of Soweto” Thobela.

However, this was not to be when he lost on a split decision against defending champion, Ilunga Junior Makabu (southpaw), 34, from the DRC, in a challenge for the WBC cruiserweight belt at the Packard Music Hall in Warren, Ohio, on Saturday night.

Judge Nathan Palmer (115-113) scored the fight in favour of Mchunu, but judges Steve Weisfeld (115-113) and Jamie Garayua (116-112) voted for Makabu.

Viewing the fight again on television, even though this is not always the best medium of watching a fight, there was no doubt that the 33-year-old South African had done enough to take the decision.

After a slow start Mchunu, also a southpaw, picked up the pace and, fighting off the back foot, continued to score with the cleaner punches as Makabu was falling behind.

In rounds 11 and 12 the confident challenger was in control and looked to have taken the decision.

OTHER CONTROVERSIAL DECISIONS

There have been several controversial decisions in championship fights over years with the standout possibly being the first fight between Joe Louis, the defending world heavyweight champion, and Jersey Joe Walcott on 5 December 1947. The Brown Bomber battled with the unorthodox style of Walcott. There were boos from the crowd when it was announced as a split decision in favour of Louis.

SUGAR RAY LEONARD WINS ON A SPLIT DECISION - 1987

The southpaw Marvin Hagler fought in the orthodox stance and lost the early rounds but picked up the pace with the judges scoring a split decision in favour of Leonard. Leonard won with a ridiculous score of 118-110 from one judge and the other one having 115-113 in his favour. The third judge scored it 115-113 for Hagler.

PARK SI-HUN DEFEATS ROY JONES JR -1988

In possibly the worst decision ever at the Olympic Games, Park Si Hun of Korea beat Roy Jones Jr on a 3-2 disputed decision.

LEONARD AND HEARNS FIGHT TO A DRAW 1989

Leonard was down twice and nearly out in the seventh round. The result of the bout was a draw; 113-112 for Leonard, 113-112 for Hearns and 112-112.

Other controversial decisions were the Pernell Whitaker v Julio Cesar Chavez (1993) draw, Oscar De La Hoya’s win over Pernell Whitaker (1997), Lennox Lewis v Evander Holyfield draw (1999) and Floyd Mayweather’s win over Jose Luis Castillo (2002).