PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Ria Ramnarine’s manager Boxu Potts appears headed for a showdown with the World Boxing Association over what he calls the body’s “unconstitutional” move to schedule a rematch for his fighter.
Ramnarine was slated to take on Ana Fernandez of Venezuela in a rematch in Panama on September 5, after their first bout ended in a controversial split decision in favour of the T&T boxer on July 30 at the Central Regional Indoor Sport Arena.
The WBA had sent a resolution indicating to Ramnarine’s management that if they did not abide by the decision, they would be in violation of their rules.
“It is an unconstitutional resolution, meaning to say that you cannot tell a professional boxer come to Panama and fight,” Potts charged.
“No plane ticket, no accommodation, no contract and telling me word of mouth who I’m going to fight. It don’t work so, you don’t start that way and expect people to respect you.”
He added: “We have written to the WBA. However, we have not received any response as to what is taking place. Respond to us, revisit your clause, check your resolution and act in accordance to the rules of boxing.”
After receiving word that Ramnarine could not make the bout as mandated due to injury, the WBA then ordered that she visit one of its doctors in Panama City by September 11.
The boxing body then mandated that Ramnarine, who was named the WBA Interim Champion in recess, had to fight the winner of a clash between Fernandez and Ibeth Zamora of Panama on or before November 5.
But Potts told a media conference Saturday that due to financial reasons, they could not make the trip. Instead, Ramnarine underwent an MRI scan, the results of which were sent to the WBA.
Since Zamora won the September 5 bout, Potts said any interim title rematch had to be sanctioned.
“In the absence of that I’ve already prepared a document for my attorneys to start having discussions with the WBA on how this thing will play out,” said the former jockey.
He said he was scheduling a fight on October 31, and would consider a World Boxing Council’s (WBC) offer for a title shot if the WBA did not sanction the bout.
