The Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) has suspended the two boxers involved in Friday night’s fracas at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
National welterweight champion Iwan Azore and Troy Lewis were involved in a melee after their catch weight fight was declared a draw during the fourth staging of the monthly ProAm card organized by the GBBC and the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA).
Following the announcement of the decision Azore, who came in at 149 pounds, and Lewis, who came in at 156 pounds, fought for a second time that night using their hands and in some instances, feet.
President of the GBBC, Peter Abdool, said yesterday that Azore had been suspended for six weeks and Lewis for four.
Additionally, Azore was fined half of his purse and Lewis 20 per cent of his.
“The last thing we want to show the public is such behaviour. There are ways to deal with protests and I am disappointed it got out of hand,” Abdool declared.
“Even the corners are to be blamed for what transpired but it was clear that Iwan Azore caused the aggression because he was still pursuing Lewis despite clear indications that Lewis wanted none of it,” Abdool added.
According to Abdool, as the national welterweight champion and an ambassador for Guyana, Azore should have been more responsible and as such he received a stiffer punishment.
Leniency
Azore, who was set to appear on the next Friday Night Card, will now be absent.
Abdool said both boxers were penalised for their unsportsmanlike behaviour which could bring the sport into disrepute.
He told Stabroek Sport that the board and promoters were working very hard to lift the standard of boxing in Guyana which was a huge sacrifice and said that the boxers would not be allowed to destroy those efforts.
In an invited comment, Azore said he accepted the decision of the board but expressed the view that they could have been a bit more lenient as he had paid his own airfare to come to Guyana for the fight.
The fine, he said had left him with a mere $25,000 which was a bit hard on him. He, however said he would like to apologise to the general public for the role he played in the fracas. He said he was hoping to land a rematch with Lewis as he was confident that he did enough to win the fight and would like a second chance to prove himself.
Speaking of the incident Azore said all he wanted to do was hug Lewis as is customary for boxers after a combat. He said Lewis swung at him, he ducked, and they ended up clashing heads.
He retaliated and the fight got into full swing with him throwing punches while he said Lewis fired cuffs and kicks.
Lewis, though, told this news-paper that he was walking away from Azore because he was upset with the decision and he made it clear to Azore that he didn’t want to speak to him.
Azore continued to follow him around and it was then he decided to ward him off with a punch.
“He ducked and then butt me despite I tell he leff me alone. I didn’t realize he wanted to hug me, so I got angry when he said he can beat me. If he wanted to hug and show sportsmanship he didn’t have to say he is the champion and I can’t beat he,” Lewis argued.
Though Azore has apologised to him for the incident Lewis says he will not apologise to him in return because he still feels he was robbed.
He, however, would like to apologise to the spectators for the shame he caused the sport.
He too would like a return fight with Azore but said he would not be going down to 147 lbs.
