The split decision victory by Clive Atwell over Jamaica’s Sakima Mullings will stand following a review undertaken by a committee appointed by the Supervisor of Bouts and President of the WBC Caribbean Boxing Federation, Peter Abdool
After losing the CABOFE light welterweight bout on February 21 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and stating that Atwell was the better man that night, Mullings returned to his homeland and cried foul at the decision.
In an attempt to have the decision overturned, the resident of Stony Hill formally petitioned CABOFE to review tapes of the fight during which he alleged infringements were made by Atwell and the referee, Eon Jardine.
Mullings contended that the cut he suffered over his left eye in round six was occasioned by a head butt which may have been, in his opinion, either accidental or deliberate but in any case, not caused by a legal punch as indicated by the referee.
He also asserted that throughout the bout Atwell continuously held him without stern warning or points deducted.
Further, late in the bout, he felt that he had knocked Atwell down and that the knockdown was improperly ruled a slip by the referee thereby depriving him of one (1) point which would have been deducted from Atwell had the knockdown been properly called by the Referee.
After the review yesterday, the committee came up with the following findings:
- Round six (6) was carefully scrutinized for the cause of the cut that Mullings suffered. It was determined that there was absolutely no clash of heads at or around the time of the cut. The cut was clearly seen on the video to have been inflicted by a clean right hand punch from Atwell. The Referee’s call was correct.
- There were four (4) occasions on which Atwell went to the canvas.
- The first occasion was at the end of the sixth round. This is clearly seen on the recording as having been caused by a slip. The Referee’s call was correct.
- The second occurred in the eleventh round against the ropes. The boxers braced against each other on the ropes and Mullings threw a left hook which landed on the back of Atwell’s neck and head. Atwell’s knee touched the canvas. The blow, because of where it landed was technically an illegal blow. The referee has been questioned by the committee as to his judgment and asked to convey his thoughts at the time and his reaction as to this particular incident. He has stated that he considered the blow to have been illegal, opted not to warn Mullings because he did not consider it deliberate particularly as Atwell was moving forward at the time partially contributing to where the blow landed. Further he did not deem Atwell’s knee on the canvas as being a knockdown as he felt that Atwell’s forward momentum contributed far more significantly to his knee touching the canvas than did the blow. Notwithstanding this, the committee found that the referee ought to have called an illegal blow and issued a warning to Mullings or in the absence of such a warning, which would have determined the illegality of the blow, he should have called it a knockdown. The committee considers his failure to have called the blow as illegal as his tacit approval of it as legal. In consequence, the committee finds that this should have been called a knockdown and accordingly scores it as a point to be deducted from Atwell.
- The third occasion occurred in round twelve (12) and is the first of two in that round. This one is clearly seen as a slip and so concurred by the committee. The Referee’s ruling was correct.
- On the fourth occasion, Atwell went down for the second time in round twelve (12) and this is clearly seen as a slip and so concurred by the committee. The Referee’s ruling was correct.
In summation, the committee finds:
- That there is no merit in the complaint that Mullings was cut by an accidental or deliberate head butt.
- That there is merit in Mr. Mulling’s complaint that one (1) of the four (4) instances in which Mr. Atwell touched the canvas may have been as a result of a legal bow by virtue of the referee having failed to issue a warning to Mr. Mullings which would have indicated it to have been an illegal blow. Consequently, a point has been deducted from Atwell on all scorecards consistent with a knockdown in round eleven (11).
Of significant note, the one (1) point taken from Atwell on each scorecard does not materially change the outcome of the fight.
Judge Clifford Brown’s score of 113 Atwell / 115 Mullings now becomes 112 Atwell / 115 Mullings
Judge McKenzie Granger’s score of 117 Atwell / 113 Mullings now becomes 116- Atwell / 113 Mullings
Judge Francis Abraham’s score of 117 Atwell / 111 Mullings now becomes 116 Atwell / 111 Mullings
The winner by split decision remains Clive Atwell.
Whilst a re-match would be of great interest to boxing fans across the Caribbean and indeed one to be encouraged, there exists in the circumstances no justification for the sanctioning body to so mandate.
A much desired possible rematch remains in the hands of the boxers and their respective management teams.
