WBC to review Chilemba, Bellew draw
The World Boxing Council (WBC) says it will decide on Saturday night’s stalemate between Isaac ‘Golden Boy’ Chilemba’s and Tony ‘The Bomber’ Bellew at Liverpool’s Echo Arena.
Three judges for the 12-rounder scored 116-112 for Chilemba, 116-115 for Bellew and the other scored 114-114 to render it a draw amid controversy that the Malawian appeared to be a deserved winner.
The Nation
monitored the final eliminator on www.skysports.com and Wealth TV. On its website, the WBC tweeted “we always review fights and we will do it.”
Chilemba’s coach Andson Kazembe told The Nation from his South Africa base that he expected the WBC to step in. The draw left Bellew clutching to his WBC silver light-heavyweight title.
“The WBC will make a decision. Isaac did well to win rounds five, six, seven, eight and 11, but he lost rounds one, two, three and 10 whereas four, nine and 12 were even,” Kazembe said when asked for his opinion.
Sky Sports website reported that the result left Bellew’s WBC title shot hopes in limbo. The winner was supposed to get bragging rights for fighting WBC champion Chad Dawson.
The website reported that The Bomber was below his best as he dealt with an awkward opponent in front of a home crowd at the Echo Arena, but was still expected to be announced as the winner at the end of 12 rounds.
“I’m going to be totally honest—I thought I won that fight. I thought I won nine of the 12 rounds. I took a stupid round off in round six or seven and I let him gain a bit of momentum and get back into the fight. But I thought I won the fight,” Bellew told Sky Sports after the bout.
“Buddy McGirt (Chilemba’s trainer) just told me, ‘I think you got it’. That’s a very knowledgeable man, a man I respect in boxing. I don’t know what to say.”
The website added that Bellew started in typically aggressive style and had Chilemba backed up for the majority of the opening rounds, even getting a little physical after the bell following a stare down from his opponent.
But at the end of Round Six, Chilemba started to come forward and, during the middle stanzas, it was the Malawian who was producing all of the quality work, says www.skysports.com
But www.boxingnews24.com on Sunday carried a story headlined: ‘Chilemba robbed in draw against Bellew.” The Malawian could not be reached for comment.
