09.08 – Heavyweight contender Kirk Johnson, through his promoter Duva Boxing of Totowa, New Jersey, has filed an official appeal with the World Boxing Association (WBA) with regard to what he feels were unfair events and a violation of a World Boxing Association championship rule during his disqualification lost to heavyweight champion John Ruiz on July 27 in Las Vegas.

Sighting Rule 16.2 of the WBA championship rules, covering "Officials", states, "the officials appointed in any Championship fight shall be NEUTRAL, this being understood to mean that they shall not be of the same nationality, residence or origin of the champion or of the challenger" and the supporting argument that the referee Joe Cortez made several errors and poor judgment during the bout led Johnson to file the appeal. All three judges and the referee are Las Vegas residents and citizens of the United States—the same as Ruiz. In addition, Cortez and Ruiz are of Puerto Rican extraction. Johnson is from Canada and a Canadian citizen.

“In a championship title fight of this magnitude, both fighters should have a neutral playing field,” said Dino Duva, President of Duva Boxing. “Our fighter Kirk Johnson did not receive this opportunity and had an unfair playing field before the fight even started.”

Prior to the match, Johnson’s management and Duva Boxing expressed their concerns to the WBA and the Nevada State Athletic Commission, who made the appointments, over the selection the officials, and more specifically Cortez. “Cortez never should have been appointed to referee this match,” said Duva.

Cortez disqualified Johnson for “low blows” after what the referee felt were several infractions during the match. Johnson, as well as many boxing experts, feels the disqualification was unwarranted. “Although I made some unintentional mistakes during the fight, Ruiz committed at least as many as I did, including two intentional head butts that were not penalized,” said Johnson. “Where was the referee when he was committing those fouls?”

The Johnson’s camp concerns stem from Cortez’s officiating and favoritism towards Ruiz in the past. He was the assigned referee for John Ruiz vs. Evander Holyfield II and was criticized for showing bias for Ruiz during the match. Cortez warned and penalized Holyfield for low blows that evidence clearly shows were legal punches.

In both matches Cortez failed to warn or penalize Ruiz for the blatant illegal tactics exhibited by the fighter during the bouts. And, Ruiz used Cortez’s “low blow” warnings to his opponents to fake injury, only to be given by Cortez a five-minute rest period. “Ruiz deserves an Academy award for his performance that the referee clearly went along with,” said Johnson. “The broadcast tape showed that I legally knocked him down in the seventh round,” said Johnson.

Johnson is hoping his appeal will bring justice to the decision and the WBA will mandate an immediate rematch. “I know I made mistakes,” said Johnson. “But you don’t wait your whole career as a fighter to become heavyweight champion of the world and your opportunity is unfairly judged and taken away from you.”