31.07.08 – By Tony Nobbs: Nicky Durandt said this morning that he intends to file a protest with the IBO and request an immediate rematch with Billy Dib after his fighter Zolani Molari’s points “loss” to the Australian in the super featherweight world title shot in Newcastle, NSW, last night.
“The whole team is disgusted with the result and the handling of the fight. I will be filing a protest to the IBO and requesting an immediate rematch. We will come back to Australia and fight but to another part of the country and we will have neutral officials, as I did with Isaac (Hlatswayo) when he fought Rob Medley” said Durandt, one of South Africa’s major boxing figures.. “If we cannot get neutral officials, Billy the Kid will have to come to South Africa. The officials last night, I feel were out of fight. The three judges could have stayed at their homes and just faxed their score sheets through. This decision doesn’t help Billy Dib and it doesn’t help Australian boxing”.
Durandt continued that he had several received messages from his home land concerning the decision. “There is a sporting rivalry between South Africa and Australia because of the Rugby and the Cricket and this has sparked a lot of controversy back home. The whole country knows what happened last night and the crowd at the venue knew who won the fight. People are still coming up to us around town telling Zolani he should be champion.”
“Zolani’s record now reads nineteen wins, one loss and one robbery. This was not Billy Dibs fault, he trained, he fought, he came to win. But last night Billy the Kid had no bullets. He was given a present. If this is how people want to conduct business, I will go and find my own presents.”
“These kids train their arses off, they make sacrifices win a fight but get robbed by people who just show up on the night for a pay check”.
“I spoke to Billy this morning at breakfast, he is a nice kid. He did not make the decision. He is talking about unifying with (IBF titleist) Casius Baloyi (another of Durandt’s champions). On last nights showing Cassius would knock him out in two rounds. Zolani is a good young fighter, he will take over from Cassius Baloyi but right now Cassius is on another level”.
Molari, 31, still the WBF’s champion at 130 pounds was in surprisingly “good spirits” today despite being
“devastated” last night. “He is fine, he has no injuries” said Durandt.
Durandt also was annoyed at the tape coming off Dib’s gloves late in the fight causing three lengthy breaks. “Points should have been taken”.
As I wrote in the report on last night’s card, headlined by Mundine – Kim, my score was 116-111 for Molari, who scored a knock down in round three. Official scores read were 116-112, 116-114, 114-113 all for Dib, who hails from nearby Sydney.