In defense of Referee Mora and Why bother with a rematch?

By Paul Strauss: Let’s start off by agreeing with all of the critics, naysayers and persecutors of Referee Russell Mora. He screwed up, right? We’re told that without his help, Abner Mares would not have won the fight. This was confirmed by renowned Showtime announcers Al Bernstein, Antonio Tarver, Gus Johnson and crusader Jim Gray, and thousands of others. All were of one mind that Mares’ repeated violations cost Joseph Agbeko the fight.

You’ve already agreed with them, as have the promoter (Don King) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) It would seem logical then that Abner Mares should be disqualified retroactively, and the IBF belt be returned to Agbeko, along with the Showtime Bantamweight Tournament Championship trophy. Why bother with a mandatory rematch? Everyone already knows or has been told Mares would not have won the fight without the negligence of Referee Mora. What’s the point? Do you want to watch a fight when you already know the eventual outcome? It’s kind of like a Klitschko yawner of a fight. Unless you live in Germany, who cares?

This is what will happen. Once the rematch has been formally announced, officials will also let it be known that Agbeko will enter the ring with a two point handicap (in his favor). The assumption being that Mares had already been warned twice (possibly in the dressing room). Then, when they touch gloves, there will be an enormously loud outcry of protest (much of it coming from Africa) for justice. Mares will be DQ’d which will allow for no debate about missed calls, offsetting offenses, and so forth. All that will be left is to say, “I told you so”!

Then a new set of allegations might surface. Envision this……Vic Darchinyan instigates a new set of charges. This time he’s starts barking that in his fight against Agbeko, he was repeatedly head butted and held. He will further allege the referee prevented him from fighting his fight, and doesn’t like Armenians (and maybe Aussies too). As proof, he will offer up a new video to support his case, and make demands for a rematch.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the Nevada State Boxing Commission has suggested to Referee Russell Mora that he consult with more experienced referees for advice and counsel. Guys like Kenny Bayless and Joe Cortez. Bayless told Mora how to gracefully say, “It was a call I missed!” (Pacquiao vs Mosley). Cortez suggested to Mora that he check out how he (Cortez) deftly handled things in the Ricky Hatton vs Mayweather or Humberto Soto vs. Francisco Lorenzo fights. Russell groaned and asked if maybe he could just get it over with and meet with Laurence Cole and then maybe slap Jim Gray.