Boxer fights on after draw

Matthew Lee | 3rd July 2009

EMERGING Gympie amateur boxer James Taylor has only been in the sport for a mere three months, but already he has weathered his fair share of controversy.

Gympie amateur boxer James Taylor was handed a controversial draw a fortnight ago during a fight in Cooroy.

Renee Pilcher

EMERGING Gympie amateur boxer James Taylor has only been in the sport for a mere three months, but already he has weathered his fair share of controversy.

Taylor, 18, of Gympie's Karma Boxing under the watchful eye of experienced trainer Neil Harmon, was contesting a fight in Cooroy a fortnight ago when the recent drama unfolded.

Facing off against Diggby's Boxing Club's Luke Sanders in the 86 kilograms division, the contest came to an abrupt halt, declared a technical draw, when the referee ruled a head butt from Taylor left his opponent with a bleeding cut under his eyebrow.

Under amateur boxing regulations, the fight must come to an end when a boxer suffers an injury that bleeds.

The decision was a massive blow for Taylor who was leading the bout confidently at this stage.

“It wasn't a head butt at all,” Harmon said of the decision.

“It was clearly a left-hand hook that caused the cut, so it should have been a point's decision in favour of James.

“The referee should have gone to the scorecard instead of ruling a technical draw.”

The referee made the controversial decision after consulting with both trainers, and Harmon felt the trainer of Taylor's opponent may have missed what happened and, as a result, gave the referee the wrong impression.

Harmon's versions of events was given credence by a video Taylor's mate took of the bout, which he alleges clearly shows from its angle of the ring a punch landing on the face of Sanders.

“The video really says it all,” Harmon said. “There was no head butt.”

Taylor said he felt the decision was unfortunate, but was not letting it worry him too greatly.

“What can you do?” he said.

“Sometimes you get a bad decision but I'm just focusing more on going back to training and preparing for my next opponent.”

Some recourse, however, is available for Taylor with Harmon having approached Global Boxing with a formal appeal.

“I will appeal the decision and hopefully James can be awarded a retrospective victory,” he said.

“He deserves it and it's only right it be recognised.”

The hope in lodging the appeal is resting on the video taken during the fight as evidence.

Looking ahead, Taylor's next battleground will be in Nanango on July 28 against an opponent from Brisbane.

The Brisbane boxer will be stepping into the ring for the first time, and Taylor is hoping to continue his improvement.

Taylor's ability not to easily lose focus will be invaluable in terms of producing success.