MICHAEL Brodie will be awarded a World Boxing Council belt even though his magnificent scrap with Injin Chi last month ended in a farcical draw.
The WBC did itself no favours in the way it handled a brilliant contest at the Manchester Evening News Arena, when Korean hardman Chi was declared the winner - only for the verdict to be overturned and a majority draw declared 40 minutes after the final bell.
The two men are lined up for a re-match for the vacant title early next year, but in the meantime to compound the farce BOTH men will hold belts.
A problem arose because Chi, understandably upset at the way his hard-fought victory was quashed by a meeting of officials, was reluctant to hand the belt back afterwards.
WBC president Jose Sulaiman, letting discretion be the better part of valour, decided to let him keep it - and because the title remains vacant then decided that Brodie had better have a belt as well.
"I believe it's the first time in the history of the WBC that two fighters have held the belt at the same time," says Brodie's manager Jack Trickett.
Hopefully the whole sorry mess - which despoiled a fantastic contest - will be sorted out next year, with talks underway about a re-match.
Promoter Barry Hearn has already made an offer to Chi's people and is hopeful that the second fight can be brought back to Britain.
"We have made an offer and it looks like coming off, although nothing has been signed yet," says Trickett. "I know it will sell in Manchester. If it doesn't, there is no future for boxing."
Brodie gets a belt
I also gave it to Chi by two, but I wouldn't say it's so clear cut, there was nothing really between them in the first nd the ninth and if you score those two rounds even then it's a draw.Loftgroov wrote:Chi won that fight by 2 clear rounds (and I say that as a Brodie fan).
It's a disgrace he wasn't given the decision anyway, so it's hardly surprising he is reluctant to give back the belt.
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MightyWarrior
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