BoxRec

Taken from Boxing Central:

Millionaire promoter Lou DiBella had some harsh words to say after his prized super flyweight star Jose Navarro lost a hotly disputed points decision to WBC 115-pound champion Katsushige Kawashima in Tokyo, Japan earlier today. Despite taking one scorecard 120-109, Navarro bizarrely lost out on the remaining two judges scoresheets (115-113 and 115-114) and leaves Japan with nothing. "I haven't even written 2005 on a piece of paper yet, and the filth of this business has already sullied this year," said DiBella.

"Jose Navarro has worked tirelessly for his opportunity. We told him that he was on hostile ground and would need to win convincingly. He did everything but knock the champion out, and was robbed.
"This travesty will go unnoticed by many who should notice and will not hurt DiBella Entertainment significantly from a business perspective," added DiBella.

"Still, the judging in boxing and inherent organizational biases continue to diminish and help destroy a potentially great sport. Most importantly, the damage done, both emotionally and financially, to a kid like Jose is immeasurable."

Said DBE vice president David Itskowitch, who was ringside in Japan for the championship bout: "I was stunned. Jose gave him a boxing lesson. Jose cut him up. His punches were more accurate and landed with higher frequency. He controlled the fight. Kawashima was desperate after being cut. For one judge to have it a shutout for the visiting fighter, and two others have it close for the hometown fighter is terrible."

Navarro (21-1, 9 KO's) put his unbeaten pro record on the line against titleholder Kawashima (28-3, 18 KO's), who fought on his home turf and has never fought outside of Tokyo and Yokohama. Navarro traveled 5,452 miles for his title opportunity. DBE is protesting the decision and calling for an immediate rematch.

All sounds a bit dodgy, the scorecards seem a joke with that turnover on the scoring...i was interested in this fight after Navarro was previewed in Boxing Monthly last month, he seems like a prospect coming through on the quiet side. However surely a rematch must be in the pipeline?

My japanese trading partner had it 116-112 for Navarro.

Feel bad for Navarro if he was jobbed. I've read a lot of criticism from day 1 over his failure to excite, then when he does get his big chance he gets fucked over.

Arrgh why don't people give a shit about the little guys? I'd watch every flyweight/strawweight title fight out there if I could.

Smells like a hometown decision of the highest order, would be interested in seeing it.

Kilburn: the causal American public are more into the macho thing than the casual British public, which is why the guys circa 100 pounds are generally scoffed at, whereas they have been involved in top promotions in the UK in the past.

I was one of a handful who clapped among a chorus of laughter when Ivan Calderon got his name read out at the DLH - B-Hop weigh-in back in September. I didn't do this out of habit, rather out of appreciation of his hard fought win over Roberto Carlos Leyva on the Morales - Hernandez undercard back in the summer. Calderon caught my eye in that fight because I saw what was happening in the first half of the fight and concluded that the second half would tell what kind of fighter Calderon was. Fortunately he showed the qualities of a true champion and pulled through, and he is now a fighter I make a point to watch.

We've had a great flyweight/bantamweight scene, particularly during the 90's with big fights involving the likes of Francis Ampofo, Paul Weir, and the conqueror of them both, Baby Jake Matlala. I'd bet only the most hardcore of US boxing fan would recognise those names, let alone seen the fights involving them.

In a global perspective I would rate Ricardo Lopez a healthy place in my all time p4p list. I think all boxers, even heavyweights, serious about their boxing should study this man's career as there are many generic things to be learned that can benefit anybody who wants a championship career.

Fightnews scored the fight 114-114. And it has to be said that DiBella didnt see the fight.

and it has to be said Navarro is DiBellas fighter.. of course he's going to be pissed. The WBC usually award decisions to American & Mexican fighters, it must have came as a suprise to DiBella that the Japanese guy won.