Marlon Starling vs. Johnny Bumphus
Johnny Bumphus 147 lbs beat Marlon Starling 147 lbs by TD-U at 3:00 in round 6 of 12
- Date: 1986-05-18
- Location: Civic Center, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Referee: Vincent Rainone
- Judge: Charlie Spina 60-54
- Judge: Al DeVito 59-56
- Judge: Tom Kaczmarek 59-55
Bumphus was badly cut from an accidental headbutt shortly before the close of the sixth round. Due to the cut, the fight was stopped between rounds six and seven. Officials went to the scorecards and Bumphus won by scores of 59-56, 59-55, and 60-59.
Don Bowers, Starling's manager, protested the loss. He contended it was the referee's duty to request a ringside doctor to examine an injury, but the referee didn't. Instead, Bumphus' manager, Lou Duva, talked the doctor into looking at the cut and stopping the fight.
Since there was open scoring for the bout, Duva knew Bumphus was ahead on the scorecards and would win by a technical decision if the fight was stopped.
"He started off throwing good punches, but he was slowing down," Starling said. "It couldn't have gone twelve rounds the condition he was in."