THE term robbery is banded about all too often these days in boxing, attached to the back end of every close fight. The latest robbery claim came in Bangkok, Thailand, as local fighter Panya Pradabsri defeated Venezuela’s Carlos Canizales to collect the vacant WBC light-flyweight world title.
After 12 hard-fought rounds, Spanish language broadcaster ESPN KO had Canizales ahead 116-112. The judges saw otherwise. Australia’s Malcolm Bulner had things even at 114-114, American Antonio Carrillo 115-113 and Mongolia’s Zanashir Taznaa a wide 116-112.
The final two scores were in the Thai’s favour, leaving the alleged robbery devil Pradabsri wearing a shiny new world title belt for his efforts. The early rounds were closely contested as Pradabsri’s strong left jab and accompanying left hook caught Canizales leaning in. Two rounds apiece after four seemed fair. Two of the judges agreed as the WBC’s open scoring policy informed us.
That same scoring, revealed by an official holding up a written-out card to the camera, told us that Pradabsri was pulling away as the fight progressed. Meanwhile, Canizales was forcing the action in the ring, landing hard, straight shots as a smiling Pradabsri found it increasingly difficult to compete. The momentum shift made it feel like the visitor had done more than enough when the final bell sounded.
Even the hometown fans appeared to voice their collective displeasure at the result as a smattering of boos could be heard as 33-year-old Pradabsri, now 44-2 (27 KOs), had his hand raised.
Canizales, 31, who fell to 27-3-1 (19 KOs), was lofted on the shoulders of his corner team and paraded around the ring while the official winner had his photos taken with the 108-pound belt and the usual assemblage of WBC branded paraphernalia. That organisation’s president, Mauricio Sulaiman, later voiced his displeasure at the verdict, saying on social media they would investigate the scores.
