Yet another score card blunder hit boxing as Joshua Studdard was declared the winner in his fight against Akani Sambu at the Propaganda Night Club in Pretoria only for the verdict of the duel to be reversed later on Sunday.
Some fight fans left the venue having known that Studdard had won the vacant World Boxing Federation (WBF) Intercontinental bantamweight title contest against Sambu. However, the outcome of the bout has since been reversed and it’s now a unanimous decision victory for Sambu.
“Decision was corrected and reversed. Akani won by unanimous decision, 117-111, 115-114, 115-113. Officials incorrectly scored the fight as per corner colours and not as per the names as they appeared on their individual scoresheets,” WBF president Howard Goldberg, who was the fight supervisor, said.
This is the second time that a fight outcome had to be reversed after it had already been announced. Melissa Miller was declared the winner after her South African female bantamweight title fight against reigning champion Sharadene Fortuin at the East London International Convention Centre (ICC) three months ago.
Three days later, the outcome of the fight was changed to a draw much to the shock of many boxing followers. This happened after it was discovered that Eastern Cape Boxing South Africa (BSA) manager Phakamile Jacobs had incorrectly tallied one of the score cards.
