Tonight in California, USA the former World champion Junior Witter the classy Bradford, UK, who when on his best form is a danger man to all light-welters around the World and is the one many want to desperately see forced out of boxing, will once again try to leap back onto the World stage when he meets Devon Alexander for the WBC World light-welterweight championship.
Devon Alexander, a 22-year-old southpaw, is the latest Don King discovery to make his challenge for a World title. To give Devon and DK credit they have chosen to tread where the Angels will not tread, and agreed to fight Junior.
However, it would appear that the Californian boxing authorities are insisting upon appointing their own officials and disregarding the authority of the WBC officials who have the right to appoint the officials when they sanction a championship.
It is scandalous behaviour of this kind that is forcing boxing onto the slippery slope of becoming a water logged island without links to a mainland.
At the present time World class boxing in the USA is down in the dumps and their once superiority in most boxing weight divisions have eroded to a point where they are scraping the barrel to present boxing that attracts TV money.
Therefore if others view this attempt by the Californian boxing authority to ensure every move on the boxing board is favourable to Devon Alexander and refuse to defend their World championships in the USA then those responsible have only themselves to blame.
Merely because America has sufficient sponsors and TV backing to outbid UK promoters is no reason whatsoever to ensure home bred fighters are shown favouritism of any kind.
Should this most unsavoury decisions by the Californian boxing authorities become a virus then the USA is in danger of being blacklisted by the better champions from risking their titles by boxing in the USA.
Fortunately, the WBC has threatened to withdraw their sanction and declare the Alexander – Witter contest, tonight will not be for World title if California State Commission insists upon having their way.
WBC President José Sulaimán said the WBC world title would not be in contention unless there was a change of officials and referee, to include someone from outside America or Mexico
He said: “For the WBC to approve the fight as for the WBC title it would be needed that one of the American officials, preferably a judge is taken out and a foreigner approved by the WBC is appointed.”
It is quite remarkable that the British Boxing Board of Control did not immediately advise the Californian authorities when they announced their prejudicial decision that they would withdraw permission for Junior Witter to box to send a clear a clear signal to all World regulatory boxing authorities that in no way will they allow a British boxer to be a victim of prejudice.
Junior Witter said, "It seems that I have to beat unbeaten Americans in the ring and the system on the outside of the ropes."
Former boxer Robert Smyth, now BBofC General Secretary said: "As it stands the WBC is looking at withdrawing the sanction for the fight to be for the world title because of a dispute over the officials.
“There's nothing more we can do, it has to be resolved over there. One of the judges was supposed to be British,”
Remarkably this statement is not correct and note should be carefully taken by the BBBofC of the statement by Junior Witter, which clearly details his serious concerns..
Junior correctly said one of the judges was, "Not supposed to be British." This is true the judge appointed by the WBC was British and this was not acceptable by the California SAC.
The BBBofC does have the power to veto the fight if it is not in the best interest of the British boxer. Not only do they have the power they have the responsibility to ensure their fee paying registered boxer is not prejudiced,
The BBBofC also has a duty of care and this is not confined to medical care.
Boxers and their management teams everywhere should rise-up and show solidarity behind the sane judgement of the WBC against a decision that reeks of being unfair to the foreign boxer in the ring tonight in California.
If the California State Athletic Commission shows good sense and allow Junior Witter to enjoy justice and Junior is on his best form he will regain his title and the UK will have another World champion.
These are big ‘ifs’ and each ‘if’ has to be replaced by definite and positive action.
In the past the WBC has stood its ground and kept to their decision. If this continues tonight then boxing will greatly benefit as it will be a fresh precedent and a warning to boxing regulatory commissions.
The fight will go on but should Devon Alexander win and there is no WBC World title sanction then there will be two victims.
Should the California SAC remain obtuse they will be responsible for there being no champion at the end of the contest and one boxer is guaranteed to suffer enormously. A better definition of madness would be hard to find. ~
