Gilberto Jesus Mendoza, president of the World Boxing Association, ratified during this Thursday press conference that the organization has ordered the rematches of the fights between Cameroon Hassan N’Dam and Japan Ryota Murata. he also announced that the Cuban Rances Barthelemy and the Byelorussian Kiryl Relikh will have to fight for a second time.
The reason for both rematches is that their results were controversial. I have already apologized publicly for the N’Dam-Murata result. In my social networks, I presented personal my point of view and my score. And I did it, because I believe the case deserved it. As for the contest between Barthelemy and Relikh, I think it was a close fight but the result was controversial, Mendoza said.
N’Dam-Murata, fought for the WBA regular middleweight title, and the judges scored it to N’Dam by Split decision. Gustavo Padilla and Hubert Earle scored it 116-111 y 115-112 for N’Dam. However, a post-fight evaluation made by the organization scored it like Raul Caiz’s, 117-110 for the Japanese.
Barthelemy-Relikh, who fought a 140-pound elimination, was a close fight that was scored 116-110, 115-111 and 117-109 a unanimous decision for the Cuban boxer. Nevertheless, in its final evaluation a closer result was seen that endorses he public opinion that the bout was controversial.
The WBA intent is to maintain its sense of justice in every fight so the public and boxers feel confident that the WBA will continue working towards a better boxing.