I once sat down in New York with Jim Jacobs, co-manager of “Iron” Mike Tyson, who had the “Greatest Fight Films of the Century” collection.
Discussing bad decisions, he said “when Willie Pastrano beat champion Harold Johnson.” It was June 1968 in Las Vegas when Pastrano, 57-11-8, took a split decision over Johnson, 69-8. I saw Johnson at a boxing event and asked “how did a bum like Pastrano beat you?” His response, “he was a good boxer.”
My worst was in Philadelphia in November 1976 when I saw Puerto Rican WBC Super Featherweight champion Alfredo Escalera, 36-7-2, win a split decision over Philly’s Tyrone Everett, 34-0. I scored 13-2 in rounds for Everett. The Mexican referee had Everett up, while the Puerto Rican and Philadelphia referee Lou Tress had it for Everett. The 46-year-old veteran judge never did another show. He must have had a “good payday!”
I once heard that in June 1973 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, when Chuck Wepner, 26-9-2 of New Jersey, took a decision over former heavyweight champion Ernie Terrell, 46-7 to 7-5 in rounds of referee Harold. Valan.
WBC, WBO and IBF lightweight champion Artur Beterbiev, 20-0, recently defeated WBA and IBO champion Dmitrii Bivol, 23-0, in October in Saudi Arabia. I had the Bivol in front. They will repeat in February.
Another was in April 1987 when former champion “Sugar” Ray Leonard, 33-1 won a split decision over middleweight champion “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler, 62-2-2, who never fought again but moved in Italy. I was one of the few who felt Leonard won.
In other championship bouts, WBC super featherweight champion Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather, Jr., 27-0, earned a split decision over Jose ‘El Terrible’ Luis Castillo, 45-4-1, in San Francisco, California , in April 2002. It was bad enough for an immediate rematch.
When heavyweight champion Larry ‘The Easton Assassin’, 42-0, took a majority decision over future champion ‘Terrible’ Tim Witherspoon, 15-0, in Las Vegas in May 1983. At a press conference, I once shouted, “ You don’t “You think you beat ‘Terrible’ Tim Witherspoon, do you?” He was not happy with me.
When champion Muhammad Ali, 50-2, defeated Philly’s Jimmy Young, 17-4-2, in April 1976 in Landover, MD. Controversial, if not evil.
When champion Joe ‘The Brown Bomber’ Louis, 56-1, beat ‘Jersey’ Joe Walcott, 42-13-1, who deserved an immediate rematch, in their December 1947 fight with Louis hitting two times on the canvas.
When super middleweight champion Andre ‘SOG’ Ward, 30-0, defeated lightweight champion Sergey Kovalev, 30-0-1, in November 2016 in Las Vegas, it was bad enough for an immediate rematch with Ward winning and retires.
Another was when WBO Welterweight champion Tim Bradley, Jr., 28-0, defeated former champion Manny ‘Pac Man’ Pacquiao, 54-3-2, in Las Vegas in June 2012.
I could go on and on. What are some of your favorites?
