Over the past year or two there have been some questionable decisions that promoters have capitalized on to make rematches. The victims have been those who lost or drew in obvious victories.
Several that come to mind are when Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev in November of 2016 had Andre Ward on the canvas once and lost on all three judge’s scores by 114-113. That is rare when all judges come up with the same scores in a 12 round bout. Seven months later in a rematch Ward stopped Kovalev in 8 rounds. It was held in the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. Over the years that state has been known for some disputed decisions.
Two that come to mind are the first Gennady “GGG” Golovkin and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez fight in September of 2017 also at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Dave Moretti had GGG in front 115-113 while Don Trella scored it 114-114. When Adalaide Byrd scored it for Alvarez 118-110 she was supposed to and should have been suspended but never was. In May of 2018 it was found that Alvarez had cheated on substance abuse. Instead of the draw decision it should have been made a no contest. Alvarez ran the last seven rounds. GGG should have gotten a 116-112 win.
This draw decision brought about another big money fight for the state of Nevada and the promoter of Alvarez. Once again both fights were at the T-Mobile Arena in Nevada. In their second fight GGG decided to box instead of going for the knockout. This time Moretti and Steve Weisfeld gave it to Alvarez 115-113 while Glenn Feldman had it 114-114. GGG should have gotten the 115-113.
Now since Alvarez is moving up into a weight class he said he will never defend the title if he wins he is going to New York for this one. He feels he can probably knock out his opponent Rocky Fielding. He should go back to Super Welterweight where he belongs.
No wonder Floyd Mayweather, Jr. made Nevada his new home. You could go back to 2002 when he was fortunate to get a decision over Jose Luis Castillo in their first fight. With scores of 116-111, and 115-111 twice why a rematch? Once again it was held in Las Vegas. Eight months later again in Las Vegas Mayweather won by scores of 115-113 twice and 116-113.
In May of 2014 Mayweather, Jr. defeated Marcos Maidana while fighting his kind of fight, slugging it out. Though I had it a draw scores favored Mayweather, Jr. 116-112, 117-111 and 114-114 as I had it. In the rematch though the scores may not have required it Mayweather boxed his usual style and easily won. Both fights were at the MGM Grand in where else but Las Vegas, Nevada.
It August of 2017 the Nevada Commission shamefully allowed Mayweather, Jr. who was 49-0 fight MMA champion Conor McGregor who never had a professional fight. Mayweather, Jr. averaged three punches a round obviously carrying McGregor until opening up in the ninth round and stopping him in the tenth. This should have been an “exhibition” not a sanctioned match. Yes, it was held at the T-Mobile Arena.
In June of 1997 when Mike Tyson bit the ear of Evander Holyfield referee Mills Lane stopped the bout and went over to the Nevada Commissioner who was heard saying “well we can’t stop a match of this magnitude” and allowing Tyson not to even be penalized there was something “rotten in Denmark”. Or should we say in “Las Vegas!” That same commissioner moved over to MMA after that where he belonged.
Holyfield was ahead on all scorecards by 29-26. Referee Mills Lane then DQ’d Tyson when he bit a piece of Holyfield’s ear off. That should never have happened if he would have DQ’d Tyson for the first bite. Both fights were at the MGM Grand in no other place but Las Vegas, Nevada.
They say what happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas but this writer felt it was time to speak out on some of those decisions they have made over the years. “Follow the money trail” Irv Homer a Philadelphia based radio host used to say and it fits Nevada perfectly!