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” film collection.
Discussing the bad decision, he said “when Willie Pastrano beat the champion Harold Johnson.” It was June 1968 in Las Vegas when Pastrano, 57-11-8, was awarded 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 answer, “he was a good boxer.”
My worst was in Philadelphia in November of 1976 when I saw Puerto Rican WBC Super Feather 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 judge had Everett, while Puerto Rico and Philadelphia judge Lou Tress had for Everett. The 46-year-old veteran judge has never worked another show. Must have had a “good payday!”
I once heard that in June 1973 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, when Chuck Wepner, 26-9-2 from New Jersey, was awarded a decision over former heavyweight champion Ernie Terell, 46- 7 to 7-5 in round by referee Harold. Valan.
With the recent light heavyweight title between WBC, WBO, and IBF champion Artur Beterbiev, 20-0, won a majority decision over WBA and IBO champion Dmitrii Bivol, 23-0, in October in Saudi Arabia. I had Bivol before. Rematch 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 did not never fought again, but moved to Italy. I was one of the few who felt that Leonard won.
In other championship fights when WBC super featherweight champion Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather, Jr., 27-0, received a split decision over Jose ‘El Terrible’ Luis Castillo, 45-4-1, in San Francisco, CA, in April of 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 conference of press, I shouted once: I really don’t 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 bad.
When champion Joe ‘The Brown Bomber’ Louis, 56-1, won a majority decision over ‘Jersey’ Joe Walcott, 42-13-1, who deserved an immediate rematch, in their December fight in 1947 with Louis hitting the canvas twice.
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 he withdrew
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?
