Sports

Another Olympics Scandal: Boxing Judge Expelled After Fighter Awarded Shock Win in Bout Some Question Was Fixed

Olympic Boxing Judge Expelled After Abdulhamidov and Shimizu Fight

Japan's Satoshi Shimizu waits for Azerbaijan's Magomed Abdulhamidov to get up after a knock down during a bantamweight 56-kg preliminary boxing match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012, in London. (Credit: AP)

LONDON (The Blaze/AP) — A boxing referee from Turkmenistan was expelled from the London Olympics on Thursday for his handling of a bout in which the result was overturned on appeal.

Boxing’s governing federation, known as AIBA, released a statement saying referee Ishanguly Meretnyyazov “is on his way back home.”

The federation also suspended German referee Frank Scharmach five days for his decision to disqualify an Iranian heavyweight, and expelled technical official Aghajan Abiyev of Azerbaijan.

“I deeply regret that we had to take these decisions,” AIBA President Wu Ching-Kuo said. “However, our main concern has been and will always be the protection of the integrity and fair play of our competitions. I will take all possible steps to reinforce this.”

Both sanctioned referees made unusual decisions during Wednesday night’s card.

In a bantamweight bout, Magomed Abdulhamidov of Azerbaijan fell to the canvas six times in the third round against Satoshi Shimizu of Japan, yet still won a 22-17 decision.

Meretnyyazov allowed the fight to continue after each tumble, and he enraged the Japanese team by fixing the headgear worn by Abdulhamidov, who had to be helped from the ring after winning.

In fact, the CNBC announcers were so disgusted regarding the bout and its decision that they questioned the integrity of the sport:

 

AIBA overturned the result late Wednesday night, saying Meretnyyazov should have counted at least three knockdowns and stopped the bout.

Olympic Boxing Judge Expelled After Abdulhamidov and Shimizu Fight

Azerbaijan's Magomed Abdulhamidov is declared the winner over Japan's Satoshi Shimizu during a bantamweight 56-kg preliminary boxing match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012, in London.Credit: AP

But the sports website Deadspin suggests there was sinister intent and points to history:

Last September, BBC Newsnight presented evidence that Azerbaijan had paid millions of dollars in an international boxing organization, in return for a guarantee that two Azerbaijanis would win gold medals at these London Olympics. They found documents showing a $9 million bank transfer, funneled through Switzerland, to a boxing organization owned by AIBA, which oversees Olympic boxing. Whistleblowers reported that the money came from an Azerbaijan government minister, and were strictly a cash-for-medals exchange.

[...]

Azerbaijan denied the allegations, and an AIBA committee found them groundless. (The $9M was deemed to be a “purely commercial investment.”) But here we are! Azerbaijan‘s Abdulhamidov was awarded a win he didn’t come close to earning.

The Japanese appealed and won, and the AIBA explains why:

After reviewing the video of Bout #105 involving Bantamweights Satoshi Shimizu (Japan) and Magomed Abdulhamidov (Azerbaijan), the Competition Jury made the following decision:

- The boxer from Azerbaijan fell down six (6) times during the 3rd round. According to our rules, the Referee should have counted at least three (3) times. In this case, following the AIBA Technical & Competition Rules, the decision should have been RSC (Referee Stop Contest);

- Therefore the protest lodged by the Japanese corner is accepted and the result of this bout overturned.

Iranian heavyweight Ali Mazaheri was disqualified in his bout with Cuba’s Jose Larduet after several warnings for holding from Scharmach, who finally waved off the fight midway through the second round.

The stoppage seemed quick to the booing crowd, and Mazaheri, who stood with his arms outstretched and eventually left the ring without shaking hands with Larduet or Scharmach. Mazaheri claimed the result was “a fix” and “a setup.”

Olympic Boxing Judge Expelled After Abdulhamidov and Shimizu Fight

Iran's Ali Mazaheri walks off after being disqualified in his bout against Cuba's Jose Larduet Gomez, right, during a heavyweight 91-kg preliminary boxing match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012, in London. (Credit: AP)

Scharmach is suspended through Tuesday’s Olympic fights, but the disqualification stands.

The federation did not specify what Abiyev had done to earn expulsion, saying only that he had committed “a number of breaches” of its code of conduct.

International technical officials aren’t referees or judges, but perform numerous duties around the ring during competition regarding everything from the draw to medical rulings and equipment management.

(H/T: Deadspin)

Comments (34)

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  • AlBundy
    Posted on August 3, 2012 at 10:10am

    Disgraceful….reminds me of the U.N.

    Report Post »  
  • iltws2
    Posted on August 3, 2012 at 6:16am

    Diving Judges must have been paid off by china, as every diver seems to do no wrong.

    Report Post »  
  • nocomment
    Posted on August 3, 2012 at 3:03am

    Pathetic…

    Report Post »  
  • chips1
    Posted on August 3, 2012 at 12:46am

    Boy!!! That Don King has his fingers in every pie, doesn’t he?

    Report Post »  
  • Patriot12
    Posted on August 3, 2012 at 12:29am

    Nuts and Bolts, Nuts and Bolts, YOU GOT SCREWED!!!!!!!!!!!!!! haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
    WHAT A FREAKING JOKE OLYMPIC GAMES ARE. FROM BADMINTON TO BOXING!!!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • OperationNorthwoods
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 11:15pm

    Is there anything that isn’t a scam now? We will collapse from our own corruption.

    Report Post » OperationNorthwoods  
  • Meyvn
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 7:46pm

    Just give them all trophies and go home. What a joke these Olympics are.

    Report Post » Meyvn  
  • John in Connecticut
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 7:05pm

    The Saudis have a female competing in judo who doesn’t even have a black belt. The IOC is allowing her to compete because they want more Muslim representation. So much for the best of the best. I qualified on the .45 when I was in Navy boot camp fifty years ago. I think I should be able to compete in pistol shooting.

    Report Post »  
  • Southernsoul
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 6:59pm

    Screw the Olympics, bring on the NFL.

    Report Post » Southernsoul  
  • jackact
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 6:35pm

    Seidl, no free speech on theBlaze?

    Report Post »  
    • jackact
      Posted on August 2, 2012 at 6:56pm

      Oh, I get it you are English?
      Sorry about that.

      Report Post »  
  • Larry E
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 5:27pm

    Many years ago I used to really love the Olympics, but so far this year I‘ve watched the US Womens soccer team’s games. The officials have been pretty good except for the Greek that officiated the US – Columbia match who was blind and apparently had a tenuous understanding of the laws of the game.

    Report Post »  
  • OniKaze
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 4:48pm

    The Iranian got disqualified? That must make all of those long and hard hours of training against middle-school age girls seem like a giant waste of time…

    The Japanese boxer was doing quite well, and he got screwed… I can’t find a video I can watch of the Iranian guys fight, but if he was having to hold in the 2nd round.. than he is quite simply not ready for any kind of real sanctioned fight, and needs to go back to training to get his stamina up and not be such a whiney little girl…

    Report Post » OniKaze  
  • scrudge
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 4:39pm

    Ah Yes…. don’t have much interest in the olympics…. its really all about money…. do like the gals in tight bikinis

    Report Post »  
  • BryanB
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 4:37pm

    Now you know why the Olympics has all those empty seats. Scandal !!! Scandal !!! Scandal !!!! Just one right after the other……..

    Report Post » BryanB  
  • izukiddin
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 4:23pm

    Looks like middle easterners fight like school girls in a slap fight.

    Report Post »  
  • garbagecanlogic
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 4:07pm

    Just another reason in a long long line of many as to why the olympics should be disbanded. Every time one is held, we either hear of shady officials or athletes – or both. There is no need to participate in them because you never know if someone won fairly or not.

    Praise Be To Obama. Psalm 109:8

    The U.S. Out Of The U.N.
    The U.N. Out Of The U.S

    Report Post »  
  • josephp
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 4:00pm

    I remember when the olympics were in S. Korea. A Korean won gold agains and American. The whole fight was completely lopsided. The Korean got his butt handed to him. But he won. After that, I’ve never been interested in Olympic boxing. This year it’s about the Middle east being part of the western cultures big games.

    Report Post »  
  • mash4077
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 3:58pm

    the olympics or anything else liberals are involved in are scam and a sham.

    Report Post » mash4077  
  • Docrow
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 3:53pm

    It seems that there are “few things that were disconcerting” about the London Olympics.

    Report Post » Docrow  
  • teebubba
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 3:37pm

    I think I’ve watched 12 Olympics closely and have yet to see one where the boxing judges were not involved in absurd decisions involving athletes from all over the world. What makes this one different is one is getting the boot.

    Report Post » teebubba  
  • Mutiny
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 3:35pm

    What a joke. The olympics in general has become a joke. I dont even bother watching it anymore.

    Report Post » Mutiny  
  • FREEDOMoverFEAR
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 3:30pm

    And Romney thought that the Olympics weren’t going smooth what an idiot.

    Report Post » FREEDOMoverFEAR  
  • scuba13
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 3:29pm

    The Olympics is fixed. When will people stop watching this sham?

    Report Post » scuba13  
  • WillG
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 3:28pm

    A Fix in Boxing? Say it aint so.

    Report Post » WillG  
  • thegreatcarnac
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 3:22pm

    Crooked olympic judges. Good grief! What’s next? An Illegal president???

    Report Post »  
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