By Ronnie Nathanielsz

World Boxing Council president Mauricio Sulaiman has ordered an “immediate review” of the hugely controversial split decision victory of Australia-based Tanzanian Omari Kimweri over Filipino southpaw Randy “Razor” Petalcorin at the Melbourne Pavilion last Friday night.

The decision aggravated by the failure of referee Malcom Bulner to call four knockdowns by Petalcorin shocked those watching the fight on live streaming in the Philippines including some of the leading TV commentators and boxing writers.

Co-managers Jim Claude Manangquil and multi-titled Australian promoter Peter Maniatis expressed their “shock and disgust” over the decision with highlights of the fight for the vacant WBC Silver title showing the knockdowns which Bulner unbelievably failed to count, costing Petalcorin who relinquished his WBA light flyweight Interim title to fight Kimweri for the WBC green and gold Silver belt.

This reporter communicated with WBC president Sulaiman who acted promptly and ordered a review while waiting for copy of the fight which Maniatis informed us he would send to the WBC president along with a formal protest.

In an overseas conversation early Sunday with The Standard, Maniatis said he would ask for a reversal of the decision and if that is not granted, at least a rematch promoted by someone neutral and not the manager of Kimweri who, “violated the provisions of the Muhammad Ali Act” and appointed Bulner and all three Australian judges including Bulner’s wife Samantha who also scored the fight for Kimweri.

Aside from being shocked, Maniatis and Manangquil said it was “horrible for boxing. This is killing the sport that we love and also hurts the boxers who work hard” pointing out that Petalcorinh had trained in sweltering 42 degree heat in the Philippines before leaving for Melbourne.

Maniatis said that Randy had recovered from the painful decision after they enjoyed some ice cream together went fishing behind the home of Peter on Sunday morning.