Shocking Boxing Scandals
Boxing has probably had the most amount of scandals and controversies throughout history than any other sport. Boxing is known for underhanded dealings and cheating. Boxing is not for the faint hearted and the most controversial scandals are usually about somebody trying to get rich or even fixing things in the ring. Unlike in Melbourne Cup betting, results are often tampered with, by the boxers themselves!
Antonio Margarito
Antonio Margarito came up against Shane Mosley in 2009. Naazim Richardson, who was Mosley’s trainer, saw a white powder in Margarito’s gloves. This was bought to the official’s attention and Margarito was asked to rewrap his gloves three times. The powder was plaster of Paris and which becomes hard when mixed with water. Mosley knocked him out and Margarito was subsequently banned from boxing for a year. Many have now looked at Margarito’s fight with Cotto and some of his other fights where he may have done the same thing.
IBF Bribes
There are various governing bodies in boxing. The International Boxing Federation (IBF) is a relatively new body that began in 1984. It came out later that the IBF’s rankings and championship title shots had been paid for using $338 000 in bribes. IBF rankings were dependent on how good their boxers were in each division, but having a promoter like Don King would ensure fighters advanced. Bribes from well-known promoters meant that IBF fighters were ranked above others. This went on for 13 years until Robert Lee, president of the IBF, was arrested and convicted for taking bribes. Boxers and promoters were found to be involved.
Shane Mosley
In 2003 Shane Mosley testified in court that he had used Erythropoietin (EPO) when he fought against Oscar de la Hoya. When athletes use EPO it can increase their endurance, which can have an impact on fights that last long, during what is known as the “championship” rounds. Mosley won the fight by decision and his testimony bought to light that Mosley had evaded drug testing and had also disappointed many of his loyal fans. Mosley had always been known as an upstanding guy and this scandal has tarnished that image.
Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield
In 1996 Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield came up against each other. Holyfield won by technical knockout in the 11th round, which caused an upset in the boxing world. In 1997 a rematch was arranged. In round two Tyson was injured by a head-butt and then said that in the previous match the referee did nothing about head-butts he had received. In round three Tyson bit Holyfield on his right ear injuring him. The referee deducted two points from Tyson and the fight continued and also went on to pick a fight with Holyfield in his corner. Security had to be called in to protect Holyfield as Tyson was extremely abusive and violent.
Tyson was disqualified from the fight and fined $3 million and a temporary ban was placed on him. Tyson later said that he was upset about the head butting and so retaliated by biting Holyfield’s ear.