Referee Defends Ruling of Low Blow Knockdown in Abner Mares-Joseph Agbeko Bout

The Showtime Bantamweight Tournament concluded with Abner Mares (22-0-1, 13 KO) taking a closely contested but foul-filled majority-decision over former champion Joseph Agbeko (28-3, 22 KO) last night.

Mares won with the scores 113-113, 115-111 and 115-111 over 12 rounds to win the IBF and WBC Silver bantamweight titles. Two knockdowns were scored in the bout for the Mexican boxer, and they both bring controversy along with numerous low blows for referee Russell Mora.

A knockdown was scored in the first round and Agbeko tripped and fell outside the ropes. A punch landed but it didn't appear to be what put Agbeko through the ropes.

Mares, who has had problems keeping his shots above the belt before, began to hit Agbeko low early in the bout. To no warning by referee Mora, Mares continued to go low throughout the bout. They were unintentional, but they were bothering Agbeko.

"I don't help the fighters," Mora said in response to whether or not Mares would have won without his help. "I enforce the rules. First and foremost, I have to enforce the rules. Those punches were on the beltline. It's a fair punch. I have to call it fair. It'd be unfair to give the advantage to the other guy just because he says it low."

Showtime commentator Al Bernstein called it one of the worst jobs of officiating he has seen in the last 15 years.

"The first knockdown was clearly," Mares said. "The second knockdown—he saw that I hit him right on the beltine. He was pulling back. That was the ref's call, and I thought it was fair. When he was pulling me down, I was going for body shots. They were right on the beltine. I never hit him low."

"I don't know why, especially all the boxers from Africa, why this happens to them every time," said Agbeko, who loses for the first time since avenging his defeat to Yonnhy Agbeko last year. "When I fought Vic Darchinyan, I was fighting the referee and Vic. When I was fighting Yonnhy Perez, the same thing happened. I had a headbutt, and still the referee contact me. I'm fighting Abner Mares, and still the same thing happened to me.

"I got over 20 low punches," Agbeko continued. "He never warned him. He never did anything."