DeGuardia hopes WBO will step in and protect integrity of title

“Almost universally, the press, HBO commentators, Harold Lederman and fans had Arnaoutis winning the fight.”

Promoter Joe DeGuardia of Star Boxing agrees with the press and with the most of the fans in attendance that the official decision in the WBO Light Welterweight Championship fight between his fighter, "Mighty" Mike Arnaoutis, and Colombian Ricardo Torres was questionable, and, like many others, is hoping the WBO will “do the just thing” by ordering a rematch between the two fighters and/or by keeping Arnaoutis in the #1 ranked position in their ratings.

“There’s no question that this decision was widely unpopular, and we hope the WBO will recognize that, and order the rematch,” said DeGuardia of the split decision that gave the vacant championship to Torres on Saturday night.

Fighting on the undercard of the Erik Morales vs. Manny Pacquiao III pay-per-view event at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Arnaoutis, now 17-1-1 with 9 KOs, appeared to control the majority of the bout with his superior skills, even dropping Torres in the seventh round.

“The fans and most of the press on hand agreed with judge Jerry Roth, who favored Arnaoutis 114-113 in the bout, and were surprised the other judges awarded the win to Torres,” said DeGuardia. (Judge Harry Davis scored it 114-113, and astonishingly, Judge Adelaide Byrd scored the fight 116-111 in favor of Torres).

DeGuardia says, overall, he’s pleased with the poise and determination his fighter showed against Torres and, regardless of the outcome, says they are looking at it as a learning experience. “We’re proud of the way Mike handled himself in there and we know he’ll be a Champion soon. This was a disappointing, temporary setback, but nonetheless, Mike showed he belongs among the best of one of boxing’s strongest divisions.”

Click to read more boxing articles by Boxing Press

Discuss in Boxing Forum | Send to a friend.

---

Related Boxing Articles...

• Arnaoutis Defeats Logan.

  Greek light welterweight star "Mighty" Mike Arnaoutis remained unbeaten while in action last night. Arnaoutis appeared at the Gold Coast Casino in Las Vegas to post his latest win, a >
  
  

• Arnaoutis Wins Again.

  Greek light welterweight prospect "Mighty" Mike Arnaoutis grabbed another eye-catching win tonight at the Chumash Casino, Santa Ynez, California, USA by stopping Jauquin Gallardo in three rounds. Gallardo hit the >
  
  

• Boxing Info: Mike Arnaoutis: Ready for a “Mighty” Camp

  Cestus Management’s 140-pound boxing marvel, “Mighty” Mike Arnaoutis, has reported for the biggest camp of his young fighting life. Arnaoutis is preparing for his July 29, 2006, HBO “Boxing >
  
  

• Mike Arnaoutis: Fight Off Due to Cut

  Cestus Management’s top 140-pound contender, “Mighty” Mike Arnaoutis, suffered a cut during sparring which has caused the cancellation of his July 29, HBO Boxing After Dark showdown with “Vicious” Vivian >
  
  

• Star Boxing: Mike Arnaoutis vs. Kendall Holt Showtime Fight Sells Out Atlantic City Venue

  Star Boxing is pleased to announce that the Grand Ballroom at Bally's A.C. has been sold out for Friday night's WBO Jr. Welterweight title elimination bout between "Mighty" Mike Arnaoutis >
  
  

• Mike Arnaoutis to fight this Friday Night

  Cestus Management’s 140-pound top ranked terror “Mighty” Mike Arnaoutis is scheduled to face Mike Walker on the under card of this Friday's ESPN 2 Friday Night Fights show which is >
  
  

• boxing Info: “Mighty’ Mike Arnaoutis Returns December 9th!

  On December 9, 2005, in Kissimee, Florida, Cestus Management’s undefeated boxing sensation “Mighty’ Mike Arnaoutis will be making the third defense of his NABO light welterweight title. Arnaoutis (14-0-2 >
  
  

• Arnaoutis Back With A Vengeance, Fights Holt In WBO Boxing Eliminator

  After losing his first title match via highly controversial split decision, Cestus Management’s 140-pound contender “Mighty” Mike Arnaoutis is back in training. The Greek powerhouse, who is out to prove >
  
  

• Showtime Replays Set.

  Responding to barrage of e-mails, phone calls and media coverage, SHOWTIME will replay the “Shobox: The New Generation” card of Arnaoutis vs. Gallardo and the dramatic Elder vs. Burton. The >
  
  

• Star Boxing: Mike Arnaoutis vs Kendall Holt

  We are just days away from arguably the most important match-up in the six- year history of the popular SHOWTIME boxing series, "ShoBox: The New Generation". On Friday, April 20th, >
  
  

---