HEADLINES - August 7-9, 2002

August 9, 2002
* Pedro Fernandez: Viacom/Showtime exec center of Federal probe
* Dean Juipe: Bad blood - revisited
* AFP: Show me the money, says Lewis
* SecondsOut: Eliades quits boxing
* Abq. Tribune: Tapia-Barrera set for Nov. 23 in Las Vegas
* Thomas Gerbasi: Sechew Powell sets his sights on pro ranks
* Seconds Out: Powell will turn pro with DiBella
* Mike Nosky: Diaz takes on Crayton, Tua vs. Moorer
* Las Vegas Sun: Dunkin - a new breed of boxing manager
* Pitt. Post-Gazette: Kimbrough wins in third round
* Pitt. Trib-Review: Kimbrough impressive in third-round victory
* Seconds Out: Pacquaio's handlers kiss and make up
* Arab News: Pacquaio settles raging row with manager
* Dallas Morning News: Dallas native works to keep conflicts in ring
(Of course, we've covered this conflict in Chapter 38 of Operation Cleanup)
* Anthony Evans: Audley aiming for eight rounds
* Wales: Calzaghe to give public workout
* Paul Upham: Taylor wants Mundine in Australia Day showdown
* AAP: Taylor swears million-dollar offer is not a publicity stunt
* South Africa: Malinga must win to move up
* MaxBoxing: Tampus defends PABA belt Sept. 23
* Jim Kernaghan: Boxing a natural for Kurd
* The Namibian: Rambo to defend title for third time
* Bangkok Post: Pichai picked for Asian games ahead of Somluck
* Barbados Daily Nation: Greenidge saves Bajan pride


CONTACT: KELLY SWANSON/DUVA BOXING
PHONE: (202) 783-5500/(973) 790-7400

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

HEAVYWEIGHT KIRK JOHNSON FILES OFFICIAL APPEAL WITH THE WORLD BOXING COUNCIL (WBA) FOR DISQUALIFICATION TITLE LOSS TO JOHN RUIZ ON JULY 27 IN LAS VEGAS

Totowa, New Jersey (Thursday, August 7, 2002) – Heavyweight contender Kirk Johnson, through his promoter Duva Boxing of Totowa, New Jersey, has filed an official appeal with the World Boxing Association (WBA) with regard to what he feels were unfair events and a violation of a World Boxing Association championship rule during his disqualification lost to heavyweight champion John Ruiz on July 27 in Las Vegas.

Sighting Rule 16.2 of the WBA championship rules, covering "Officials", states, "the officials appointed in any Championship fight shall be NEUTRAL, this being understood to mean that they shall not be of the same nationality, residence or origin of the champion or of the challenger" and the supporting argument that the referee Joe Cortez made several errors and poor judgment during the bout led Johnson to file the appeal. All three judges and the referee are Las Vegas residents and citizens of the United States—the same as Ruiz. In addition, Cortez and Ruiz are of Puerto Rican extraction. Johnson is from Canada and a Canadian citizen.

“In a championship title fight of this magnitude, both fighters should have a neutral playing field,” said Dino Duva, President of Duva Boxing. “Our fighter Kirk Johnson did not receive this opportunity and had an unfair playing field before the fight even started.”

Prior to the match, Johnson’s management and Duva Boxing expressed their concerns to the WBA and the Nevada State Athletic Commission, who made the appointments, over the selection the officials, and more specifically Cortez. “Cortez never should have been appointed to referee this match,” said Duva.

Cortez disqualified Johnson for “low blows” after what the referee felt were several infractions during the match. Johnson, as well as many boxing experts, feels the disqualification was unwarranted. “Although I made some unintentional mistakes during the fight, Ruiz committed at least as many as I did, including two intentional head butts that were not penalized,” said Johnson. “Where was the referee when he was committing those fouls?”

The Johnson’s camp concerns stem from Cortez’s officiating and favoritism towards Ruiz in the past. He was the assigned referee for John Ruiz vs. Evander Holyfield II and was criticized for showing bias for Ruiz during the match. Cortez warned and penalized Holyfield for low blows that evidence clearly shows were legal punches.

In both matches Cortez failed to warn or penalize Ruiz for the blatant illegal tactics exhibited by the fighter during the bouts. And, Ruiz used Cortez’s “low blow” warnings to his opponents to fake injury, only to be given by Cortez a five-minute rest period. “Ruiz deserves an Academy award for his performance that the referee clearly went along with,” said Johnson. “The broadcast tape showed that I legally knocked him down in the seventh round,” said Johnson.

Johnson is hoping his appeal will bring justice to the decision and the WBA will mandate an immediate rematch. “I know I made mistakes,” said Johnson. “But you don’t wait your whole career as a fighter to become heavyweight champion of the world and your opportunity is unfairly judged and taken away from you.”

Copies of the formal appeal can be furnished upon request.





August 8, 2002
* Las Vegas Sun: Vargas wants Oscar with a vengeance
* Ventura County Star: Foundation, fight on Vargas' agenda
* AAP: Tszyu confirms he's gunning for Jesse James
* Sporting Life: Tszyu says Leija fight could be in Australia
* Thomas Gerbasi: Now playing - Tokunbo Olajide and his fiery fists
* AP: Nunn nabbed in cocaine sting
* Quad City Times: Nunn charged in coke deal
* LVRJ: Castillo promises different result
* Press Release: Michalczewski to have rematch with Richard Hall
* Belfast Telegraph: Sinclair closing in on Margarito
* Mike Nosky: Hurtado matched with Harris
* Corpus Christi Caller-Times: Title Belt Series on way back
* Baytown Sun (Tex.): Locally trained fighter to headline card
* Press Release: Battle of birthday boys on Tua undercard
* El Paso Times: Boxing does have its share of good guys
* Bangkok Post: Superb Sot retains title on points
* Eastside Boxing: Pacquaio defense set for October 12
* Boxing Talk interviews Ronald "Winky" Wright
* Daily Dispatch (South Africa): Mnguni fights to keep Makambi #1 contender
* Conn. Post: Jaidon Codrington Day has nice ring to it
* Ben Pierce: Who are the real champions?
* Mississauga News (Ca.): Tan turns up juice in title bout
* Anthony Evans: Vanzie on Cook win, next opponent
* Ewing Grahame: Morrison relying on eastern promise
* Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Kimbrough rises quickly in amateur ranks
* Pittsburgh Trib-Review: Kimrough returns to local boxing scene
* The Free Lance (Cal.): Boxers are up-and-coming punchers
* Sun Star (Philippines): Boxing promoter avoids investigators in raid
* Reuters: Afghans take first step back into sporting arena



August 7, 2002
DURAN WINS AGAIN - IN COURT
* AP: Jury - Belts belong to Duran
* Sun-Sentinel (Fla.): Jury says Duran entitled to belts
* USA Today: Judah joins King stable, but legal battle might ensue
* NY Daily News: Promoters fighting for Judah
* LVRJ: Vargas says long wait helped him
* Quad City Times: U.S. Marshals arrest Michael Nunn
* MaxBoxing: "Ferocious" is now focused
* AP: Jones wins unanimous decision over Jenkins
* AP: Ross remains undefeated
* Steve Kim: RIP Goofi
* AP: Johnston's winnings to go toward child support
* Rocky Mtn. News: Boxer avoids jail by promising next purse
* San Ant. Express-News: Plans for Leija-Tszyu finalized
* The Jamaica Observer: Lewis graces grand gala
* Ringtalk: The return of Pedro's notebook
* Virginian-Pilot: Sweetpea's rematch his toughest battle
* Vince Murray: Showtime is up, HBO is down
* AJC: Atlanta's Esquivel refocused, restarting career
* Lincoln Journal-Star: Thompson impresses with natural ability
* BBC Online: Audley set for autumn return
* Alexander Venn: Has Hamed missed the boat?
* Savannah Morning News: Hallbeck takes a swing at women's boxing title
* UK: Cook - "It's like a dream; my life has changed"
* Press Release: Kotai in a hurry
* South Africa: Mbonambi out to redeem himself in Durban
* Kitchener Record (Ont.): Kitchener boxer strikes gold at C-Games
* Manchester Evening News: Birch to promoters - Don't call me
* The Independent (UK): Boxers cling on to amateur ideals
* The Western Mail (UK): King Arthur's golden Welsh boost
* South Africa: S.A. C-Games team comes home heroes
* Santa Cruz Sentinel: Moreno wins third straight natl. title
* Barbados Daily Nation: Boxing stands tall
* Sun Star (Philippines): PAF in showdown against Davao City






Copyright 2002 Total Action Inc.