Jeff Fenech weighs in on Andrew Moloney v Joshua Franco title fight controversy
Jeff Fenech’s shock 1991 split decision with Azumah Nelson is a blight on the sport. The boxing legend says fellow Aussie Andrew Moloney should feel just as aggrieved.
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Jeff Fenech has dubbed it the greatest robbery of any Australian fighter since his unforgettable draw against Azumah Nelson way back in 1991.
Almost 30 years since Fenech suffered one of the fight game’s worst rorts, fellow Aussie Andrew Moloney has been sensationally robbed of the WBA Super flyweight title in Las Vegas.
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During chaotic scenes at the MGM Grand, Moloney was almost reduced to tears after he appeared to stop American champ Joshua Franco in two rounds, only for the fight to be declared a ‘No Contest’.
Confused ringside officials took 30 minutes to make use of the new ‘video replay’ rule after Franco’s right eye swelled and closed early, forcing the fight to be called off before the third.
Initially, referee Russell Mora declared the result a ‘No Contest’ -- arguing Franco suffered the damage due to an accidental clash of heads in round one.
Yet continual replays on the ESPN coverage showed a series of left jabs by Moloney had done the damage, which was supported by broadcast analysts Timothy Bradley and Andre Ward.
Incredibly though, and after viewing tape for 30 minutes, replay official Robert Byrd said there had been two headbutts -- which meant the initial decision was upheld.
Furious US promoter Bob Arum, who put on the Top Rank show, slammed those responsible for the decision and suggested it may be time “to get the f… out of Vegas”.
The decision was also derided by everyone from Fenech, Danny Green and UFC commentator Joe Rogan through to British actress Dame Helen Mirren, who insisted on Instagram the Aussie was robbed.
Mirren, who has seen her fair share of action across a 50-year acting career that includes an Academy Award, lashed out at the Nevada Athletic Commission over the decision.
“Moloney was clearly robbed in Vegas tonight. Shame on the Nevada Boxing organization,” Mirren wrote on Instagram — accompanied by a photograph of the wrong Moloney, Andrew’s twin brother, Jason, who is also a professional boxer.
This is amazing. Helen Mirren knows it was a robbery (even if she doesn’t know which twin is which) #FrancoMoloney2 pic.twitter.com/xsB03CKYmB
— Ben Damon (@ben_damon) November 15, 2020
My god did this man get robbed. One of the worst calls ever. What is the point of an instant replay when this can happen? https://t.co/MTZBJiwsvm
— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) November 15, 2020
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph on Sunday night (AEST), a shattered Moloney said he and his team would meet Arum on Monday to lodge an appeal.
His manager Tony Tolj is also readying appeals for WBA president Gilberto Mendoza Jnr and the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
The fighter also revealed that at no stage during the fight did referee Mora tell his corner the eye was caused by an accidental head clash, which is why “I went after it”.
Moloney added that it was definitely a left jab which caused the eye to swell, insisting “I saw it mark him. ... perfect punch”.
“Everyone in the arena said I was robbed,” Moloney added.
“Everyone but the people making the decision”.
After losing the WBA strap to Franco via unanimous points decision in June, Moloney easily took the opening rounds of the re-match as the American’s eye quickly shut.
Yet at the end of the first, Mora approached the judges saying an accidental headbutt had caused the damage, meaning the contest would need to go four rounds before going to the scorecards.
Yet despite replays showing no headbutt, those responsible for reviewing the tape refused to overturn the call.
Asked about the result Sunday night, a furious Fenech said: “They’ve robbed that poor kid, it’s bulls**t.”
“Obviously my (loss, against Nelson) was under completely different circumstances – I beat the guy for nine of 12 rounds – but I can’t think of a worse one since than this.
“Or not for an Australian fighter anyway.
“It’s just so sad. I was never the same after that (Nelson) fight, so I really hope Andrew bounces back … but they’ve robbed him of his moment to be a champion.”
Speaking from his dressing room inside the MGM Grand, a “gutted” Moloney agreed the ringside officials had “robbed me of my moment”.
“I’ve thought about this fight every day for five months,” he said.
“Done everything possible in training, been away from my family … I’ve struggled to sleep at night I wanted it that bad.
“And now they’ve taken it away from me.
“It was the jab that shut the eye. I saw it.
“I hit him (Franco) with a jab early in the first round and I saw a little lump – and I went straight after it.
“Then I hit it another 50 times.
“That’s why his eye was shut, not a headbutt. There was no headbutt.”
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An incensed Arum said afterwards: “They kept with it (the initial decision) to protect the referee who didn’t know what the hell he was doing.
“I’m absolutely disgusted.
“People blame me because I’m the promoter but I’ve got nothing to do with the God damn thing.
“I just want a fair adjudication. They made a mistake, the referee made a mistake and they have his back. I mean, it’s not even close.”
Asked what he would do moving forward, given the State was where all his fights have been, Arum fumed “get the f… out of Vegas”.
Disgusting.@AndrewMoloney has been absolutely robbed.
— Brendan Bradford (@1bbradfo) November 15, 2020
What a pathetic joke of an organisation and a decision.
Shameful shit. #FrancoMoloney2
That is a punch #FrancoMoloney2 pic.twitter.com/ha2RfJdGfU
— Ben Damon (@ben_damon) November 15, 2020
On the undercard, rising Brisbane teenager Vegas Larfield earned the second win of his professional career — a strong third round TKO against Mexican Juan Alberto Flores.
Larfield, 18, has spent the past six weeks Stateside helping both Andrew and Jason Moloney prepare for their separate world title fights.Yet the young Queenslander, who also scored a KO in his professional debut on the Tim Tszyu-Jeff Horn undercard, was able to announce himself to US fight fans with a convincing win.
Larfield dropped Flores twice in the third round – first with a left hook, then a straight right hand – before then battering his rival against the ropes, when referee then stepped in to call off the bout.
"This is what happened, not a head clash" - ESPN crew #FrancoMoloney #boxing pic.twitter.com/q8Aqbqw9gg
— przemek garczarczyk (@garnekmedia) November 15, 2020
again, the protocol is when a clash of heads occurs, the referee IMMEDIATELY points it out and tells everyone. I dont recall that happening, here... #boxing
— Steve Kim (@SteveKim323) November 15, 2020
This is taking way too long and shouldn’t. That eye swelled up from a Moloney jab not a head butt. #boxing #CrawfordBrook
— Championship Rounds (@champrounds929) November 15, 2020
Possibly the reason boxing becomes popular again and its all history in the making?! A possibly overturn of a decision that wasnt just...#boxing #FrancoMoloney #CrawfordBrook pic.twitter.com/O4Vr8BknXx
— MIKEY (@19mikey85) November 15, 2020
Originally published as Jeff Fenech weighs in on Andrew Moloney v Joshua Franco title fight controversy
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