New Zealand boxer John Parker has been awarded the WBA Oceania cruiserweight title after a split points decision, which is supported by the World Boxing Association. In his recent fight in Hamilton, Parker faced Fiji’s Alivereti Kauyaca, claiming victory in the match.
Kauyaca’s manager and trainer, Farmaan Ali, has raised objections to the decision, suggesting that two judges made errors and has requested that the WBA either reverse the ruling or declare it a “no contest.” In response, WBA Oceania president Ferlin Marsh asked three independent professional boxing judges to review the fight footage.
After their analysis, Marsh reported that all three judges supported Parker’s win, confirming his status as the champion of the WBA Oceania Cruiserweight title. The judges from Australia delivered the following scores: 96-94 from Brad Vocale, 97-93 from Paul Tapley, and 98-92 from Phil Austin.
Marsh, who has extensive experience working with independent judges, expressed his respect for their evaluations. He noted the unique nature of the fight, as neither boxer firmly established dominance. While Kauyaca was perceived as the busier fighter, Vocale commented on the inaccuracies in Kauyaca’s strikes, which often failed to connect with scoring areas.
Parker demonstrated more effectiveness when he did land punches, winning crucial rounds through precision and speed, despite not having as many hits overall. Vocale acknowledged that while he respected the split decision, it was a closely contested match with both fighters occasionally struggling with fatigue and missing clean shots.
Meanwhile, Vocale’s wife Jill, an accredited judge, scored the bout as a draw at 95-95.
In reaction to the decisions made, Ali expressed his intent to consult boxing judges from the US and Europe regarding the ruling discrepancies. He also challenged Vocale’s comments about Kauyaca’s kidney punches, claiming Parker’s team had manipulated his protective gear to shield against such strikes.
Ali remains dissatisfied with the outcome and will seek further evaluations before accepting the judgment.