New Zealand boxer John Parker has been awarded the WBA Oceania cruiserweight title following a split points decision, which has garnered support from the World Boxing Association. Parker competed against Fijian boxer Alivereti Kauyaca in Hamilton two weeks ago, securing the victory.
However, Kauyaca’s trainer and manager, Farmaan Ali, has raised objections regarding the decision, calling for a reversal or a ruling of “no contest.” Ali contends that two judges made errors in their assessments.
In response to the protest, Ferlin Marsh, the president of WBA Oceania, sought input from three international boxing judges who reviewed the fight footage. Upon their evaluation, Marsh communicated to Ali that all three judges scored the bout in favor of Parker, affirming his victory in the WBA Oceania Cruiserweight title match.
The scores provided by the Australian judges were as follows: Brad Vocale scored it 96-94, Paul Tapley 97-93, and Phil Austin 98-92, all for Parker.
Marsh expressed his long-standing respect for these independent judges, noting their experience in world title fights involving organizations like the WBA, WBC, and WBO. He described the fight as challenging to judge, highlighting that while Parker won more rounds, the match was closely contested.
Vocale commented that despite Kauyaca’s apparent higher activity, he lacked precision and often missed scoring opportunities. He pointed out that many of Kauyaca’s punches strayed and failed to connect cleanly, while Parker was more effective when he did land strikes.
Marsh pointed out that even if Parker did not throw as many punches as Kauyaca, his accuracy and speed were greater, allowing him to claim vital rounds. Although the fight was tight with both boxers showing signs of fatigue, Parker’s effectiveness stood out.
In contrast, Vocale’s wife, Jill, an accredited judge, assessed the match as a draw, giving both fighters a score of 95-95.
Ali has indicated his intention to consult with additional boxing judges from the US and Europe, as he remains unsatisfied with the decision. He also disputes Vocale’s assessment regarding Kauyaca’s kidney strikes, asserting that Parker’s corner had deliberately raised his groin guard to protect against kidney blows.
Ali expressed dissatisfaction with the decision, stating that he would seek further evaluations before accepting the judges’ conclusions.