BAD DECISIONS By Sweet P

Over the years, there have been a lot of turn-offs to fight fans. I mean, Don King, and other promoters. Sanctioning babie...I mean bodies. But the one thing that has upset more fight fans than anything else are bad decisions.

Bad decisions fall on my favorite fighters quite a bit. The first time was April 6, 1987, Las Vegas, Nevada. It was my man Marvelous Marvin Hagler taking on Sugar Ray Leonard for the WBC and lineal Middleweight title. Throughout the bout, Leonard pitty-patted and ran like an 8 year old girl, while Hagler was the obvious aggressor and landed hard accurate shots.

Leonard clowned, and waved to the crowd and made it look like a show rather than the most important bout of both men's careers. At the end of twelve rounds we had a split decision, when I heard those two words, I got a bad feeling in my gut. The first score 118-110 Leonard, I got sicker. The second card 115-113 Hagler, I got a little relieved. But then, my world came crashing down when ring announcer Chuck Hull said "115-113 for the winner.....and NEW MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD SUGAR RAY LEONARD."

I was never more upset than the night they jobbed Marvin. And before we knew it, Marvin retired like the champion he was, without a word of complaint, and was off learning Italian.

Also in 1987, a young Lightweight, former Olympic Champion Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker was given a title shot against durable veteran and WBC champion Jose Luis Ramirez in the champion's adopted hometown of Paris, France.

Throughout the fight Whitaker's defensive style perplexed the champion who was being boxed silly. At the end of twelve we had a unanimous decision. However, a hometown decision was announced, and Pernell was robbed. Pernell would have his revenge, however, in 1989 shutting out Ramirez to win the WBC crown.

In 1989, Sugar Ray Leonard was re-matched with Thomas " The Hitman" Herans. It took place 8 years after their first classic meeting, where Leonard won via 14th round KO. Hearns however was better prepared for this encounter. Hearns picked off Leonard from long range with jabs and crosses. When Leonard got inside, Hearns would smack him with a hook, then tie him up. In rounds two and eleven, Hearns put him down. In the twelfth Leonard got through and had Hearns out on his feet. At the end of twelve, the judges scored it a draw, but Hearns knew he won, and did enough to vindicate the ghost of Leonard.

In 1991 James Toney was the IBF Middleweight champion, and riding high after scoring a comeback kayo for the ages against defending champion Michael Nunn. In his first defense Toney took on #1 rated contender Reggie Johnson. Johnson was a speedy, accurate, southpaw with an underrated punch. Johnson put Toney down in round two, and was the clear cut winner after twelve, badly cutting James in the twelfth and finishing strong. Toney however survived by split decision.

Also in 1991 an undercard fight ended in controversial decision. However the two men were no undercard fighters, they were Azumah Nelson and Jeff Fenech. Fenech out hustled, out worked, and out punched Nelson. Nelson had his moments, because when you're as great as Nelson you're always going to have your moments. But Fenech should've gotten the nod. He didn't, it was a draw. Eight months later Nelson gave Fenech the beating of his life, ruining Fenech's career.

James Toney was given a gift decision over Reggie Johnson, but would soon feel what it was like to get robbed. Toney was facing talented veteran Mike McCallum. McCallum and Toney turned what was going to be a boxing match into a right hand shootout. At the final bell, Toney staggered McCallum, and looked the winner to most observers. The judges however scored the fight a split draw.

In June of this year, undefeated (and untested) Hector Camacho Jr. went up against what was supposed to be his first real test against veteran Jesse James Leija. In round one, Leija would suffer a bad cut over his eye that never stopped bleeding, but hurt Camacho with a right left combination to his jaw, which should've been called a knockdown because Jr. was using the ropes to hold himself up. In round two, Leija rocked Camacho again. In rounds three and four Camacho boxed well and won those rounds. In round five, Leija and Camacho butted heads, opening a little cut over Camacho's eye which never dripped a drop of blood. Leija attacked Camacho like a rabid dog for the rest of round five, and you could've scored it 10-8 for Leija. However, Camacho stated he couldn't continue and basically quit.

If an accidental foul caused a halt to the bout, after four rounds were completed, the bout went to the scorecards. Camacho was given a bogus decision, and probably won't give Leija a rematch now that he knows he can beat him.

Today, the judges have a new favorite fighter to replace Ray Leonard. His name is Paulie Ayala. In Ayala's big opportunity, he received a shot at WBA Bantamweight champion Johnny Tapia. In a close battle Ayala was given a decision. In his second battle with Tapia it seemed to all observers that Johnny had avenged his lone defeat. The judges thought otherwise and Paulie got the nod again. In his next bout Paulie took on little known Mexican Hugo Dianzo. Dianzo dominated Ayala, even knocking him down. But the fight was in Paulie's hometown of Ft. Worth, Texas. And in his only shot Dianzo was robbed, and will never be more than he is now.

In his most recent outing, Paulie moved up in weight to take on Clarence "Bones" Adams, the Junior Featherweight champion in a lower weight super fight. In a great battle, Paulie was again given a gift decision over Adams.

There are good news however, Ayala has agreed to a rematch with Adams. And maybe this time Adams will get even.