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Professional boxing has been
rife with controversy this past
month or so, between the suspect
ending of the middleweight bout
between James Kirkland and
Carlos Molina, Manny Pacquiao
facing tax-related charges in
the Philippines, and Dereck (Del
Boy) Chisora’s ban in Britain
following his behavior both
before and after his spirited
effort against Vitali Klitschko.
The one controversy from this
past month that does not seem to
die, however, stems from the
comments made by Juan Manuel (Juanma)
Lopez following his tenth round
TKO loss to WBO Featherweight
Champion Orlando (Siri) Salido
back on March 10, 2012. Once
the latest Puerto Rican darling
in the Felix Trinidad and Miguel
Cotto mold, Lopez has been
demonized by both the World
Boxing Organization and Puerto
Rico Boxing Commission for
barking that referee Roberto
Ramirez, Sr. stopped the bout
when he did because he was
somehow involved with gambling.
The comment seemed like little
more than nonsensical sour
grapes from a dazed boxer, but
now Lopez is facing the prospect
of a lawsuit and has been
slapped with a one-year
suspension, a $10,000 fine, and
100 hours of community service
in his native Puerto Rico as a
result of his remark.
What is it about calling a
referee a gambler that has
caused such a firestorm? One
word: Defamation. But was
Juanma’s comment truly
defamatory and should such
statements have subjected him to
the fury of the Puerto Rico
Athletic Commission?
A quick look follows.
Read the full article from 8CN
here!
Paul Haberman can be reached
by email on
haberman@8countnews.com
He can also be followed on
Twitter at
@Standing8Court
More Boxing Law Articles by Paul
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