GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX RETAINED his WBA super-bantamweight title in Las Vegas last night – but his controversial knockout of Moises Flores could be overturned by the Nevada Athletic Commission.
Rigondeaux’s victory was shrouded in controversy after replays showed that his decisive punch was landed after the bell.
The unbeaten Cuban connected with the knockout blow at the end of the first round, leaving Flores unable to continue. After a lengthy deliberation, Rigondeaux was confirmed as the winner, but he may be disqualified if the incident is reviewed.
“We will take a look at it,” Nevada Athletic Commission executive director Bob Bennett told HBO. ”If the punch landed after the bell, it is a disqualification.
“We want the right fighter to win. Anything is possible. We could take a look at it and do the right thing.”
Flores was in no doubt that the punch had come after the end of the round, but the victor was confident he had done nothing wrong.
“It’s not fair. It’s clear that the bell rang,” said the Mexican. “He didn’t throw a punch the whole round. I was winning the round and he waited for after the bell to throw [a] punch when I dropped my hands down.”
Rigondeaux countered: “We both threw combinations at the same time at the end of the first round. But mine was quicker and more accurate. It was only a matter of time.”
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