I was robbed
-Vincent Howard
By Steve Ninvalle
Stabroek News
December 29, 2002
Former national featherweight champion Vincent `The Kid' Howard is contending that he was robbed of the Caribbean Boxing Association junior lightweight title and plans appealing to the CBA.
Howard lost by a controversial decision to undefeated `Hurricane' Hugo Lewis on Boxing night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
"I think that everyone who attended that fight knows who the real winner is. I beat Lewis from one to twelve," Howard told Stabroek Sport yesterday.
After 12 rounds the judges gave Lewis the nod by a majority decision. Trevor Arno had the bout 118-113 in Howard's favour while Ian Alves and Mohan Persaud scored the fight 117-111 and 115-113 respectively in favour of Lewis.
It was the third time that the two had met at the professional level with Lewis winning the last two and the first ending in a draw.
According to Howard the refereeing of Eion Jardine was as questionable as the decision.
"I knocked down Lewis and he was not counted. Lewis was dirty punching and was not warned. I think that Jardine was intimidated by Lennox Blackmore."
Howard claimed that in the main supporting bout between Gwendolyn O'Neal and American Veronica Simmons, Blackmore, who worked in Simmons' corner threw water on Jardine who was about to give a warning to the corner.
Blackmore was also in Lewis corner. "I think that after that Blackmore intimidated Jardine. It was plain to see."
Howard's coach George `Canchie' Oprecht agreed.
"I don't know if something was planned but that decision was very wrong. Hugo Lewis knows that too. It is bad for the sport which is showing signs of revival," Oprecht said.
"At this point we are seeking a meeting with the president of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control KD Persaud. We are trying to see how we could appeal the decision. If not we may have to take it to the Caribbean Boxing Association," declared Oprecht.
Adding weight to the argument Howard's brother Andre, also a promoter confessed that he is saddened by the level of officiating on Boxing night.
"This is not because Vincent is my brother. I'm speaking as a lover of the sport. I don't think that Vincent won that fight I know that he won it," the elder Howard said.
"Lewis was knocked down in the second round and the referee didn't give him a count. Vincent threw more and landed more punches. He was the more effective in the ring. He did all the work, outsmarted Lewis only to be outsmarted in the end by the judges," Andre Howard stated.
Howard, also a contractor, said that he will be airing the video recording of the fight on a local television station so the public can decide the winner.
"Lewis was frustrated and his corner was frustrated. I just want Guyanese to see for themselves what really happened and who the real Caribbean Boxing Association junior lightweight champion is."
Meanwhile, Howard chastised officials for what he labeled as being foreign minded. He noted that Blackmore was able to get away with murder while working in Simmons' corner and that Simmons should have been disqualified for stalling.
"On four occasions we heard the bell being rung and Simmons was on her stool. It was not once or twice but four times. I don't think that a Guyanese could have done that anywhere in the world," Howard said.
"She was deliberately stalling on the bench and the referee didn't do any thing. As a boxing lover and supporter I made these observations. The sport will be hurt if such is allowed to continue," Howard concluded.
