Frank appeals NYSA ruling
Guyana Chronicle
February 21, 2007
NEW YORK CITY, New York (CMC) – Veteran Guyanese boxer Raul Frank has appealed last month’s decision by the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) to nullify the result of his latest fight.
Frank won the US Boxing Association (USBA) light middleweight title on a seventh-round stoppage against champion Terrance Cauthen, of the USA, on January 25 at Paradise Theatre in the Bronx but the NYSAC changed the result to a “no-decision” after reviewing the fight on tape.
Cauthen’s handlers had protested that their boxer was knocked down by a head butt -- not a legitimate punch -- and that prejudiced the outcome of the fight.
Frank, 38, was awarded victory by a technical knockout (TKO) at 2:59 of round seven.
With the win, Frank became the new USBA light middleweight champion and secured the position of No.2 ranked contender in the world body, the International Boxing Federation (IBF).
However, six days after the fight, after reviewing videotape, the New York Commission declared the bout a "no decision”, concurring that Cauthen had been knocked down by a head butt and not a punch prior to the stoppage.
At Frank’s request, a public hearing has been set for the NYSAC offices today.
Ironically, Cauthen's promoter Joe DeGuardia had also not been happy with the no-decision ruling.
DeGuardia wants to press for a complete reversal of the original decision.
He is going for a win for his fighter, since Cauthen led 60-54, 60-54, 59-55 on the cards when the bout was stopped.
The subsequent no-decision ruling meant Cauthen retains the USBA light middleweight championship belt.