Tags:
Journalism of Courage
HOUSTON, AUG 27: In a dramatic protest, two-time Cuban Olympic champion Felix Savon refused to report to the ring and American Michael Bennett was awarded the heavyweight gold medal in the World Amateur Boxing Championships last night.
Moments later, Cuban boxing official Raul Villanueva angrily withdrew Cuba from the tournament, claiming that four Cuban fighters had been treated unjustly before last night8217;s finals card.
Cuban light-middleweight Jorge Gutierrez was scheduled to fight on tonight8217;s card.
The Cubans were angered last night when Timour Gaidalov of Russia out-pointed Cuban welterweight Juan Hernandez 5-3 in the fourth fight of the night.
Hours after the Cubans had withdrawn, officials of the International Amateur Boxing Association reversed the decision and awarded the gold medal to Hernandez. Savon8217;s disqualification will, however, stand.
The Cubans earlier protested the fight, claiming the Russian illegally put tape on his hand wraps. Gaidalov8217;s hand wraps were ruled legal and then theCubans protested on general grounds.
Before the scheduled start of the Savon-Bennett fight, Cuban coaches and Savon circled the ring in protest waving a Cuban flag.
Bennett then entered the ring and the wait started for Savon. When he didn8217;t report, Bennett was awarded the gold medal.
Officials of the International Amateur Boxing Association reviewed the Hernandez-Gaidalov fight late last night and reversed the decision, but Villanueva said the decision would not change their withdrawal.
8220;Nothing that AIBA does will be able to clean the dirt that has been thrown on this tournament by the judges and referees,8221; Villanueva said.
The Cubans did not identify the other fighters they felt had been treated unfairly.
Bennett was the US8217; second gold medalist of the evening.
Brian Viloria charged through all four rounds and then did a hula dance on the winner8217;s stand after he defeated Maikro Romero of Cuba for the gold medal in light-flyweight division.
