I once sat down in New York with Jim Jacobs, co-manager of “Iron” Mike Tyson, who had the “Greatest Fight Films of the Century” film collection.
In discussing bad decision’s, he said “when Willie Pastrano defeated champion Harold Johnson.” It was June of 1968 in Las Vegas when Pastrano, 57-11-8, was awarded a split decision over Johnson, 69-8. I saw Johnson at a boxing event and asked “how did a bum like Pastrano beat you?” His answer, “he was a good boxer.”
My worst was in Philadelphia in November of 1976 when I witnessed the champion from Puerto Rico WBC Super Feather champion Alfredo Escalera, 36-7-2, win a split decision over Philly’s Tyrone Everett, 34-0. I scored it 13-2 in rounds for Everett. The Mexican judge had Everett up, while the Puerto Rico and Philadelphia judge Lou Tress had it for Everett. The 46-year veteran judge never worked another show. He must have gotten a “good payday!”
I once heard that in June of 1973 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, when Chuck Wepner, 26-9-2 from New Jersey was awarded a decision over former heavyweight champion Ernie Terell, 46-7 by 7-5 in rounds by referee Harold Valan.
With the recent light heavyweight title between WBC, WBO, and IBF champ Artur Beterbiev, 20-0, won a majority decision over WBA and IBO champ Dmitrii Bivol, 23-0, in October in Saudi Arabia. I had Bivol ahead. They rematch in February.
Another was in April of 1987 when former champ “Sugar” Ray Leonard, 33-1 won a split decision over middle champ “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler, 62-2-2, who never fought again but moved to Italy. I was one of the few that felt Leonard won.
In other championship fights when WBC super featherweight champ Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather, Jr., 27-0, got a gift decision over Jose ‘El Terrible’ Luis Castillo, 45-4-1, in San Francisco, CA, in April of 2002. It was bad enough for an immediate rematch.
When heavyweight champ Larry ‘The Easton Assassin’ 42-0, got a majority decision over future champ ‘Terrible’ Tim Witherspoon, 15-0, in Las Vegas in May of 1983. At a press conference, I once yelled, “You don’t really think you beat ‘Terrible’ Tim Witherspoon, do you?” He wasn’t happy with me.
When champ Muhammad Ali, 50-2, defeated Philly’s Jimmy Young, 17-4-2, in April of 1976 in Landover, MD. Controversial, if not bad.
When champ Joe ‘The Brown Bomber’ Louis, 56-1, won a majority decision over ‘Jersey’ Joe Walcott, 42-13-1, that deserved an immediate rematch, in their December of 1947 fight with Louis hitting the canvas twice.
When super middle champion Andre ‘S.O.G.’ Ward, 30-0, defeated light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev, 30-0-1, in November 2016 in Las Vegas, it was bad enough for an immediate rematch with Ward winning and retiring.
Another was when WBO Welter champion Tim Bradley, Jr., 28-0, defeated former champ Manny ‘Pac Man’ Pacquiao, 54-3-2, in Las Vegas in June of 2012.
I could go on and on. What are some of your favorites?
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