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Emanuel Augustus Loses Again in Michigan
By David A. Avila (September 5, 2004)
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Michigan state officials announced that Emanuel Augustus’ decision loss to Courtney Burton would not be overturned, but that changes have been made in regards to judging prizefights.
Despite public outcry, the Michigan Athletic Board of Control that oversees professional boxing ruled to maintain the two judges decision that caused national television boxing announcer Teddy Atlas to demand the fight to be reviewed by the local commission.
Last week, on Thursday, the Board of Control announced that Burton would remain the winner and the review was complete.
Brad Wright, chairman of the Board of Control, said a tape of the fight that took place on July 6, 2004, in Muskegon, Mich. was reviewed numerous times without the sound. It was felt the television announcers might impede impartial judgment.
“We saw a tape of the fight over and over,” said Wright by telephone on Friday. “Looking at it without the sound the fight was actually closer than I first thought.”
Wright, in his judgment, believes that Augustus was the winner of the fight that night but he was the minority of the board.
Because of the poor performance of the judges and the referee, the Board of Control voted to remove the judges from any further professional prizefights. Dan Kelley, the referee for the fight between Augustus and Burton, retired before the hearing was complete.
Judges in Michigan will receive training from the ABC Referees Association and will be accepted on experience and ability.
“Right now if you want to become a judge and have $30 you can,” said Wright. “We’re changing the policy and intend to have the best judges and referees possible.”
Augustus, who received news of the outcome last week, was not pleased.
“I don’t care if the referee retired or whatever. I just want the W (win),” said Augustus who lives in Texas outside of Brownsville. “I won that fight, man.”
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