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IBF HAS GREAT RESPECT
FOR WHEATLEY
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 14 Jan 2008
IBF Championship Committee chairman Lindsey
Tucker says he has “great respect for Ray Wheatley” who has been
assigned as supervisor for the super flyweight title eliminator between
Z “The Dream” Gorres and former IBF/IBO flyweight champion Vic
Darchinyan.
Tucker made the comment to Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today after the
Gorres camp had objected through Samson Lewkowicz to the assignment of
John Wright as referee alongside judge Cec Perkins since both were
Australians along with Wheatley.
IBF president Marian Muhammad reluctantly replaced Wright who is
regarded as one of Australia’s top referees with former New Zealand
boxing champion and that country’s top referee Lance Revill so that
Gorres doesn’t enter the ring with any preconceived notions that he
won’t get a fair break. However, she flatly refused to entertain any
requests to also replace Revill since he was from New Zealand which is
considered close to the Australians.
Muhammad said officiating has nothing to do with geography even as
Tucker himself turned down a suggestion from the Gorres camp that Raul
Caiz Jr be named referee. Tucker said “we always want IBF trained
officials working our fights” adding “I personally would not assign Raul
Caiz Jr or Sr because they are not IBF members. We have lots of referees
that are just as good.”
At the same time Tucker reiterated his faith in Wheatley stating that
“If Rey says he (the referee) will be fair and impartial that’s good
enough for me.” He said “I know Rey thinks highly of the referee from
New Zealand and John Wright from Australia.”
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