Barrera/Juarez Scoring Error Explained
By Michael Woods May 22nd, 2006Bad boxing math rewards Barrera
So who caused the error? Who’s computational screwup forced Marco Antonio Barrera’s split-decision victory over Rocky Juarez to initially be announced as a draw?
Well, the major league boner happened in the transfer of the judges’ scores to the master scorecard, according to Armando Garcia, executive officer of the California State Athletic Commission, said Steve Springer in the LA Times.
Official Rebecca Alvarez was responsible for transferring the judges’ scorecard tallies onto a master sheet. Judges Morita and Ford each scored the final round even and Alvarez saw a “10″ under Juarez’s name on both arbiters’ card. She assumed, incorrectly, that Juarez had won the round, 10-9, on the Morita and Ford scorecards, because, she felt, judges rarely score a round even.
The extra point awarded to Barrera from Ford didn’t change his verdict; Ford saw Juarez as the winner, 115-114, instead of the 115-113 margin that was first announced.
But it did change Morita’s card. Morita had Barrera a 115-114 victor with the math mixup fixed. And the third official, Anek Hongtogkham, had Barrera winning, 115-113. So after all was said and done, and redone, Barrera came away with the hard-fought win.
“Rebecca Alvarez is my most loyal and my most trustworthy employee,” Garcia said. “We were rushed at the end. There were a lot of things going on. But it was an error. And that’s all it was.”
Hats off to Garcia for not wrapping Alvarez in duct tape and tossing her under the bus. He backed his employee, publicly, and for that he deserves a good word. Alvarez, I can feel for her; my SAT score in math was so woeful I still shudder when I think about it.
It’s too bad that this screwup had to happen so soon after Marc Ratner bolted for the UFC…
(Email news tips to Michael Woods at Fightwrite@gmail.com)
May 22nd, 2006 at 8:07 pm
The scoring error is inexcusable. Alvarez assumed the final round had been scored for Juarez? She didn’t have to assume anything. All she had to do was thoroughly look over the cards and she would have seen that the round was scored even. Garcia said they were rushed at the end, but they can and should take their time and completely examine the cards. I have seen many fights in which a lot of time has passed from the end of the fight to the announcment of the decision. Getting it correct should be the top priority.
Unfortunately, this has happened before. Stevie Johnston thought he had regained the WBC lightweight title from Jose Luis Castillo only to find out later that Castillo had retained the title with a draw.
Is it any wonder that many view boxing as a joke?
May 23rd, 2006 at 8:48 pm
There is NO EXPLAINING the outcome??!! If they said it was a draw then it was a draw!!!! Fuck history look at Marco Antonio Barrera’s FACE!!!! He got his ASS whooped!!!! I watched that fight, Rocky at the least tied!!! If Marco won it was because of GB productions~!!!!. Only real fans respond!!! I am Mexican but Marco got his ASS KICKED!!! hIS ASS WOULD HAVE FALLEN IF NOT FOR HIS DANCE CLASSES!!!!
May 23rd, 2006 at 11:21 pm
I thought Barrera won the fight. Juarez gave away to many of those early rounds. Despite getting his ass whooped in the later rounds, Barrera already had the fight in the bag.
May 24th, 2006 at 9:32 pm
The draw was a shock to me since I thought the winner was (and, truly was in the eyes of the judges) Barrera. Rocky, like in the movie (oddly), came to life too late in the fight. Maybe, like the movie, we’ll hear so much about it that there will be a sequel (or two).
May 25th, 2006 at 12:41 am
barrera should retire now. he is a cheater remember that mouthpiece fall so many times. your too old for pacquiao man. have a rest