NYSAC Hears Raul Frank Appeal
By Boxing News February 19th, 2007Raul Frank’s NYSAC appeal to reinstate win over Terrence Cauthen
Raul Frank has appealed to the New York State Athletic Commission to reinstate his victory over Terrance Cauthen.
On January 25, 2007, at the Paradise Theatre in the Bronx, New York, Frank scored a technical knockout win over Cauthen at 2:59 of the 7th round. With the win, Frank became the new USBA junior middleweight champion and secured his position as the #2 ranked contender in the IBF.
However, six days after the fight, after reviewing videotape, the New York Commission declared the bout a “no decision,” holding that Cauthen had been knocked down by a head butt and not a punch prior to the stoppage. At Frank’s request, a public hearing will be held at the offices of the Commission on Wednesday, February 21.
“Raul Frank has been wronged,” said Frank’s manager Sonia Ewers, “and we are asking the Commission to correct that wrong. There was a clash of heads, but punches were thrown after the clash. Raul landed two solid body punches and that’s when Terrance went down. There was very little padding on the canvas, and Terrance struck his head hard when he went down. After that, the referee decided that he could not continue.”
David Berlin, Frank’s lawyer, said, “The Commission does not have the authority to substitute its own judgment for the judgment of the referee. Under the rules of New York, referee Ricky Gonzalez had the ‘exclusive authority’ to determine whether Cauthen was dropped by a head butt or a punch.”
Berlin went on to say that the Commission’s action sets a terrible precedent. “It will open the floodgates to constant protests from unhappy fighters, and will put the Commission in the position of having to constantly second-guess its own officials. Boxing is already viewed as a sport out of control, and the endless complaints and second-guessing will reinforce that negative image. My hope is that the Commission will take a good look at its own rules, and recognize that it has overstepped its authority.”
On the status of Frank’s position in the IBF’s rankings, Berlin said, “I have spoken with Lindsey Tucker, Championship Chairman of the IBF, and he has assured me that the IBF will respect the decision of New York. If New York reinstates Frank’s victory, the IBF will put him back in the #2 spot and declare him USBA champion.”
“Once we get past this hearing,â€? added Ewers, “we plan to approach the IBF to work on getting Raul his title opportunity. Of course, if the Commission does not make the decision that we believe it should, we will have to continue this legal battle in the courts and get back for Raul the victory he won in the ring.”
February 20th, 2007 at 11:25 am
It was a head butt, shame on Raul and his camp. He’s always been a head butt king, stop the maddness, how he keep fighting for any kind of title
February 23rd, 2007 at 4:51 am
IN THE ABOVE FIGHT THE REF SHOULD HAVE ASKED THE JUDGES IF HE DID NOT SEE A PUNCH. IN THE 1950.S JOEY GIARDELLO WON A DISPUTED DECISION OVER BILLY GRAHAM ,IT WAS SUCH A BAD CALL THE COMMISSION OVERTURNED THE RESULT .GIARDELLO THEN TOOK THE COMMISSION TO COURT THE COURT JUDGE RULRD THAT SINCE THE COMMISSON APOINTED THE JUDGRS AND REFEREE THE ORIGINAL VERDECT WITH GIARDELLO WINNING HAD TO BE .IF FRANK GOES TO COURT THE SAME THING WILL HAPPEN
March 4th, 2007 at 3:58 am
i agree with both posts above- raul frank is known just like holyfield as a guy who leads with his head and in many of his fights headbutts has played a role in the fight and sometimes was the role of the fight( vs forrest in 1st fight) at the same time the ref is the 1 who makes the final call and although it may not have been the correct call ricky gonzales( who i might add is a very good and fair ref) did not see the butt and called it a punch and that can not be overturned and if franks camp fights this he will win
March 6th, 2007 at 10:28 am
Shame on the NYSAC. This is not an instant replay sport. The ref called it a punch, end of story. You don’t replay balls and strikes after the fact. Umping like reffing is subjective. Those are the rules. Follow them!
March 7th, 2007 at 8:31 am
It’s two different scenarios, Snoop. In one case, you have a commission attempting to overturn three judges’ scorecard, which is basically corruption overruling corruption. You can’t reverse a final scorecard.
While the ref’s call in the ring is supposed to be final, there is precedence to overruling the final call. Roy Jones was originally a knockout winner over Montell Griffin in their first fight - and there are even pictures of Tony Perez waving his arms in counting out Griffin. But the call never made it to the ring announcer, as commish Larry Hazzard immediately overruled the call, informing Perez that the shot Roy hit Griffin with while he was down was grounds for DQ, which is exactly how it turned out.
It’s the same case here. The ref missed a headbutt, and the bout basically ended on a foul. In the ref’s eyes at the time, it was a knockout, but he admitted he didn’t catch the foul. Replays did, which is why Frank won’t have much of a case. Roy would’ve never received a successful appeal because replays would’ve in fact revealed that he fouled Griffin. Because Perez played it wrong, Roy could’ve had it overturned to a no-contest, but he never went that route.
That’s where Frank is at now, and I can’t see the bout moving beyond a no-contest. Cauthen’s handlers wanted a DQ win, but I knew they weren’t getting that, This ruling should be final, because it’s the right call. A bout that goes to the cards can’t be overturned, becuase you’re attempting something subjective. Even if you believe Fighter A should’ve won a decision, you’re not watching the fight from the same angle as at least two of the three judges. Scoring is subjective; a foul ending the fight is more of an absolute, which is why it can be - and was - overturned.