A few years back in
July 2001, Hector
Camacho Jr, 32-0, 18
knockouts at the
time, fought Jesse
James Leja, 42-5-2
with 17 knockouts
coming in, at
KeySpan Park in
Brooklyn.
In the fifth round,
a cut was opened
across the Camacho's
right eyelid. At the
end of the round,
Dr. Robert Polafsky
examined the cut
which did not appear
to be all that bad
to television or
ring side viewers.
Then it was
announced that the
doctor had ordered
the fight stopped,
and under the rules
it would go to the
scorecards. After
much confusion,
fussing, and
stalling, Camacho
was unbelievably
declared ahead 49-46
on two of the cards
and 48-47 on the
third. The technical
decision was roundly
booed by a crowd of
about 4,000 fans at
KeySpan Park even
though this was
Camacho‘s home town.
"The doctor said he could
continue," said Larry
Merchant, HBO boxing
analyst. "He said `I can't
see,' and the doctor said
OK." The doctor, referee
Steve Smoger and the judges
were ordered by the New York
State Athletic Commission
not to talk to the media.
Hector Camacho Jr remained
unbeaten, but his victory on
a technical decision after
five rounds tarnished the
image of the WBA's No.
1-ranked super lightweight.
Leija and his manager,
Lester Bedford, called
Camacho a quitter, and the
evidence is clear that their
description was accurate.
Leja had badly hurt Camacho
in the fight and Junior
plainly wanted no more of
what the veteran brought to
the table.
Thankfully, the decision was
later called a no contest.
The NY commission ruled that
the bell should not have
rung to begin the sixth
round. Since the bell rang
incorrectly, the official
cards should not have been
consulted under a New York
boxing rule and there could
not be a decision, the panel
said.
But this fight has haunted
Machito ever since and his
legacy may never outlive it.
The backlash has been that
vicious.
Less than seven months
later, Leja, believing that
turnabout is fair play,
unbelievably did the very
same thing to warrior Irish
Micky Ward at the Freeman
Coliseum in San Antonio, TX.
Ward had opened a cut over
Leja's eye with a right
cross, but referee Laurence
Cole inexplicably called it
a butt. The replay clearly
indicated the cut had been
caused by a punch. When the
referee went to Jesse's
corner, he said he couldn't
see and the fight was
stopped. Ward corner was
shocked and pleaded with
Leja not to do this
appealing to his “warrior“
reputation. Leja, looking
for an easy way out, could
not look them in the eye.
The outcome was a good thing
for Leja. Micky, a notorious
slow starter, was getting
into his rhythm and it would
only be a matter of time
before he caught up with the
fading Leja. Micky had been
dry gulched in San
Antonio......but that's what
they do in the Lone Star
State……………and with shocking
regularity. For some strange
reason, this one escaped
notoriety and has remained
under the radar screen. But
it was every bit as bad if
not worse than the Camacho
fiasco. Curiously, Leja
would quit on his stool in
his very next fight with
Kostya Tszyu
Here is what Ben Pierce,
editor and chief at Boxing
time.com had to say in part,
about it in a piece dated
January 23, 2003:
“No one, or very few
questioned Leija as he quit
in his corner for the second
consecutive fight. He
claimed injury in both
fights, suffering a cut
against Micky Ward and a cut
and a busted eardrum against
Kostya Tszyu. I will not
begin to judge Jesse Leija
or his actions in those two
fights, but have we not been
guilty of doing just that…of
judging so many others in
our sport for the exact same
actions as Leija?
“I clearly remember Leija
after the Camacho Jr. Fight
protesting loudly about how
he has been cut and injured
so many times in fights and
yet continued to
fight...never quit! Surely
you remember his protest and
disgust with Hector Camacho
Jr. And the decision in that
fight? Did he not do the
exact same thing in his next
fight against Micky Ward?
That was a mere three fights
ago for Leija and before he
quit in his corner in his
last two consecutive fights.
“The backlash against
Camacho Jr. Was enormous and
echoed throughout the boxing
world. He was called every
derogatory name known to
boxing and out of a sense of
decency I will not print
them here. But why not the
same treatment for Jesse
James Leija when he did the
exact same thing that he
claimed of Camacho?
“In fact after quitting
against Ward, Leija was
rewarded with an opportunity
to fight for the undisputed
championship of the
world!………………..We should
never even begin to judge
Jesse James Leija or any
other fighter! Until we have
stepped into the ring and
fought with a separated
shoulder, or busted eardrum
or a cut that your foe is
repeatedly trying to
exploit, then we have no
right to judge fighters who
choose not to continue when
faced with these injuries
during a fight………….so I
guess the point of my
rambling today is to say…if
you have not fought a ten or
twelve round fight while
suffering an injury, then
basically just shut up…you
do not know, you do not
understand and you have no
right to judge.”
Maybe so, but I know what I
saw.
Then, in November 2006, Juan
Manuel Marquez fought Jimrex
Jaca at the Dodge Arena in
Hidalgo, Texas. After 8
rounds of one-sided but
spirited action, Juan
Manuel's face had been
rendered a bloody mess as a
result of multiple head
butts. During the 8th round,
referee Laurence Cole (yes,
the same Cole) escorted
Marquez to the corner for
the doctor to look at him.
Amazingly, Cole said to Juan
Manuel, "you are ahead on
the scorecards." Clearly, he
was suggesting to Marquez
that if he decided to quit,
the judges would go to the
scorecards and award him the
technical decision.
Marquez, a warrior, would
have none of this, and with
his body language said
"let's fight." Perhaps Cole
was tired and wanted to go
home early or perhaps he was
getting sick from all the
blood, but one thing is very
clear....he should have kept
his mouth firmly clamped.
Only the judges know what’s
on their scorecards. Cole
was out of line.
Marquez would then take
matters into his own capable
hands and take out the very
game Jaca with a double left
hook.
