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Boxing

Zelfa Barrett vs. Kiko Martinez judging controversy: 'Do you have to kill someone to win?', fumes Spaniard

Liam Happe
Zelfa Barrett vs. Kiko Martinez judging controversy: 'Do you have to kill someone to win?', fumes SpaniardDAZN
The three judges' scorecards for Saturday's fight left Martinez, boxing fans and even Barrett's promoter Eddie Hearn furious.

Kiko Martinez has supported the growing demands for a rematch between he and Zelfa Barrett after his strong performance against the British fighter on British soil was somehow scored a wide and comfortable unanimous decision for Barrett by the three British judges.

The 12-round super-featherweight bout was chief support to Mauricio Lara's shock win over Josh Warrington at the SSE Arena, Wembley, at the weekend.

Veteran Martinez, known as a relentless pressure fighter, put forth one of his most tireless performances yet to neutralise the power threat of Barrett, who in his last fight was being outworked by Ireland's Eric Donovan before turning his lights out in Round 8.

Manchester's Barrett eventually did well to contain and counter-punch in the later rounds, and the majority of expert pundits and fans on social media had the contest as a draw or either fighter winning by a round or two.

However Steve Gray and Bob Williams somehow scored the contest 118-111 in Barrett's favour, while Foster had it 116-113 for the home fighter. 

"[The judges] hurt this sport, they didn't do their job well," Martinez told Spanish newspaper Marca.

"[Barrett and his team] did not expect it themselves, they believed they had lost the fight. They did nothing to win, even with the exaggeration of the scorecards they were ashamed, but the fault lies in the lack of professionalism of the judges.

"Even with the Mexican [Mauricio] Lara it was happening. They can fool the boxer but not the public."

"When I was up there [waiting for the scores], I didn't expect that. I thought: what else do I have to do? There were rounds where Barrett landed two punches. Do you have to go out and kill someone to win? 

"What I want is a rematch and I think they want it too. This cannot be left that way - and it will stain boxing and that fighter. It has to be done now, because what has happened is not good for anyone. This will not be forgotten, a lot of damage has been done."

Martinez went on to praise promoter Eddie Hearn for speaking out against the tone-deaf scores. Hearn was widely praised by the community for condemning the turn of events and pointing out that such controversies are harmful for everyone, including himself as the backer of the man who was awarded the win.

"He was ashamed and publicly rebuked the judges," Martinez continued. "That was very noble on his part, and I sincerely believe that he is the right person to lift boxing. He is someone honest and the rematch is in his hands."