Ria gets WIBA ultimatum

ONLY one day  after Ria Ramnarine became the first Trinidadian woman to win a world boxing title, came the news that she will have to face a rematch or be stripped. This was the word coming from WIBA president, American Ryan Wissow, who told Newsday yesterday that he will do all in his power to have a rematch of both fighters, but this time it will be in Las Vegas. Wissow’s views added to the general feelings of boxing fans at last Saturday’s bout at the Jean Pierre Sports Complex, who expressed the view that Indian-born American Yvonne Caples had in fact won the fight.

Ramnarine was awarded the fight on a 2-1 split decision by a panel of regional judges, which included Trinidad and Tobago’s Tommy Thomas, Guyana’s Andrew Thorne and Barbados’ Dennis Herbert. Newsday were also told Jamaican Leroy Brown assisted his judging colleagues on Saturday night. Ironically, controversy surrounded the staging of the fight here from the outset, after Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Board president Melchior Taylor had refused to allow the fight to go on as scheduled, without an all-local panel of judges. Taylor’s decision was backed by members of the Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Board of Control who felt there were competent judges in the country. WIBA vice-president Molly Boxill told Newsday recently Caples had agreed to an additional US$200 fee to defend her title here.

Wissow said he will first have to get a promoter to put on the rematch, before he can extend an offer to Ramnarine. He said he disagreed with the decision by the judges but quickly added he did not want to make Ramnarine feel she is less than a champion. He made it clear that the judges decision was final and Ramnarine had nothing to do with it. He said further that before he can arrange the fight, he will allow Ramnarine to have another fight before she can face Caples again.