Pat Fiacco concerned about judging for boxing at Rio Games

Corruption is now dominating headlines from the Olympic boxing competition.

Judges have been removed and boxers are speaking out.

President of Boxing Canada, Pat Fiacco, says some boxers are having their Olympic dreams taken from them because of some questionable judging. He believes there could only be two reasons for what is happening from the judges: incompetency or foul play.

“Clearly when you see decisions like we’ve seen at this Olympic Games, I find it hard to believe that its incompetency because I’ve worked with these officials throughout the year,” explained Fiacco.

Fiacco believes Canadian boxers Arthur Biyarslanov and Ariane Fortin have reason to be upset with some questionable decisions.

Biyarslanov lost a split decision to Artem Harutyunyan of Germany in the 64-kilogram division Sunday.

That same day, Fortin lost to Kazakhstan’s Dariga Shakimova in their 75-kilogram bout, even though Fortin appeared to win three of the four rounds.

“You can watch that bout 20 times, there’s no way Arthur lost that bout,” said Fiacco. “And the German went on to win his other bout, there’s no way he won that bout, he’s lost both bouts but he had his hand raised.”

Fiacco calls that “a problem.” He also thinks the fact their boxers did not come close to the podium could impact their funding.

The executive director of the International Boxing Association (IBA), who hand-picked the judges, has had his responsibilities taken away for these Olympics.

Fiacco, who is also the secretary of the Referee and Judges Commission for the IBA, said their power to select judges has been reduced.

“I wasn’t involved in the selection of the referee and judges for the Olympic Games and that has to happen, we need to be involved in that.”

Fiacco said Boxing Canada, along with the Canadian Olympic Committee, will work hard to come up with strong recommendations to the IBA to try to fix the hit to the sports credibility as soon as these Olympics come to an end. Putting the power back into the Referees and Judges Commission will be one of those.

Fiacco is hoping no young boxers who want to be Olympians turn away from the sport because of this latest Olympic controversy. The sport also had to pull judges from the London Games four years ago.