Belgian boxing union files complaint after defeat of Delfine Persoon

Belgian boxing union files complaint after defeat of Delfine Persoon
Persoon (left) fights Taylor. © Belga

The Belgian boxing union has filed a complaint with the four world boxing federations over the result of the recent world title fight lost by Flemish boxer Delfine Persoon in New York.

The fight, which gave the match to Irish boxer Katie Taylor, was decided on points, and there have been accusations of irregularities. Persoon, who is a full-time police officer in Roeselare in West Flanders, lost her WBC world lightweight title. Taylor, meanwhile, was defending her three other world titles. Two of the judges awarded the points to Taylor and one scored the match a draw: 95-95, 96-94 and 96-94.

We, the Royal Belgian Boxing Union, wish to register a complaint,” the statement reads. “We are not in agreement with the result of the match between our boxer Delfine Persoon and Katie Taylor, which took place on 1 June 2019 in Madison Square Garden in New York. The result of the match felt very wrong – scandalous and shameful, in the eyes of professional circles and the worldwide media. We consider that respect, honesty and fair play must play a role in our sport. We demand honesty from our athletes and those surrounding them, and that is exactly what we aim to offer them.”

The complaint, in the name of boxing union president Willy Bosch, concludes, “We hope that the World Federation will consider supporting Delphine in this matter.”

In the meantime, Taylor has expressed a readiness to agree to a rematch with Persoon, which she described as “unavoidable”.

I would love to fight her again,” Taylor told the press on her return to Ireland after the match.”We had a great match on Saturday, and I’m very grateful I won. I never doubted the result.”

Her manager, boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, has hinted that a rematch could come sooner rather than later. Persoon’s manager, Filiep Tempere, has filed a personal complaint against the result of Saturday’s fight with the World Boxing Council, whose title Persoon was defending.

This result is a shame for the sport of boxing,” he wrote.

Alan Hope

The Brussels Times


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