PHILADELPHIA, Penn. / ORANGE, Calif. (July 23, 2018) – Artie Pelullo, co-promoter of lightweight Zhora Hamazaryan will be appealing the outcome of last Friday’s Zhora Hamazaryan – Thomas Mattice fight with the Iowa commission. Pelullo spoke to Iowa Commissioner Joe Walsh right after the fight on Friday, which took place at the WinnaVegas Casino. The bout was seen by a nationally televised audience as the co-feature of a ShoBox: The New Generation card on SHOWTIME.
In the fight, Hamazaryan scored an explosive 2nd round knockdown; rocked Mattice several more times, and dominated the action. Hamazaryan badly hurt Mattice in round seven. Most people who saw the fight, thought that Hamazayan won 6 rounds to 2, plus the 2nd round knockdown.
Hall of Fame SHOWTIME announcer Steve Farhood called the the decision the one of the worst in the history of the series, while his fellow Hall of Fame broadcaster Barry Tompkins went even farther by calling it the worst decision in 40 years.
.@SteveFarhood and @barry_tompkins weigh in on "the criminal" #MatticeHamazaryan result. #ShoBox pic.twitter.com/pfIkD5uPQW
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) July 21, 2018
Hamazaryan co-promoter, Artie Pelullo said, “I spoke to commissioner Joe Walsh right after the fight. I informed him that we were going to appeal the decision, and he understood our position, and he said that we are within our rights to appeal.”
Hamazaryan is promoted by Banner Promotions and Thompson Boxing.
Below are just a sample of the articles and social media reaction from this misjustice.
https://www.boxingscene.com/mattice-wins-suspicious-split-nod-over-hamazaryan-results–130151
https://www.boxingscene.com/promoter-file-protest-over-suspect-shobox-result-friday–130216
Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis stops Armando Alvarez in third-round of ShoBox main event
http://www.boxingtalk.com/pag/article.php?aid=35486
https://www.fightful.com/boxing/shobox-next-generation-results-720-controversial-judging-overshadows-event
Thomas Mattice got an absolute gift for Zhora Hamazaryan last night. This was a robbery at the WinneVegas Casino. I guess you can't face GH3 fighters in Sloan, Iowa #boxing
— Steve Kim (@SteveKim323) July 21, 2018
Mattice might have one rd 1 and maybe the 5th. And those were close rds. The rest were Hamarayan's and he scored a knockdown and hurt Mattice several other times. This was scandalous… #boxing
— Steve Kim (@SteveKim323) July 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/CommishRandyG/status/1020661697932152833 (Gordon was the former New York State Boxing Commissioner)
I turned off #ShoBox after #MatticeHamazaryan fight. The show was fine and I LOVE this series on @ShowtimeBoxing. I don’t love awful judging, inexplicable decisions, incompetence, or institutional bias/corruption. #LoveSims a shaky draw. Mattice didn’t win. C’mon now, #boxing!!!
— Lou DiBella🥊 (@loudibella) July 21, 2018
Kunem!! Those scorecards are RIDICULOUS! #MatticeHamazaryan
— Sergio Mora 🐍 (@TheLatinSnake_) July 21, 2018
Just caught #MatticeHamazaryan fight! #Hamazaryan got done. Straight up robbed. https://t.co/NqmLOBTyuL
— Rosie Perez (@rosieperezbklyn) July 21, 2018
That's a TERRIBLE decision on #shobox. Jesus Christ man. #boxing #MatticeHamazaryan
— caleb truax (@GoldenCalebT) July 21, 2018
We get stinkers in boxing and there have been plenty I’ve worked on @boxnationtv but Mattice decision over Hamazaryan tonight the worst of 2018. Even Mattice looked embarrassed. #MatticeHamazaryan #boxing #boxnation
— Steve Lillis (@stevelillis) July 21, 2018