Tokyo Olympics: Unique protest by French boxer Mourad Aliev after being disqualified in men’s super heavyweight Q/F bout

Xtra Time Web Desk: The ongoing Tokyo Olympics witnessed the first protest in the boxing ring as France’s heavy weight boxer (+91kg) Eliad Mourad refused to leave the ring after losing to British opponent Frazer Clarke in the quarter finals of men’s super heavyweight event at the Kokugikan Arena on Sunday. In fact Mourad was disqualified for an intentional head butt against Clarke. Protesting the decision of the judges, Mourad decided to sit on the Olympic ring apron for about an hour after the quarterfinal bout.

The French boxer reacted with outrage when referee Andy Mustacchio disqualified him with four seconds left in the second round Sunday. The referee felt it was an intentional head butt from  Aliev due to which Clarke had significant cuts near both of his eyes.

After the verdict was announced, Aliev sat down on the canvas just outside the ropes and above the steps leading down to the arena floor. He remained there unmoving, and French team officials came up to speak with him and brought him water.

“This was my way of showing that the decision was so unfair,” Aliev said through a translator. “I wanted to fight against all that injustice, and honestly today, also my teammates had unfair results. I trained my whole life for this, and I came here, and because of one referee’s decision, I lost. It’s over.”

After more than 30 minutes, Aliev left the apron only to be back after 15 minutes. He was seen protesting the decision of the referee and Boxing Task Force officials at the same spot.

 “I would have won, but it had already been written that I was disqualified,” Aliev said. “I prepared my whole life for this, so getting mad about this result is natural.”

This is not the first time a boxer was seen protesting the referee’s decision. The most famous protest against a judging decision occurred in 1988 in Seoul, when South Korean bantamweight Byun Jung-il refused to leave the ring after being penalized two points for using his head illegally. Byun stayed in the ring for over an hour, forcing the Seoul officials to turn off the lights.

----------------------------------------

By: XtraTime
Title: Tokyo Olympics: Unique protest by French boxer Mourad Aliev after being disqualified in men’s super heavyweight Q/F bout
Sourced From: xtratime.in/tokyo-olympics-unique-protest-by-french-boxer-mourad-aliev-after-being-disqualified-in-mens-super-heavyweight-q-f-bout/
Published Date: Sun, 01 Aug 2021 08:48:53 +0000

Read More