Namibia: Meroro Loses, Tobias Cries Foul

Sheefeni Nikodemus

27 June 2011

VIKAPITA ‘Beastmaster’ Meroro lost out to Ghana’s Braimah ‘Bukom Banku’ Kamoko for the WBO Africa light-heavyweight title on Saturday, an outcome that his trainer and promoter Nestor Tobias believed was cooked.

While conceding that the Accra fight was a close affair, Tobias vented his frustrations at what he felt was biased officiating and said his fighter deserved the victory.

According to Tobias, Meroro was dubiously docked three points by the referee which ultimately meant that the ‘Beastmaster’ lost his second successive fight.

Meroro tamely lost to Malawian Isaac Chilemba in a WBC International light heavyweight fight on March 26.

Both Tobias and Meroro had confidently gone on record before the Kamoko fight saying that the former African title holder would “teach” his opponent “a lesson”.

However, following Saturday’s events, that tune has since changed.

“The referee was the hero as we lost by two points,” Tobias told The Namibian Sport yesterday. “Only he knows why Meroro was penalised. But I think it is to make sure their boxer wins.”

While Bramah maintained his unbeaten sequence (21-0), Meroro’s record now has three losses from his 20 pro fights.

Earlier this year, Tobias also claimed WBO Africa lightweight Martin Haikali fell victim to unfair ringside scores in Accra. Haikali beat another Ghanaian Sam Amoako in a split decision over 12 rounds, however Tobias was far from impressed with the scorecards.

Tobias made the same claims when newly crowned WBO Africa welterweight interim title holder Tyson Uushona lost by a unanimous points decision to Denton Vassell in a Commonwealth title fight in England in March.

AllAfrica – All the Time