Gabriela Alaniz couldn’t get a fair shake with the assigned judges in her unification bout with Marlen Esparza.
She had much greater success with the sanctioning body whose title she previously held.
The WBO voted in favor of an appeal filed by Alaniz who sought an immediate rematch versus Houston’s Esparza, after their controversially scored July 8 unification bout. Esparza scored an unpopular majority decision in their ten-round DAZN aired lineal, WBC, WBA and WBO flyweight championship bout from AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas.
The scorecard of Javier Alvarez (99-91) was widely and rightly criticized in a fight where many viewers felt Alaniz deserved the nod or at least a closer margin. Judge Nelson Lopez (97-93) also scored for Esparza, while judge Lisa Giampa (95-95) turned in an even verdict which best reflected the in-ring action.
Alaniz’ team—headed by promoter Georgina Rivero—immediately submitted a formal written complaint to the WBO on the basis that “the scores had the impression of favoring the local fighter (Esparza); the referee allowed multiple and constant headbutts and elbows from Esparza; Esparza was warned on more than 6 occasions but no actions were taken against the latter, and the later rounds were clearly rounds in favor of Alaniz but scored in favor of Esparza.”
An independent review by the sanctioning body concluded there exists the grounds to run it back.
“The request is hereby GRANTED. An immediate direct rematch is hereby ordered,” WBO Championship Committee chairman Luis Batista-Salas stated in a ruling obtained by Boxing Scene. “The parties have 20 days upon issuance of this ruling to negotiate and reach an agreement or purse bid proceedings will be called pursuant to WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests.”
Esparza (12-1, 1KO) has the right to appeal the decision within the next 14 days, per WBO Rule 34, Article 3(e).
Alaniz (14-1, 6KOs) entered as an unbeaten WBO titleholder who made her U.S. debut. The fight was entertaining and offered a favorable showing from the visiting Argentine, who conceded regional advantage. Esparza’s hometown is roughly three hours from San Antonio and the bout was her fifth straight in her home state, She managed a similarly wide victory over Naoko Fujioka in their otherwise competitive WBC/WBA unification bout last April 9 at the Alamodome, mere miles from AT&T Center.
The same complaints came of her win over Alaniz, though her own belief is that she disagreed with the widest scorecard margin but that she deserved the victory.
An independent five-person panel was assigned by the WBO to review and rescore the contest. Their result produced a 95-95 verdict—five rounds for each boxer—and the grounds to call for an immediate second bout.
Alaniz is promoted by Rivera’s O.R. Promotions, while Esparza is with Golden Boy Promotions who presented the July 8 DAZN event.
In addition to the available appeal process, Esparza also has the less desirable option to vacate her WBO title without fear of losing her other belts. The WBC previously stated its intention to monitor the review process, though no such determination on its plans for Esparza have been made as this goes to publication.
Esparza hoped to next face IBF titlist Arely Mucino for the full unification by year’s end. Monterrey’s Mucino is married to former junior flyweight titlist Angel ‘Tito’ Acosta; both are co-promoted by Miguel Cotto Promotions and Golden Boy.
Any such route will either have to be successfully appealed within the next fourteen days, come with one less belt at stake or simply trail what would be a welcomed Esparza-Alaniz rematch.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox