By Kenneth Miller Donking.com

The California State Athletic Commission in fights where its referee ignored an obvious head butt and a knockout victory is awarded instead of a No-Decision has already established a precedent.

Almost a year to the date that Nate Campbell suffered from a head butt in his 140-pound WBO championship against Timothy Bradley in Rancho Mirage, CA on August 1, heavyweight journeyman Hasim Rahman suffered a similar fate in his bout against James Toney.

Initially, the scheduled 12-round affair Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, CA on July 16, 2008 was ruled a TKO victory for Toney, but later reversed on appeal to a No Decision.

During the third round of the WBO 140 pound title fight at the Agua Caliente Casino Resort in Rancho Mirage, champion Bradley and challenger Campbell clashed heads right in front of referee David Mendoza during the third round of their scheduled 12-round fight.

Campbell, obviously hurt from the butt reeled into the corner and immediately complained to Mendoza who ignored him and allowed for the undefeated Bradley to unleash a barrage of punches.

The clash of heads created a gash above Campbell's left eyelid, but even worse he complained after the round that he could not see and was seeing spots out of the eye.

Under the California State Athletic Commission rules:  "Referees shall not permit unfair practices that may cause injuries to a contestant, and are held strictly responsible for the enforcement of the rules. The only fair blow is a blow delivered with the padded knuckle part of the glove on the front or sides of the head and body above the hip line. After sufficient warning has been given the referee shall punish persistent disregard of the rules."

Although the butt may not have been done with intent, nonetheless it was injurious to the contestant and therefore Mendoza at the very least should have stopped the action and perhaps even called the doctor into the ring.

Then as Campbell did after the third round the doctor would have been told the serious nature of the injury and stopped the fight after the third round and the fight would have been ruled a no contest.
Awarding Bradley, a gifted undefeated champion, a KO victory under such circumstances is ridiculous.

Mendoza's vision was worse than Campbell's after the head butt, if he could not see what the television replays documented over and over.

Mendoza's response was "They were both butting each other all night," well then why didn't you break them up and warn both of them? Campbell could lose his eyesight because of this, forget about the fight.

California State Athletic Commission assistant executive officer Bill Douglas said the appeal and a copy of the tape of the incident arrived at his office two days following the fight.

It was immediately lodged by officials of Don King Productions on behalf of Campbell who had to be taken to the hospital after the bout that was ruled a TKO victory for Bradley.

However, according to Douglas, it's a good thing they have the recent Rahman/Toney fight as a blueprint for such circumstances.

Toney's short-lived celebration of victory was overturned, and while Bradley and his promoter Gary Shaw gleeful celebrated his tainted victory, it too is expected to be overturned when the official ruling is announced on August 24 in California.

Mendoza is clear proof of the ineptness of California referees. He seemed to be in there waltzing and not enforcing the rules.

Douglas also stated that Mendoza's performance or lack thereof will be examined by the commission, because it was his responsibility to warn or penalize in the case of any such foul.

The head butt should have been called immediately, regardless of how impressive Bradley was or how unimpressive Campbell was.

Campbell's promoter Don King was irate after the fight and while he and Campbell vehemently complained to officials the decision was not overturned.
It's not fair to the fighters, the fans or anyone else for that matter.

In the meantime, boxing after all what it has endured during the past few weeks outside the ring, suffers another giant sized headache inside of it.

But this time it had little to do with the fighters and everything to do with referee Mendoza, and it's up to the commission to get this one right. It is a no brainer.

Timothy Bradley vs. Nate Campbell Photo Credit: TOM CASINO/SHOWTIME

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