Boxing: Low blow too much to take

New Zealander Darryl Lichtwark has decided that he has taken one blow too many in his quest to fight for his country at this year's Commonwealth Games.

Lichtwark walked out of the Oceania amateur championships in Taupo incensed at a decision which overturned his win on Wednesday against Australian Ben Eachran.

The Hamilton light-heavyweight, who represented New Zealand at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, was awarded the fight by a 15-14 points margin, but a timekeeping error led to protests being lodged by the Australian camp.

A jury - comprising two Australian officials and one each from New Zealand and the Cook Islands - upheld the protest and ruled the bout be refought yesterday.

Lichtwark, 29, wanted nothing to do with that, packed his bags and headed home to Hamilton. That meant the fight was awarded to Eachran on a walkover.

Lichtwark's walkout ended any chance he had of appearing at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in July and August.

To gain selection for Manchester, fighters had at least to reach the finals of their divisions in Taupo.

The timekeeping mistake meant the third and final round of Wednesday's quarter-final ended after just 1m 15s, instead of 2m.

Such mistakes, while not commonplace, have been known to occur.

But Lichtwark's coach, John McKay, a former national coach who has attended many tournaments around the world, said that until now they had not led to a fight decision being overturned.

"It's sad and very disappointing," McKay said. "It was an error on the part of the technical officials. It had nothing to do with the boxers.

"In normal circumstances, once a decision has been made it cannot be overturned, even by the jury."

McKay was unhappy with the Australian camp's actions in lodging a protest.

Eachran, the reigning Oceania champion, had already been confirmed in the Australian team for this year's Commonwealth Games.

"It's a little like the cricket underarm incident from 1981 [when Trevor Chappell bowled underarm to New Zealand's Brian McKechnie in a one-day international]," McKay said. "I wonder where the principles of sportsmanship and fair play have gone.

"I understand where Darryl is coming from. I sympathise with what he did.

"But I told him I'd like him to go back in the ring again and box.

"I suggested to Darryl that he get back in the ring, beat Eachran and then tell the officials what they could do with their championships.

"He decided he didn't want to do that. He feels that he's been shafted."

- NZPA