TOKYO -- Lupe Madera of Mexico, declared unfit to fight after receiving a butt in the fourth round, was awarded the World Boxing Association junior flyweight title Sunday with a controversial technical knockout over defending champion Katsuo Tokashiki of Japan.
The wild and confusing bout -- the third title fight between the two - was ultimately settled by the bylaws of the WBA rulebook and brought forth an official protest from the camp of the Japanese fighter.
The incident triggering the mayhem occurred early in the fourth round when the fighters bumped heads. Madera stepped back and referee Carlos Berrocal of Panama asked the Japan Boxing Commission physician to examine the cut over the Mexican's right eye. The doctor advised the referee to stop the fight.
Melvin Ziegler, the WBA vice president supervising the fight, declared that according to his organization's rules Madera was the new champion because he was ahead on points for the preceding three rounds.
The referee had Madera ahead 30-28 and judges Stuart Kirschenbaum and Albert Tremari, both of the United States, had it 30-27 for Madera. UPI had Madera leading 30-28.
When the decision, officially a knockout at 1:50 into the fourth round, was announced by Shigeru Kojima, executive secretary of the Japan Boxing Commission, to the crowd of 3,500 at Korakuen Hall, the fans were in a frenzy, not knowing what happened.
Katsuro Takahashi, the champion's manager, assumed it was a draw and Tokashiki had retained his title. He lifted his fighter onto his shoulders.
But Arec Germon, the challenger's manager, stepped into the ring and consulted Ziegler.The WBA vice president ruled the fight for Madera, explaining the doctor ordered the referee to stop the match because Madera was unable to continue.
Madera, 30, raised his record to 35-12-2. For Tokashiki, 22, it was his second defeat against 18 victories and two draws. Both weighed in at the division limit of 108 pounds.
The Japan Boxing Commission said from the ring that Tokashiki's manager would file a protest with the WBA.
'We are willing to have a rematch with Tokashiki anywhere if the money is right,' Germon said.
'It appeared as if Madera was unwilling to fight when he went to his corner,' said Katsuro Takahashi, Tokashiki's manager.
The Japanese manager also accused the Japan Boxing Commission of committing a 'big mistake' by first announcing the match a draw and then changing the ruling in favor of the challenger.
Madera said in his dressing room that he spoke to officials during the bout about Tokashiki's conduct.
'I had been bumped twice previously by Tokashiki and would not be willing to fight if he continued to bump me,' he said.
The fighters were familiar adversaries, meeting for the title for the third time. In the first bout at Sendai, in northern Japan, in April 1982, Tokashiki won a split 15-round decision. In the second meeting in April this year in the same Korakuen Hall, Tokashiki succeeded in his fifth title defense with the bout ruled a 15-round draw. A strong protest to the WBA by Madera's manager resulted in an order for a rematch.
