SAN ANTONIO -- The protest that Dan Duva has filed with the Texas Athletic Commission could be in jeopardy after Judge Mickey Vann of Britain said he did not improperly score Friday's fight between Pernell Whitaker and Julio Cesar Chavez.
Duva filed a protest after Vann said he improperly deducted a point from Whitaker in his draw against Chavez.
Vann, who scored the 12-round fight a 115-115 draw, Tuesday told Charlie Steiner of ESPN that he did not improperly deduct a point from Whitaker's scorecard on Friday.
Duva manages Whitaker, the World Boxing Council welterweight champion who retained his title Friday night with a majority draw against Chavez in San Antonio.
The fight was stopped momentarily in the sixth round after Whitaker hit Chavez with a low blow. Chavez was allowed to recover, but referee Joe Cortez did not order the judges to deduct a point from Whitaker. A judge may not deduct points from a fighter for low blows unless so instructed by the referee.
Judge Jack Woodruff of the United States scored the bout in favor of Whitaker, 115-113. Both Vann and Franz Marti of Switzerland scored it a draw.
With two judges ruling the fight even, Whitaker retained his title via a rare majority draw, allowing Chavez to remain unbeaten.
If Duva's protest is upheld, two judges would have scored the fight in favor of Whitaker, changing the decision to a majority decision and handing Chavez the first loss of his career.
