Violence erupts as boxing fan tries to attack referee
Violence erupts as boxing fan tries to attack referee
BANGKOK (AFP): The Asian Games boxing tournament erupted in violence here Monday night when a spectator tried to attack a referee after a Thai gold medal favorite lost a controversial points decision.
Ten policemen jumped into the ring after the spectator as he ran towards the referee and dragged the man away.
The uproar began when fighter Sontaya Wongprates refused to leave the ring after he was beaten in his 54kg semifinal bout by India's Ng-Dingko Singh.
He was joined by a Thai boxing official, waving his arms, and calling the decision a scandal as the crowd roared their disapproval.
It was then that the spectator made his dash into the ring.
A semblance of calm was finally restored as Thai supporters carried the upset Sontaya shoulder high around the stadium.
Vorawout Rojanapanich, secretary of the Thai Boxing Association, said he would protest the decision, but urged Thai fans to stay calm even in defeat.
"I thought our boxer had won the fight, we will be lodging a protest," said Vorawout. "I thought he did enough to win the fight.
"But it was wrong for the spectator to run on to the ring. They can voice their disapproval from the stands but they should not attack anyone."
Should the Thais go ahead with their protest, the Asian Games boxing jury will review video tapes of the fight before making a ruling.
Sontaya lost 18-14 on points against the fleet-footed Singh, who opened the bout with a barrage of blows to the shell-shocked Thai's head.
The home hope certainly dominated the last three rounds of the five-round bout but the question was whether he did enough to make up for the points he lost earlier on.
The judges did not think so as Singh, a navy recruit from northeast India, raised his arms in triumph.
Sontaya said: "I fought hard in the last rounds and thought I had won the fight. I couldn't believe it when I heard I lost." Singh's opponent in the final is Uzbekistan's Timur Tulyakov, who defeated Kazakhstan's Marat Mazimbayev in the other semi-final.
Thailand still have gold hopes in other divisions with world number two Suban Punnon and Parkpoom Jangphonak entering the finals.
Suban beat North Korean Pak Chun in the 48kg semifinals to set up a final date with China's Yang Xiangzhong, who ousted South Korea's Kim Sung-soo.
Pongsit Wiangwesas beat another South Korean, Shin Eun-chul to reach the semi-finals of the 60kg competition.