Caroline Veyre Wins by Holding Amid Boos from Crowd
By David A. Avila
Amid a chorus of boos Caroline Veyre was named the unanimous decision winner over Belgium’s Delfine Persoon and was given the WBC super featherweight despite continuous grappling on Tuesday.
It was all around a horrible fight and decision.
“I’m very happy it was a lot of hard work,” Veyre said.
Veyre (11-1) seldom punched without charging in with her head low and grabbing whenever she could wrap her arms around Persoon (50-4, 10 Kos). The supposed hometown fans were not pleased at GLC Live 20 Monroe in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Veyre, 37, had an extensive amateur career and as usual, the amateur coaching does not prepare its fighters for fighting up close. Most amateur coaches do not have expertise in fighting inside. This was obvious with Veyre. She was taught to grab and hold.
Most of the blame must go to the referee Ben Rodriguez. He could have controlled the fight early by warning and deducting from Veyre, but instead deducted points from Persoon who tried to hit whatever was available as she was wrestled by the Canadian fighter.
Eventually the referee deducted points from Veyre for holding but she went right back to grappling and was not deducted another point. Had he simply deducted more points that would have stopped the infractions completely. But he allowed Veyre to wrestle and tackle Persoon like a linebacker from the Detroit Lions.
The crowd was not pleased and the constant grappling by Veyre was frustrating for the crowd who paid money to see a fight, not a wrestling match.
Veyre has good boxing skills and quickness. She could have fought and won by merely boxing but seemed petrified by Persoon who showed frustration from the grappling and the referee’s deficient abilities to monitor a world title match. Rodriguez needs to read the rule book where it says holding is illegal. In fact, all trainers and boxers should read that rule about not holding. Boxing is not MMA or wrestling. Clinching kills the entertainment value of any fight. Pro boxing is entertainment. If you want to hold stay in the amateurs.
Persoon hit whatever she could hit when Veyre grabbed ahold and sometimes hit the back of the head of Veyre who turned her head so it could not be hit legally.
After 10 frustrating and ugly rounds all three judges favored Veyre 95-91, 94-92, 98-88. That one judge Vincent Santino should never judge again, nor should the referee Rodriguez be allowed to officiate a world title bout until he is re-educated.
Veyre was named the new WBC super featherweight world titlist, but did not deserve it. It is sad to say because women’s boxing is always in need of exposure. This fight exposed its deficiencies.
Persoon walked away screaming at Veyre and her trainer and promoter. If Veyre continues fighting stop the holding. You have enough ability to win without tackling your foes.