Decisions cause controversy

Navarro celebrates as Mesbahi pounds the canvas

Claims, counter-claims and controversial decisions dogged the ninth day of competition in the Olympic boxing ring.

Morocco claimed flyweight Hicham Mesbahi was robbed of victory against American Jose Navarro, while the Americans claim they are victims of anti-American feeling.

The Canadians were also left frustrated after their big medal hope fell to another controversial refereeing decision.

Moroccan boxing president Saadi Benihirane indicated they could appeal against the decision which saw Mesbahi lose out on a quater-final place to Navarro.

Mesbahi's reaction to the announcement of the verdict was to throw himself to the canvas and pound his fists in despair before being led away in uncontrollable tears.

Rapid-fire

Mesbahi led 7-6 on points going into the final round and although Navarro scored three rapid-fire points in the last minute to secure the verdict, Benihirane was convinced there was injustice.

"We were cheated. It's just politics and the US have a big share of the cake and the little countries like Morocco are left with the crumbs," said Benihirane who described the decision as "not normal".

We were cheated. It's just politics and the US have a big share of the cake.

  Saadi Benihirane, Moroccan boxing president

"I have been 20 years in boxing and I saw three points coming from nowhere, the poor guy has prepared for four years for this and for what?"

Loren Baker, general secretary of the International Amateur Boxing Association, said he and president Anwar Chowdhry had watched the bout on a monitor and "did not pick up anything that was glaring".

While the Americans were convinced Navarro had beaten Mesbahi legitimately, president of US boxing Gary Tomey is worried that crowd reactions could sway judges.

Light-welterweight Ricardo Williams comfortably beat Nigerian crowd pleaser Olusegun Ajose 21-6, but the decision was greeted with loud boos, while Olanda Anderson become the fourth American to lose out, narrowly beaten 13-12 by Rudolf Kraj of the Czech Repbulic.

"I don't know why we're being booed the way we are. It hurts me right here," said Toney with his hand on his heart.

Toney said he had noticed the crowd swinging against the Americans for a few days but had not said anything until Sunday when it became too obvious to ignore.

Outraged

The Canadians were also outraged after light-heavyweight medal contender Troy Amos-Ross's contest against Nigerian Jegbefumere Albert was stopped.

Turkish referee Alp Bartu halted the contest one minute 34 seconds into the third round after Amos-Ross took a head-shot.

Diogenes Luna advanced to the last eight

Amos-Ross stayed down and took an eight count but was amazed on getting to his feet that the referee had stopped the contest.

"I clearly went down, yes, but there's no reason for the referee to stop the fight unless he decides I was truly hurt - which I wasn't," said the Canadian.

AIBA general secretary Baker revealed that the Russians had protested after British super-heavyweight Audley Harrison had beaten Alexei Lezin in similar circumstances.

But he hinted that any appeal by the Canadians would get equally short measure.

"They claimed the referee made an error but it boils down to a matter of judgement.

"You can't overturn a fight based on an official's judgement. The referee is in the ring and his first responsibility is the safety of the athlete," said Baker.

Amid the controversy, Cuba continued to fill the quarter-final berths, with light-welterweight Diogenes Luna the latest to qualify, beating France's 1999 world silver medallist Willy Blain 25-14.