FORMER European middleweight champion Kerry Hope is now the WBC Asian Boxing Council middleweight champion after the governing body overturned a controversial draw decision he received against Thailand’s Petchsuriya Singwancha on August 29.
Hope, who is now based in Australia, appeared to dominate the contest but scores of 115-113 (for Singwancha), 114-114 and 117-111 (for Hope) were given.
The Welshman’s manager, Matt Clark, launched an official complaint with the WBC who reviewed the contest and the decision was awarded to Hope by wide margins. Two of the three judges have also been suspended and must retrain.
Currently in the WBO’s top 15 middleweights in the world, the 33-year-old is now likely to enter the WBC ratings also.
