Andrew Fruman gives this past Friday's controversial light-heavyweight clash between Gabriel Campillo and Beibut Shumenov the scorecard treatment.

"Judge Patricia Morse Jarman scores the bout 117-111 for your winner by split decision..."

As soon as I heard the ring announcer read the numbers 117-111, a sense of relief set in.  Surely there was no possible way anybody paying attention could have given 9 rounds to Beibut Shumenov.  Not that I was rooting for Gabriel Campillo, but like any fan that had just enjoyed 12 hard rounds of boxing, I wanted the right man to walk out of the ring with the victory.  That was Campillo.

"...and now the IBA and WBA light-heavyweight champion... Beibut Shumenov."

"Wow." - Doug Fischer

"Well that's a surprising decision..." - Bob Sheridan

Before getting too outraged after a decision, I like to sit down with pen and paper in hand for a second viewing and see where I really stand with my scorecard before declaring the sport a lost cause.  Usually this just leads to more outrage, but there have been a few times I've changed my stance after carefully watching again.

Let's get to the round by round...

Round 1

10 – 9 Shumenov.

Campillo looked relaxed and was able to block a good number of the thumping power shots fired his way, but enough got through to easily win the round for Shumenov.

Round 2

10 - 9 Campillo

Campillo started to get going about a minute into the round, and found the mark upstairs with some nice jabs and straight lefts. There was no pop in any of these, but they were clean shots and had Shumenov backing away. Shumenov dug down and fired off some of his typical bombs over the final 30 seconds of the round, and a couple did get through, but it wasn’t enough to swing the round his way as Campillo had built up a nice lead.

Could this round have gone to Shumenov? Yes, I think so. Despite a connect edge for Campillo, he wasn’t out in front by all that much and the harder shots were landed by Shumenov. If a judge prefers the fighter that’s planting his feet and ripping to the one that’s just trying to connect, then it’s not hard to see a preference for Shumenov in this round.

19 - 19

Round 3

10 - 9 Shumenov

"This was a very difficult round to score." – Bob Sheridan

I’m in agreement with the Colonel, as this was a very tight round.

Campillo was more precise, and he did have Shumenov backing up at times especially during one nice sequence where he landed a series of clean shots, but overall he wasn’t very active and there was no sting when he did land. Most of Shumenov’s punches were blocked, but he did occasionally find the mark with shots that landed either around the guard or through it. In terms of punches landed – it was close – but Shumenov definitely had more behind his connects.

Could this have gone to Campillo? Yes. I preferred the bigger hitter, but if one likes the more defensively astute fighter who’s landing the prettier punches, Campillo certainly could have got the nod.

29 - 28 Shumenov

Round 4

10 - 9 Campillo

This was a dominant round for the Spanish fighter. After blocking just about everything Shumenov threw in the opening minute, he had things all his own way during the final 2 minutes of the round, first pecking away as he backed Shumenov up, and then unloading with an impressive barrage during the final 30 seconds.

38 - 38

Round 5

10 - 9 Campillo

Despite suffering a cut – from a hard right hand - on the outside of his left eye about a minute into the round, it was Campillo that did the better work, especially over the last two minutes of the round. He landed the majority of the cleaner shots, and also appeared to be landing with some extra oomph compared to the opening few rounds. In contrast, Shumenov started to look a little sluggish, and some of the starch appears to have gone from his punches.

Could this have gone the other way? In my opinion, it was a definite round for Campillo, but Sheridan and co-commentator Doug Fischer both scored it for Shumenov – so clearly in some eyes it was a round that could have gone to Shumenov.

48 - 47 for Campillo

Round 6

10 - 9 Campillo

Earlier in the fight, Fischer questioned whether or not Shumenov could load up so much with each shot and remain strong as the battle progressed. It looks like he was on the money, as by this point it appears Shumenov is starting to pay for failing to pace himself properly. Campillo took full advantage of his tiring foe, repeatedly making Shumenov miss, while peppering him and over with accurate counters in return.

58 - 56 for Campillo

Round 7

10 - 9 for Campillo

This was a big round for Campillo. He bossed Shumenov all over the ring for the full 3 minutes.

68 - 65 for Campillo

Round 8

10 - 9 Campillo

Almost all the clean punches in the 8th were landed by Campillo, as the exhausted Shumenov fought much of the round in retreat – something that certainly doesn’t suit his aggressive style. Every so often, he stopped to plant his feet and fire back, only for his efforts to be comfortably handled by Campillo.

78 - 74 for Campillo

Round 9

10 - 9 Campillo

Gutsy stuff showed by Shumenov. He tried as hard as his depleted energy levels would allow, but took a real beating in the 9th, especially over the second half of the round. As mentioned by Sheridan at the end of the round, this was one sided enough that a case could be made for a 10-8 score in favour of Campillo.

88 - 83 for Campillo

Round 10

10 - 9 Shumenov

Shumenov came out for the 9th looking re-energized and managed to land enough solid punches over the course of the 3 minutes to earn the round. It was a surprising comeback round for Shumenov given the direction the bout had been heading, although Campillo may have been a bit arm weary from all the shots he throw over the previous few rounds.

Could it have gone either way? I had Shumenov with a bit of a lead at the 1 minute mark, and felt he did enough the rest of the way to hang onto that margin – but Campillo had a couple nice flurries and landed enough clean shots that an argument could be made the other way.

97 - 93 for Campillo

Round 11

10 - 9 Campillo

Shumenov gamely tried to build on his comeback performance in the 10th and pressed the action early, but had most of his efforts blocked by Campillo and by the middle of the round was getting systematically picked apart by his slicker foe. In terms of clean, effective punching – not to mention every other measure of scoring - this was another clear cut round for Campillo.

Could this round have gone either way? Not in my opinion. With about 30 seconds left in the round, Sheridan commented that "This was a very hard round to score." If it was close at that point – and I don’t agree that it was – Campillo stamped his seal on the round with a strong finish.

107 - 102 for Campillo

Round 12

10 - 9 Campillo

Shumenov came out hard for the 12th and kept Campillo on the defensive for a full minute to start the round, but landed little in the process. By contrast, after weathering the early storm, Campillo consistently found the mark when he lets his hands go. This was the fight – Shumenov determined but unable to get through with his heavy leather – and Campillo calm and composed, pecking away accurately with clean shots in response.

Could this round have gone either way? No. Shumenov didn’t fade entirely after the opening 60 seconds, as he kept plugging away in spurts until the final bell – but he just didn’t land enough clean punches to make a valid argument for the round.

117 - 111 for Campillo

Final Thoughts...

Most of the rounds were clear cut, with only a few falling into the could go either way category.  In my opinion, the 2nd and 3rd rounds were the closest of the fight, and having already given the 3rd to Shumenov, giving him the 2nd as well only brings his tally for the fight up to 4 rounds.

Sheridan and Fischer gave Shumenov the 5th round as well.  I personally don't see it, but they were ringside and given their proximity to the action, it's possible Shumenov's power was a little more effective than it appeared on television.  If we give Shumenov this round as well, we're now looking at a scorecard that still has him falling short by a 115-113 tally.  That's as close as it could have been.

The 115-113 scorecard handed out in Shumenov's favor by Jerry Roth was a very poor card, but the 117-111 by Patricia Morse Jarman was nothing short of a disgrace.  There's no defending it.  Given how many decisive rounds Campillo won, scoring only 3 of the 12 in his favor is an astonishing piece of judging.

This was a game effort by a relatively inexperienced pro, and Shumenov deserves praise for going a hard 12 – but he did not win the fight.

As a fan, what can you do?  Nothing except shake your head and hope for better next week.

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