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Mayorga's win streak comes to an end
against Cory Spinks.
Written by Ozzie Gonzalez,
Latinosportslegends.com
December 12, 2003 -- Nicaraguan boxer, Ricardo
"El Matador" Mayorga was beaten for the first time in five
years on Saturday night when he lost to Cory Spinks on a blockbuster
8-fight card presented by promoter Don King.
In a stunning upset, Spinks won a controversial, majority 12-round decision, 117-110 ,114-112 while the third judge scored the fight a 114-114
draw to add the WBA & WBC welterweight title to his already owned IBF
title.
The 25-year-old, Spinks, is the son of former heavyweight champion Leon Spinks and former heavyweight title-holder Michael
Spinks.
The reason for controversy comes from referee, Tony Orlando, who deducted two points from Mayorga for hitting after the bell and for hitting behind the head.
"If it wasn't for the referee I would have won the fight," said Mayorga. " I wasn't intentionally hitting him wrong. He was bending down when I was throwing punches."
The light-hitting Spinks frustrated Mayorga from the opening bell and took advantage of two point deductions
Mayorga (25-4-1) was aggressive and wild in the first few rounds, swinging and
missing an elusive Spinks. His aggression soon turned to frustration and referee Tony Orlando warned him for low blows, hitting on the break and hitting after the bell. Spinks continually moved side to side and slid under Mayorga's wild blows. He landed a straight right hand in the third round. Mayorga smiled. The crowd roared.
In the fifth round, Mayorga became clear when he put his hands on his hips in the center of ring and yelled at Spinks to stop moving. A minute later, Mayorga staggered Spinks with a straight right hand. The champion landed several more quality punches.
Spinks' mouth bled.
But Mayorga's bully tactics cost him. He continued to attack Spinks after the bell and Orlando took a point away.
Mayorga staggered Spinks again in the eighth round with a right hand. Spinks appeared to be trapped on the ropes but he moved back to the center of ring, smiled and called Mayorga forward.
He lost another point, his second, in the 11th round for holding Spinks
behind the head with his left hand and hitting.
"I thought the referee wasn't on my side," Mayorga said. "He didn't have to take those points away from me. I lost because of the referee."
After the decision was announced, a disappointed Mayorga, who had called Spinks various names
and insults before the fight, kissed Spinks' hand and placed the three belts around his
waist and shoulders.
"He was a man to come up to me and apologize," Spinks said. "I've worked hard all my life. I'm a man, not a boy."
It was the first time one fighter has held all three major 147-pound titles since Lloyd Honeyghan gave up his WBA title in 1986 in a protest over apartheid.
As for Mayorga, this defeat throws a curveball at his already set plan
for a big payday against super welterweight champion Sugar Shane Mosley.
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