Suspicious fight to be investigated
Sunday, 29 January 2006 12:33The Boxing Union of Ireland will hold an investigation into the bizarre circumstances surrounding the fight to fill the vacant Irish lightweight title in the National Stadium between Michael Gomez and Peter McDonagh last night.
In the fifth round of the fight, Gomez was downed by a seemingly innocuous shot from McDonagh.
According to Boxing Union of Ireland supervisor Mel Christle, both fighters will have their purses withheld pending the results of the investigation.
Bookmaker Boyle Sports told RTÉ that it had suspended betting on the fight yesterday when it noticed an unusual pattern of betting on McDonagh winning in the fifth, sixth or seventh rounds.
McDonagh had been 125/1 to win in the fifth yesterday morning, but the odds had been cut to 18/1 by mid-afternoon.
Gomez was in control of the fight, with a blistering opening three rounds rocking McDonagh. The fight inevitably slowed down but McDonagh was still failing to land a significant punch.
But in the fifth, McDonagh hit Gomez with a right. Gomez dropped his guard and turned away without seeming to actually be hurt. McDonagh followed him and it took a flurry of eight or nine missed shots before he landed another.
Speaking on RTÉ Television after the fight, former world champion Steve Collins claimed that the finish had not been wholly kosher, saying, "I smell a rat, something's not right here."
