Category: 
Jose Mourinho might call them points from the moon. Bernard Dunne called them points for shadowboxing, but whatever you decide to call them there was something amiss about Kenny Egan’s defeat in the Light Heavyweight final. Throughout the boxing tournament there have been several examples of inconsistent judging – poor punches earning a point whilst clean connections mysteriously get missed. Egan was harshly treated to lose by four points. On more than one occasion the Chinese boxer looked to have earned a point simply for being on the receiving end of Egan’s powerful hook.
We’re paying out on Irish boxing hero Kenny Egan as the winner in the Olympic light heavyweight boxing final.* Maybe the neutrals will say the Chinese man deserved to win the bout, but surely the margin and judging in general must come into question.
Admittedly looking through distinctly green-tinted glasses means that my gripes can be dismissed as sour-grapes or being a terrible loser, but the seeds of dubious judging were sown early on in the competition. Paddy Barnes was soundly beaten by Shiming Zou in the light flyweight semi-final, but the fact that he didn’t register a point when in fact he deserved several, left a bitter taste in the mouth, prompting the Belfast man to declare:
They can keep the bronze for all I care. The judges should hang their heads in shame. There’s no doubt I lost the fight by miles but not scoring a point? I’m getting drug tested here. The judges should be getting drug tested. But we’re in China so what do you expect.
It’s not simply a problem affecting the Irish boxers. Many of the bouts were characterised by some unusual awarding of points and it’s not even the first time the judging has been queried with accusations of corruption flying around a recent press conference.
Obviously home advantage is certain to have certain benefits for the athletes involved – that is accepted as the norm, but is it right to question the level of home bias across the Olympics? Some sports involve a definitive goal such as ‘run there fastest‘, ‘throw this furthest‘ or ‘jump as high as you can‘ and the results – technical infringements aside – are clear and unquestionable. Other sports such as amateur boxing, gymnastics and diving are essentially subjective sports, relying on the opinions of a panel of judges to decide the winner.
At these games China have won 51 gold medals. 20 of these have come in events that require judges, with 31 coming in events that have clear-cut conclusion. That’s 39% of China’s gold medals relying on the opinions of judges, with 61% being more straightforward. For the USA, who came second in the medal table with 36 golds, the breakdown is 5.5% of gold medals (2) in events using judges and 94.5% (34) in events not using judges. In the case of Great Britain, the figure is 5% (1) for events with judges opinions required and 95% of golds coming in more objective events. Even Russia, who have a history of success in a number of sports involving judges only accrued 26% of their golds via the subjective events with 74% coming in the more definitive.
Now obviously, there are two ways of viewing this:
(a) China are an emerging athletic force and the breakdown is simply a reflection of their dominance in sports that for years have used judges.
(b) there are darker forces at work.
Hopefully it’s (a) and the integrity of the Games is beyond reproach, but you just can’t help wondering.
*Payout applies to singles only.
August 24th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Shocking result!
August 24th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Yes guys truly shocking judging - It would be interesting for the guys in the RTE studio just to rerun the fight and score the fight to see what the result actually was - there was instances when the chinese fighter took a blow from Kenny but it actually registered one for himself - seemmed for the merest flurry where Kenny landed they would also score an equaliser for the chinese - pathetic - well done Paddy Power - fair play - can you confirm you’ll be paying out on accumulators as well ?
August 24th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Accumulators guys ? - paying out on those - I think Paddy power should do the proper thing and do at least the following - I have lost money on Kenny Egan as part of an Accumulator - i think you should for instance refund half the stake if part of a double and refund a third of the stake if part of a treble - I think thats fair cmon guys ?
August 24th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
I thought it was just me who was going crazy! There was one particular incident where Ken scored a clear point with no comeback by the Chinese fellow and the points went to … China! I figure the refs simply pressed the Chinese button out of simple habit. Their thumbs were off the Irish Button for sure …
August 24th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
The judging in every single sport has been shocking. Pro China bias wherever you looked.At least the Tae Kwon Doe officials rescinded the judges result yesterday.
August 24th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Fair play Paddy, I’m on each-way at 25/1 with ya. You are the bestest bookie ever!
August 24th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Great gesture Paddy. Think although have to agree with Don.. Think you should go whole way and include accums, many people would have bet him at semi or final stage.. BTW I didn’t bet him as like everyone I had an idea foul play could be at work….
August 24th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
watching the fight a blind man could see that the scoring was a miss. sure was the other irish boxer barnes not sayin the same and oddly enough that was againest a chinese boxer aswell
August 24th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Yeah you should include accums. I’d say, considering he was short enough odds, most people would have him in accums with chelsea or other odds on favourites.
Good article though.
Having said that if Ireland were holding the olympics i’d say we’d be expecting a bit of sympathy from the judges. Especially if we forked out 23 billion for the privelege!
August 24th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
When does the bet have to have been placed? i placed one before the fight and one during, as i thought kenny was the better fighter and landing more decent punches.
Shame about the judging.
August 24th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
kerry were robbed too r u refunding on this
August 24th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
well done paddy ill be betting only with you infuture.I think one particular bookie a (sunderland sponser) should take a leaf out of your book. But In fairness the best boxer won the gold medal on the day.Best of luck to ken in the future and he done his country proud
August 24th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
i backed ken to win a gold medal with boyles. overall i think the paddy specials are better even on the soccer matches.the better boxer won the gold medal so i have no complaints other than should i have bet with paddythem and id have been paid out.
August 24th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
any one know who got the first corner in the pats & sligo match
August 24th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
i dunno but whos that small dude on the wing from sligo
he looks half decent
August 24th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
its all a fix paddy, the man won it fair and square thanx for paying out tho fella, i neva known a bookie like that and here was me thinking you were robbing me on the stupid games i play wen i get bored. i must learn to stay away. thax again paddy no doubt you will claim my winnings back over the next 2 weeks
August 24th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
i think your right bennie about paddy getting his money back over the next 2 weeks.my name use to be lucky
August 24th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Saint Pats got the first corner
August 24th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
i think even stevie wonder could call kenny the winner.and i must say fantastic from paddy power brilliant gesture.i have an account with boyles and i got shag all back that account will be closed tomorrow.and what about those assholes kerry cost me a grand hope they get stuffed next week.again welldone the top bookie paddy power.
August 24th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
H ure some langer kerry should be horse whipped will those assholes pay me my grand.
August 24th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
malcolm ur a sad man back with spoils u get what u deserve
August 24th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
h of course im sad u dont think i,ll be dancing with joy do ya.
August 24th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Cheers for nothing, mine was an accumulater. Why don`t we get treated the same!!!
August 24th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
well I had to watch it on the BBC and even they agreeded that kenny was robbed, when the next boxing match came up the presenter said “even i”d win a gold if I was boxing for china”
can’t it be appealed..well done to kenny for getting back up and taking it all gracefully..unlike the cuban who decided to take it out on the ref…kennys a gold medal winner , and should get a heros welcome home……
August 24th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
it will be interesting at the next olympics how many medals the chineese win when they have no pull.Its obvious the judges were cheating ,what did they get out of it.I bet the only medals they get in london will be for cooking curries so to the chineese cheats fork you.
August 24th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
fork you!
i like it
August 25th, 2008 at 8:29 am
its a shame that paddy powers dodn refund kerry losses but in all honesty they couldnt cos they actually took bets on this match unlike measly few quid they r paying out on boxing
August 25th, 2008 at 10:25 am
what would boxing judges make of aidan o mahonys knock out yesterday?? some clown is on about losing a grand - kerry football has lost its integrity!
August 25th, 2008 at 10:43 am
Why on earth would a bookmaker be refunding on Kerry? Instead of looking to the bookie to refund, why not question why Kerry threw that game away. Why do you have a bet if you are not prepared to lose?
August 25th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Fair Play - a kind gesture would have been to refund the stake - but to actually pay out a loser as a winner - definitely a first in my experience with Bookmakers - it proves that PP are a step ahead of all other bookmakers. They lead - others follow reluctantly.
I had a nice sum of money on Egan on Friday after the semis. I was very confident he would win - watched the fight - admittdedly he didnt fight as well as he had previously and he said himself ‘i was asleep in the first round - he was 3-0 down after that - and it was easy for the judges to keep the Chinaman ahead by scoring both boxers simultaneously when a flurry of punches were thrown. There is no doubt Egan landed some soring points that didnt regiter - how many definitely 2 maybe 3. Overall i dont think its worth appealing and is now an accepted outcome.
I took my loss on the chin- as every punter should do - and went to chase my losses - as every punter should not do.
Picked out Kerry -3 pts at evens. But on entering the PP shop - got the good news on Egan payout - and then realised i had nothing to chase - so went to the local and promoted PP to the regular punters to the tune of at least my winnings !
On refunding on Kerry - get a grip H - Olmpics is every 4 years - 16 years since an Irishman fighting for Gold. GAA on every weekend. I had more than a measly few quid on Egan - and even if it was measly - its the principal of the offer - not the amount.
If ‘Egan to win’ was part of an accum - and all other selections won - i think it should be treated at least as a non-runner - if not paid as a winner. Otherwise its a Bias towards a punter who does singles.
Keep up the good work - Going to Electric Picnic next weekend - If you send me out A green PP Umbrella i will gladly continue my promotional campaign !!
August 25th, 2008 at 11:34 am
note to malcolm..currie dosent come from china..
August 25th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
In fairness hardly surprising the home boy gets the decision in a gold medal match.Still incredible achievement that 3 of our five boxers won medals for a nation of our size I hope Egan stays amateur and goes on to win gold in London in 2012.He should be funded to the hilt by the government to keep him away from the pitfalls of going pro.Classy fighter and seems like a sound bloke.As for the PP refund well @ odds of 4/7 I cant see too many went mad punting him great publicity for PP though
August 25th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Go On Paddy! pay out on those accums and ill close my bet365 account TODAY! after all the accum bets are just as much of a risk as the single bets…
August 25th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
rebel just yo let you know i am far from a clown ,ido know what its like to lose hopefully those a$$holes who play for kerry lose a lot more than me ,i dont fofget easily,and to liamo i know curry dosent come from china but the cheating b******s make a lot of dosh out of it
August 25th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
just to add kerrys integrity my hole Rebel they can stick their integrity up their ass
August 25th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
hear hear Sully! i think u hit the nail on the head
August 26th, 2008 at 8:19 am
still waiting on my 4.5 k to b refunded on kerry being cheated with that penalty;great pr paddy cos truth is u paid very little out on the losing boxer
August 26th, 2008 at 11:41 am
alright lads! just back from beijing where i was volunteering as a boxing judge. what’s all this fuss about nothing?
August 26th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Keep waiting H, there is nothing worse than a clown who can’t accept losing a bet
August 26th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Paddy, you’re the man!!
Corrupt Judges, you robbed Kenny, you B@5££rds!!
June 27th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
ur all losers get a frikin life