BY SUKHDEV CHHATBAR
Arusha top female boxer Sarah Alex has cried foul over her defeat in Russia blaming biased officiating and a partisan home crowd which cost her the WBA Asia Female Super Bantamweight title a fortnight ago.
Sarah, who has returned to Arusha following the September 13 bout in Orenburg, told The Arusha News that she believed she had outboxed Russia’s Ekaterina Sycheva despite losing by unanimous decision.
She said she landed clean jabs and heavy punches throughout the contest and felt she was in control for much of the fight.
“I was punching her hard and she was no match to me but the judges thought otherwise,” Sarah said.
All three judges scored the eight-round contest 80-72 in favour of Sycheva, who walked away with the vacant title.
Sarah, however, questioned the judging and said the strong backing Sycheva received from the home crowd also created a difficult atmosphere.
According to Sarah, a protest has been lodged requesting a rematch.
She said she is hopeful the organisers will respond within one month.
Despite the setback, Sarah has already returned to training in Arusha and is preparing for possible fights in December as she looks to bounce back from the defeat.
