Cebu-born Davis to judge Donaire-Mathebula showdown

THE final line-up of officials who will judge today’s fight between Filipino Nonito Donaire and South African Jeffery Mathebula will include Jonathan Davis of Buena Park, California, Deon Duarte of South Africa and Steve Morrow of Hollister, California. Referee will be Pat Russell of San Diego, California.

Davis was born in Cebu and was a boxing judge here since 2003 before moving and judging fights in the United States in 2009. Davis will represent the IBF, Duarte, the WBO and Morrow, the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC).

Davis’ last major role as a fight judge here in Cebu was the 2008 IBF superflyweight eliminator between Z “The Dream” Gorres and Vic Darchinyan which ended in a split draw at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel.

All eyes will be on Referee Russell when he tries to shake off the stigma of the controversial WBC light heavyweight title contest last year between Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawson. That fight ended in a “no contest” after two rounds when Hopkins dislocated a shoulder after being tossed to the canvas by Dawson.

The 64 year-old Russell ruled that there was no foul and awarded Dawson the victory by TKO but he was eventually overturned by the California State Athletic Commission by a vote of 5-1, ruling the bout a “no contest.” Dawson would beat Hopkins last April by majority decision in a rematch.  /Correspondent Rene Bonsubre Jr