Furious Eddie Hearn blasts Zelfa Barrett vs Kiko Martinez scorecards as ‘absolutely disgusting’

Eddie Hearn was less than impressed by the Zelfa Barrett-Kiko Martinez scorecards
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George Flood14 February 2021

Matchroom Boxing chief Eddie Hearn has slammed two of the surprising scorecards that handed Zelfa Barrett a wide points victory over Kiko Martinez.

Saturday night’s bout at The SSE Arena, Wembley - which served as the co-main event for Josh Warrington’s return against Mauricio Lara - was an engrossing contest in which the 34-year-old Martinez forced the pace and was widely thought to have won several early and middle rounds before a strong finish from Barrett.

Many onlookers thought a narrow win for either fighter could be likely, while others expected a draw to be announced.

However, Barrett ended up winning and comfortably retaining his IBF Intercontinental super-featherweight title via unanimous decision after the three judges returned scores of 118-111 (x2) and 116-113 in the Manchester fighter’s favour.

And while Hearn was pleased to see his charge take the win after what appeared his toughest contest to date, he was outraged by the wide cards and questioned how British boxing can continue to attract foreign fighters to these shores when they are treated in such an unfair fashion.

“I thought 118-111 is absolutely disgusting for Kiko Martinez,” said Hearn, who wants to set up a rematch between the pair.

“He might as well not have bothered.”

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