Photo: Supplied
The historic boxing card set for Auckland this weekend could be under threat.
Two world title fights are scheduled for Saturday's event with Mea Motu and Lani Daniels to defend their titles.
However, unless a referee is removed, two of the fights, including Motu's, may be pulled.
Boxing coach Isaac Peach is questioning the competence of referee Ignatius Missilaidus after he judged another of Peach's fighters in Sydney on Wednesday night.
Peach boxer Kiki Toa Leutele won his heavyweight contest against Toese Vousiutu by split decision with two of the judges scoring it 76-75.
But Missilaidus went the other way by a huge margin - 73-78.
Missilaidus is due to referee Motu's IBO super bantamweight title defence against Malawi's Ellen Simwaka at Eventfinda Stadium on Auckland's North Shore and Jerome Pampellone's IBF intercontinental fight against South Africa's Luvuyo Sizani.
Fighters gathered at David Tua's gym today ahead of the card in Auckland. Photo: Jonty Dine
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Peach said he was disgusted by the scorecard.
"I'm not having it, incompetence is incompetence, a cheat is a cheat. A better person is needed for the job."
Peach issued an ultimatum that unless Missilaidus is axed, his fighters will not make the walk to the ring.
"Mea and Jerome deserve the best. At this level, you don't get scores that wrong, how can one person in the whole world score a fight like that, I'll make a stand. I can't put a couple of my top fighters in a ring with a referee that cant be trusted, for the safety of the sport."
Event promoter Dean Lonergan said he was caught off guard by Peach's comments.
"I wasn't expecting that, the only thing I can do is pull all the officials together tomorrow we will sit down and figure out what the hell we are going to do."
Lonergan was adamant the event will still happen.
"The card 100 per cent will go on, we will get a solution one way or another."
Lani Daniels understood Peach's position.
"He's got a point, he's doing what any coach should do and is looking after his fighters, we don't want that in the sport."
-RNZ
