- Ref Les Fear is furious over threat he received last week
- Has lodged complaint about behaviour of SBW’s camp
Boxing referee Les Fear has complained to Combat Sport NSW over conduct from Sonny Bill Williams’ camp after Wednesday night’s bout with Paul Gallen in Homebush.
Gallen claimed a narrow win over bitter rival Williams in their long-awaited grudge match, leaving fight fans debating who really won the bout.
The Cronulla Sharks icon took the verdict with two judges awarding him the eight-round bout on scores of 77-74 and 76-75, with the third giving Williams the edge, 77-74.
Fear, one of Australia’s best referees, had security guards walk him to his vehicle after the bout because of the threats he was receiving, reports News Corp.
‘I’m furious about it,’ Fear said.
‘People around the ring could hear the abusive language.’
Referee Les Fear (pictured right) has complained to Combat Sport NSW over conduct from Sonny Bill Williams’ camp after Wednesday night’s bout in Homebush
Fear had security guards walk him to his car after the bout because of the threats he was receiving during the night
‘And then at the end, I looked down to the Combat Sport Inspector and said, “Get security here right now.” I want them out of the ring and out of the venue.’
Williams could be seen persistently holding throughout the bout to neutralise the pressure from Gallen.
The tactic backfired in the seventh round when referee Fear penalised Williams with a point deduction after repeated warnings.
Had that point not been deducted, the 39-year-old would have walked away with a draw.
‘I told Sonny Bill and Paul Gallen there would be no holding,’ Fear said.
‘It’s illegal to hold in boxing. I didn’t want to be pulling them apart all night because they’re a lot bigger than me.
‘Sonny Bill blatantly disregarded my instructions. He didn’t listen.
‘There’s rules in rugby league and there’s rules in boxing. If you do the wrong thing you get penalised.’
Fear penalised Williams with a point deduction after repeated warnings about holding
Fear went on to say that he was copping abuse from Williams’ team throughout the bout.
‘Everyone’s going me,’ he said.
‘But at the end of the day he didn’t get the decision because he disrespected the rules of boxing. Simple as that. Sonny Bill has got to take responsibility.’
Williams’ camp was indeed furious with the result, with his manager Khoder Nasser calling the decision ‘criminal’.
‘Only in Australia. No other [boxing] commission in the world would have a referee like that,’ he told Stuff.
‘…the last judge lives in Cronulla [Gallen’s home town]. A judge from Cronulla. Can you believe these authorities? To have a bloke from the same neck of the woods as the other guy. It’s criminal.’
The result leaves Gallen with a pro boxing record of 15-3-1 with eight wins by knockout, while Williams sits at 9-2, with four wins by KO.
