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TONYA HARDING VS. AMY JOHNSON
Results of Harding Poll

June 25, 2004 - Edmonton, Canada
Tonya “America’s Bad Girl” Harding, 33, 135 lbs.,  was stopped 1:04  in the third round in Edmonton, Canada. 
 Since then, this fight is being officially protested by Team Harding, and by viewing some of the video footage it appears to be with merit!  WBAN Ran a Boxing Poll on the SECOND ROUND, and the results will be posted soon.  WBAN also took some "interesting" clips of this fight.

VIDEOS ARE REMOVED AND ARCHIVED
 

 
 

Need More Info on what the Protest is based on?  Read Here!

Paul Brown, Tonya Harding manager-trainer is in the process of protesting Harding's last fight that took place on June 25, 2004,  in Edmonton, Canada, against Amy Johnson.  Brown showed the tape to the Edmonton Sun, and after Scott Zerr of the Sun viewed the tape, he wrote, “The planned protest of the outcome of the Amy Johnson/Tonya Harding fight could have some legs to it.”  The dispute centers in the second round of the bout when Harding landed a right hook to Johnson connecting on the chin, knocking Johnson to the canvas. 

Details of the complaint to the commission
by Paul Brown:

Brown's complaint to the Edmonton Boxing and Wrestling Commission is addressed to Mr. Ed Pearson, the Executive Director.  In his complaint about the second round, he says the following:  "In the second round, Amy Johnson was knocked down by Ms. Harding.  Ms. Johnson rose to her feet at the approximate count of eight, but was unable to continue to box.  She was disoriented and stumbling.  Ms. Johnson intentionally removed her protective mouthpiece and indicated that she quit by waiving her arms.  At that point, Ms. Johnson went to her corner where she was met by her chief seconds.  Ms. Johnson grabbed the ropes and again indicated that she was quitting.  By the count of ten, Ms. Johnson was in her own corner talking to her chief second with her mouth guard out of her mouth at which time the referee physically turned Ms. Johnson around.  Ms. Johnson was not physically able or willing to resume fighting until approximately 26 seconds had passed.  The referee turned Ms. Johnson around, spoke to her and appeared to be encouraging her to resume the fight.  As a practical matter, Ms. Johnson was unfit and unprepared to continue the match and Ms. Harding should have been declared the winner.    In addition, as Ms. Johnson approached her corner during the count, her second jumped up the ring apron, spoke to her and at one point pushed her back towards the center of the ring.  An additional second, whom I believe to be Ms. Johnson's father, Mike Johnson, reached under the ring ropes and pushed Ms. Johnson on the leg back into the ring.  At approximately the count of 26, with the help of the referee and her chief second, Ms. Johnson was finally ready to continue the fight.  However, before re-commencing the fight, the referee ordered Ms. Harding to leave the neutral corner to which he had previously sent her, and to return to her corner.  To say the least, I was shocked to see these events unfold without intervention from the referee or Commission officials at ringside.

Paul Brown lists rules broken in this fight and states the following:

"Ms. Harding should have been and should be declared the winner of the match by way of the second round knock down.  Pursuant to the rules and regulations, a boxer who has been knocked down may resume boxing only after the referee has finished counting to eight. Rule 11.1149.  Based upon this rule and the other rules before the commission, a boxer who rises from the floor prior to the count of eight much be ready to re-commence boxing by the count of eight.  In this case, Ms. Johnson clearly indicated that she was no longer able or willing to boxing.  Under Rule 11.122 the referee had the discretion to call time out to examine Ms. Johnson, but did not choose do to do so.  Instead, he kept counting and by the count of ten, Ms. Johnson was not able to resume.  There can be no clearer intention of the boxer acknowledging defeat and quitting the match then by Intentionally removing the mouthpiece, waiving the fight off, going to their corner and meeting with their second.  Under Rule 11.128(r), intentionally removing a mouthpiece constitutes a foul and under Rule 11.129(c) deliberately spitting out a mouthpiece may disqualify a boxer.  In this case, Ms. Johnson deliberately removed her mothpiece with her hand for the sole reason of disqualifying herself or withdrawing from the match.  In addition, her second indicated that he was withdrawing his fighter by getting up on the ring apron.  Rule 11.175 a second is not allowed to throw sponges, towels or other objects into the ring, therefore, it is the general practice that when a second gets up on the apron, that alone signals that a fight is to be stopped.  In addition, Rule 11.1174 requires that seconds remain seated and that they are not to distract from or interfere with a contest.  Prior to the fight at the oral rules meeting, the parties were instructed to not throw a towel in and that if any second climbed to the ring apron, the fight would be over." 

Brown continues, "Throughout the fight, Ms. Johnson was allowed to commit serious fouls.  As pointed out above, removing the mouthpiece under Rule 11.129 is a foul, however, more serious was the continuing lacing of Ms. Harding by Ms. Johnson in all three rounds.  "lacing" is the rubbing of the fighter's laces into the opponent's face for the purposes of interfering with the opponent's ability to see.  Several incidents of lacing occurred in the first, second and third rounds.  In the third round, the referee cautioned Ms. Johnson about the lacing and then backed off only to watch her hold Ms. Harding with one arm while she lacing Ms. harding with the other hand.  lacing is a violation of Rule 11.128.(g) and (m)."

Brown has requested that  the commission declare Tonya Harding the true victor in the June 25, 2004, or, in the alternative, declare the fight a no contest or such other equitable relief as is available within the Commission's power.  

 ©Courtesy Permission received by HPBTV Management Services, Ltd. to post footage of the Harding-Johnson bout

 
     
     
     


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