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The dispute which has cast a shadow over Teresa Perozzi's world title glory is far from the simple case it seems at first sight.

The chairman of the WIBC says she's not the champion. So does that mean she is not the champion? Apparently not.

According to the Association of Boxing Commisions, once the WIBC agreed to sanction the fight, that should have been the end of its involvement, other than to present the belt to the fighter at the end.

Overseeing the judges, referees, the weigh-in and all the rest of the organization of the fight is the responsibility of the local governing body, in this case the Trinidad & Tobago Boxing Board of Control.

The only way the WIBC can declare the fight invalid is with the blessing of the ABC.

For that to happen Don Lewis must back up his claims that the fees were not paid .

If Lewis was, as he claims, barred from attending the weigh-in, that could also be a problem.

Those are the only two issues on which the ABC must adjudicate.

We've broken down both sides of the story from the two men at the centre of the dispute, in their own words.

According to Boxu Potts

The Trinidad & Tobago Boxing Board of the control is the governing body for the fight.

Don Lewis is alleging that we owe him money for the judges and referees. This is not mandatory in Trinidad and Tobago.

We paid him for the sanctioning of the belts and the fights and he e-mailed me to confirm receipt of this (The Bermuda Sun has seen copies of these e-mails).

They can't under any circumstances withhold these titles without the authority of T&T Boxing Board of Control and the Association of Boxing Commissions.

The T&T Boxing Board of Control is looking into this and if they decide we have to pay judges and referees, fees we will. But we have already paid for the sanctioning of the fights.

If he is brave enough to take back these titles he runs the risk of seriously damaging his credibility and never sanctioning a fight again.

The validity or authority of the title is not in question. He is claiming we owe him $1,200 for the cost of the judges and referees.

This should be paid to the board and not to him. But if the board decides we should pay him, we will pay him.

He was at the weigh-in. He arrived late, but when he did get there, he apologized and agreed that the weigh-in was legitimately held.

I can assure the country of Bermuda and the country of Trinidad & Tobago that he does not have any entitlement over the belts.

We do not want to deal with him any more. We want to do a unification of titles.

Teresa agreed to a title defence and will honour it and at the same time we want her to go for another title as well.

According to Don Lewis

When I flew in, the promoters kept me from entering the weigh-in. If the promoter is not at the weigh-in to sanction the fight then there is no certified fight (According to the ABC this is not correct. The sanctioning body does not HAVE to be at the weigh-in. However, the weigh-in should be held in public and if Mr. Lewis was there on time and wanted to attend the weigh-in, he should have been allowed to).

Secondly, the promoter of record did not pay all fees due-including but not limited to the belt usage fees.

When I got down there I was told I would receive my money as quickly as possible.

To keep a riot from happening, I allowed the fights to go ahead and said I would present the belts in the ring.

I then asked for the belts to be returned to me, until the sanctioning fees were paid.

Perozzi refused the request of the WIBC supervisor to turn over the belt when asked on three separate occasions.

My plan was to declare all of the winners as interim champions, so the fighters would not suffer if the sanctioning fees were not paid.

Then after their first title defence they would be declared bona-fide non-restricted champions.

If she returns the belt and apologises I give my word that I will still declare her interim champion.[[In-content Ad]]

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