Thompson Boxing & Banner Promotions to Appeal Hamazaryan vs. Mattice Decision

ORANGE, Calif.– Immediate controversy ensued after the reading of the official scoring between lightweights Zhora Hamazaryan and Thomas Mattice.

Artie Pelullo, who co-promotes Hamazaryan with Thompson Boxing, will appeal the outcome of last Friday’s Zhora Hamazaryan – Thomas Mattice fight with the Iowa commission. Mattice won the 8-round fight by split decision.

Pelullo spoke to Iowa Commissioner Joe Walsh after the fight on Friday, which took place at the WinnaVegas Casino.

The bout was seen by a nationally televised audience as the co-feature of a ShoBox: The New Generation card on SHOWTIME.

In the fight, Hamazaryan scored an explosive 2nd round knockdown; rocked Mattice several more times, and dominated the action. Hamazaryan badly hurt Mattice in round seven. Most people who saw the fight thought that Hamazayan won 6 rounds to 2, plus the 2nd round knockdown.

Hall of Fame SHOWTIME announcer Steve Farhood called the the decision one of the worst in the history of the series, while his fellow Hall of Fame broadcaster Barry Tompkins went even farther by calling it the worst decision in 40 years.

Scores: Hamazaryan 77-74 / Mattice 76-75 twice.

Hamazaryan co-promoter, Artie Pelullo said, “I spoke to commissioner Joe Walsh right after the fight. I informed him that we were going to appeal the decision, and he understood our position, and he said that we are within our rights to appeal.”

Hamazaryan is promoted by Thompson Boxing and Banner Promotions.