"Dmitry Salita fervently advocates for 'justice' on behalf of Vladimir Shishkin"
Dmitry Salita is fiercely supporting his protege, the super middleweight Vladimir Shishkin, following a controversial loss to William Scull in Germany. Salita, a former fighter turned promoter, has taken action by appealing to the IBF against the questionable scoring that cost Shishkin a victory in the fight for the vacant title on October 19 in Germany.
Despite Shishkin's valiant effort, including a nearly decisive blow in the 12th round, the judges' scorecards heavily favored Scull, which Salita vehemently disputes. "We filed an appeal with the IBF, and I'm grateful they are giving it serious consideration," Salita expressed. "Vladimir threw and landed nearly double the punches as per CompuBox. Yet, the decision was unjust, especially in the 12th round where he almost dropped Scull, only to have the round awarded to him. It highlights the uphill battle we faced and the unfairness of the outcome."
Salita emphasized the detrimental impact of inconsistent judging on the sport, stating, "For boxing to evolve, especially with its growing presence on platforms like DAZN, consistency in judging is paramount. Victory should not be determined by the location of the fight. Fairness is essential for the sport to progress."
The controversial decision even drew criticism from unexpected quarters, with Salita noting, "Even Jake Paul, unrelated to Vladimir, voiced his disapproval on social media. Such injustices must be rectified for the sport to thrive."
The defeat had significant ramifications for Shishkin, potentially depriving him of lucrative matchups in the talent-rich super middleweight division. "The super middleweight division is fiercely competitive," Salita remarked. "Vladimir was on the cusp of major fights with the likes of 'Canelo' Alvarez, Chris Eubank Jnr, and Caleb Plant, which are significant opportunities missed due to the unfair decision."
Shishkin's journey to this point has been marked by resilience and sacrifice. Having relocated to Detroit in pursuit of his boxing dreams without a support network, he has shown unwavering dedication to his craft. "Vladimir has given his all for this sport and rightfully deserved the championship," Salita affirmed. "As his promoter, we are committed to seeking justice, and we appreciate the IBF's attention to our appeal."
