Nevada Reportedly Investigating If Gambler Influenced Officials

Nevada boxing officials and the Nevada attorney general are investigating whether a gambler influenced fight officials to award the world middleweight boxing title to Sugar Ray Leonard, WNEV-TV in Boston reported Friday night.

But Sig Rogich, a longtime member of the Nevada Athletic Commission, which governs boxing in the state, said such allegations aren’t unusual.

“You have allegations after virtually every fight. But it’s our policy not to comment on something like this. We have an obligation to check any allegation,” Rogich said.

The split decision April 6 took the title from Marvelous Marvin Hagler. The bout was refereed by Richard Steele. The judges were Lou Filippo, Dave Moretti and JoJo Guerra. Filippo scored the fight 115-113 for Hagler, while Moretti had it 115-113 for Leonard and Guerra scored the fight 118-110 for Leonard.

The television station said a well-known professional gambler in Las Vegas allegedly made a large bet on Leonard to win, after being assured he’d have help from the officials.