Welterweight contender Irving Garcia and his camp arrived from Kiev Ukraine today with a look of disappointment following their controversial draw with undefeated Ukrainian Yuriy Nuzhnenko last Saturday. 

The bout was stopped after ten rounds of action, due to a cut suffered by Nuzhnenko, which was caused by an accidental headbutt earlier in the fight. One judge had Nuzhnenko winning by one point (96-95), while the other two scored it even, 95-95 apiece, declaring the contest a technical majority draw.

The winner of the bout would’ve been awarded the interim WBA welterweight title, thus becoming the frontrunner for a shot at undefeated welterweight superstar Miguel Cotto, or at the very least the winner of the summer showdown between Cotto and Antonio Margarito.

With no winner coming out of this weekend’s bout, Garcia can only hope that someone – be it the WBA, or even the Cotto-Margarito winner, steps up and does the right thing. Until then, the Puerto Rican and his camp are forced to reflect on a weekend that should’ve been.

"I am greatly satisfied with the performance that Irving Garcia gave in his first world title fight recently fought in the Ukraine,” says Harry Padilla, Garcia’s manager. “Unfortunately, the decision to stop the fight after the tenth round is greatly disappointing.” 

Padilla’s claims are not without merit.

“I have read several reports that agree with me on the fact that almost all of the damage to the face of Nuzhnenko was as a result of punches received from Irving Garcia. To stop a cut from a head butt that was caused in the second round and was as high up as the hairline does not make any sense to me. The cut in no way was the cause for the rest of his face looking as it did.

“I also believe that we still won the fight. Not to take anything away from Nuzhnenko but anyone knows that if you go into someone’s backyard and get a draw, it means that you probably won the fight.”

What matters most now is that someone has your back when you are forced to challenge the system. Garcia is in good hands, with his promoter hard at work to make sure their fighter lands on his feet when all is said and done.

“I’ve spoken with Irving Garcia's promoters (Starfight Productions Inc.) and they’ve agreed to make every attempt to help get a rematch as soon as possible,” insists Padilla. “They will work with the WBA in order to resolve this issue as soon as possible.”

All that Team Garcia wants is a return go – even if it means once again traveling abroad.

“I hope K2 Promotions will consider this as an opportunity for the these two great warriors to settle this once and for all in a rematch. We have no problem going back to Kiev, Ukraine." 

Starfight Productions hopes to get an immediate rematch. If not, then it’s on to Plan B.

“If K2 Promotions decides to avoid this rematch, it still opens up multiple options and puts the rest of the boxing world on notice. Irving Garcia should have his name thrown in the hat of the welterweight division, along with Carlos Quintana, Paul Williams, Andre Berto, Ricky Hatton and any of the other available top-rated fighters.”