BBBofC Clears Nick Ball’s Team Of Wrongdoing In Hand-Wrap Controversy

The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) has cleared Nick Ball’s team of any wrongdoing following a review of the hand-wrapping controversy that preceded his 12th round WBA featherweight title loss to Brandon Figueroa.

The investigation was launched after Figueroa’s trainer, Manny Robles, expressed “disrespect” over the fact that Ball’s hands were wrapped without a member of the Figueroa camp present.

“They wrapped [Ball’s] hands and we were not present. This was discussed in the fighters’ meeting. I said, I want to watch the hands being wrapped. It was all agreed, the commission, the WBA. When I came in the hands had already been wrapped. They [Ball’s team] said we were a little late, they were making excuses. That’s not fair. It was a world title fight. Both parties need to be present. We felt disrespected,” Robles said

The BBBofC concluded that Ball’s team acted within their rights and under official supervision. The Board found that Figueroa’s team failed to arrive at the dressing room at the pre-arranged time stipulated during the rules meeting.

Since Ball’s trainer, Paul Stevenson, had multiple fighters on the card, he requested to proceed with the wrapping to stay on schedule. This was authorized by both a BBBofC inspector and a WBA supervisor, both of whom were present to witness the entire process.

“The situation that has been recorded is that they [Figueroa’s team] arrived later than the pre-arranged time. [Ball’s trainer] Paul Stevenson, who had three fighters on the bill, requested to move ahead with the wrapping of hands which was approved by the WBA supervisor and the Board inspector. So, there was a representative from the Board and the WBA watching the hands being wrapped. “This was accepted at the time by Figueroa’s team on the night,” Robert Smith (Head of BBBofC)

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