MANILA (ANN/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER) – In a display of remarkable sportsmanship, Japanese boxer Keita Kurihara renounced his victory over Filipino fighter Renan Portes last Monday at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
What began as a standard eight-round boxing match took an unexpected turn when an emotional Kurihara addressed the audience, declaring, “I didn’t win this fight,” shortly after his split decision win was announced.
Two Japanese judges scored the bout 78-74 in favour of Kurihara, while the third judge had it 78-74 for Portes.
A viral Facebook video shows a regretful Kurihara apologising to Portes in the Bukidnon native’s locker room.
“I was declared the winner, but I believe I lost. It’s shameful that I was declared the winner. I apologise,” said Kurihara through a translator.
A win would’ve been a much needed one for Portes, who instead slumped to his 17th loss against 13 wins.
Kurihara, meanwhile, hiked his record to 19-8-1, 16KOs.
Prior to facing Portes, Kurihara beat another Filipino in Froilan Saludar in a rematch last January in Cebu in a fight where the Japanese knocked out the former world title contender in the eighth round.
It was a heartbreaking loss for the 35-year-old Portes, who had promised his daughter that he would go back home a winner.
“I promised my child that I won’t return home a loser,” Portes said, as seen in a video posted by Edmond Lapitan Dellosa on Facebook. “In the sixth round, I felt groggy but [I fought back] because I promised my child I would bring home the victory.”
“He said you won,” a translator told Portes while Kurihara, still awash in grief, knelt beside the Filipino muttering apologies. “He believes you won and that’s what you should tell your child. He’s going to fight to let the record reflect that you won.”
