Lem's latest: Campillo protests Cloud verdict; Williams eyes title shot

The handlers of light heavyweight contender Gabriel Campillo have filed an appeal with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in the wake of the fighter's Showtime-televised split-decision loss to IBF beltholder Tavoris Cloud last Saturday in Corpus Christi.

Leon Margules, an attorney for Campillo's manager, Sampson Lewkowicz, said the filing seeks to negate the decision, plus initiate disciplinary action against the offficials involved.

Margules said similar action could be taken with the IBF.

"You have 10 work days within which to do it with the IBF, but with the state of Texas, I filed immediately. Basically, I have asked them to investigate and to discipline the officials, and to change their decision to a no-contest," said Margules.

"So while I've already filed my appeal to the Texas State commission, I am now waiting for the video before I file anything with the IBF. I have to have a conversation with [IBF President] Daryl Peoples."

Calls to Public relations official Susan Stanford, of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, were not immediately returned. Cloud's promoter, Don King, could not immediately be reached.

After being floored twice in the first round, the southpaw Campillo appeared to take control for the fight's remainder, pounding home head-swiveling combinations that sliced open cuts around each of Cloud's eyes.

"It's up to them, whatever they want to do. If they want to protest the decision of the judges, then let them protest. It doesnt' bother me. I still believe that I won the fight. After the first round, I had two knockdowns, and that only means that I had to win three or four more rounds to win the fight. Not that I was trying to win the fight like that," said Cloud.

"But, you know, I did win the fight, although it wasn't the fashion that I wanted to win it in at all. So, Gabriel Campillo, he's a good fighter and fought very well that night we fought. But Tavoris Cloud, on his 'A' game, Gabriel Campillo wouldn't stand a chance. Gabriel Campillo wouldn't make it past the sixth round."

Cloud emerged victorious with an unpopular split-decision, winning 116-110 (eight-to-four in rounds) and 114-112 (six-to-six) on the cards of judges David Robertson and Joel Elizondo, respectively. Judge Dennis Nelson had it for Campillo, 115-111.

"How Joel Elizondo can give only six rounds to Campillo is beyond me. Even more telling is the other card of Robinson, who gave the other guy, Cloud, eight rounds," said Margules.

"Most people who saw the fight gave Cloud anywhere from two to four rounds. I haven't spoken to anybody who gave him more than four rounds. The one card that was correct, Nelson's, only gave him three rounds."

The three judges were chosen by the Texas commission from a list of officials provided by the IBF, as was the referee, Mark Nelson, of Maplewood, Minn.

"All four of the officials that worked the fight are IBF members," said IBF Championships Chairman Lindsay Tucker. "The two from Texas were David Robertson and Joel Elizondo."

Dennis Nelson, of Saint Paul, Minn., had worked such title bouts as junior flyweight Ulises Solis' split-decision over Luis Lazarte in April of 2011, junior welterweight Devon Alexander's unanimous decision over Andriy Kotelnik in August of 2010, and Tim Bradley's unanimous decision over Lamont Peterson in December of 2009.

Robertson is out of Houston, and had worked only one other title bout, a ninth-round knockout by Solis against Bert Batawang for the IBF junior flyweight belt in February of 2007. Elizondo was working his first major title fight.

"I know that every official has to have their first experience judging a title fight, but Joel Elizondo had never officiated a world title fight, and Robinson had done only one previous title fight in his career, ever," said Margules.

"So in this case, you should be sensitive to the fact that if you have one guy judging his first title fight, that you have to make sure that the other two guys are really seasoned guys."

Tucker said the IBF received calls earlier this week from Margules and Lewkowicz, but that their appeal to his organization has not been made official.

In accordance with IBF rules, what would make Campillo's appeal official is that his request be accompanied by a non-refundable fee of $10,000, along with a letter and a DVD of the fight. The request, in accordance with IBF requirements, must be made within 10 days of the bout.

"The $10,000 fee covers the expenses for the appeal hearing, in other words, travel arrangements, loding and meals for the three panelists hearing the appeal, the venue and other related expenses," said Jeanette Salazar, public relations director for the IBF.

"It is non-refundable because if the complaintant decides to withdraw the appeal, and many of the aforementioned arrangements have been made, obviously most of that fee can not be returned."

Salazar also explained the significance of the DVD.

"The DVD is necessary because it is presented as evidence," said Salazar. "Copies of it are made and distributed to the panelists."