Contender finalist calls foul on rule changes

Monday night’s final of The Contender Australia could be hanging in the balance after finalist Kariz Kariuki expressed he was unhappy with changes to the match.

Kariuki, who takes on Garth Wood for the title, is unhappy with a decision to reschedule the bout from a 10 round contest to 7 rounds, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. He is also upset over a directive that the pair weigh-in 12 hours before they enter the ring.

His trainer said the changes were designed to help Wood and would not guarantee the bout would go ahead.

”Obviously Kariz is a 12-round fighter and he is rated No.8 in the world whereas Garth has never fought over six rounds so they’ve brought it from 10 rounds to seven to suit Garth and they’ve changed it from a 24-hour weigh-in,” Hudson said. ”You tell me how that is fair? But the reality is that we have been told we will be sued if we don’t turn up for the weigh-in on Monday so we’ll see what happens. Kariz is ready to go and we are going to weigh in on Sunday just like everyone else fighting on Monday night.”

The winner of the final will walk away with $25,000, a car, the title of “Contender Champion” and the opportunity to fight Anthony Mundine this year with a $250,000 prize purse.

The FOX8 reality show has already attracted some controversy over the decisions of judges.

Kariuki said, ”Whatever happens I’m ready to fight, but it is up to my manager and my trainer.”

The match is set to air 8:30pm Monday night on FOX8.

Source: smh.com.au