There was some controversy with the outcome of the Siki - Carpentier bout of 1922, and I believe the ref even DQ'd Siki for a bit before overturning the decision. In the film, you can see Siki sorta kick Carpentier in the leg before he went down, and Carpentier appears to be grasping the kicked leg in pain when he was on the canvas. What really happened?
I did read somewhere it was supposed to be a fixed fight with the French man winning but some how it went wrong in there, Siki started to really hurt him. The fight turned a bit crazy. Carpentier then ended up battered and bleeding. The ref, who may have been on the fix, dqd Siki. There was such an uproar that the judges an hour later over turned the decision and the orchid man had lost his title.
I do remember reading about a supposed fix. In the article I read many moons ago, the writer actually suggested that Siki's death on a Harlem street several years later could have been the result of the French mob finally catching up to him for going against script. A bit of a stretch, but who knows?
It's what I love about boxing from story's years ago. Rumours of fixed fights, shady deals, rumours and myths. No other sport has it.
I read in Harry Mullan's boxing encyclopedia that Carpentier had the fight filmed and wanted to make it worth while so carried Siki for a few rounds rather than finish him off when he had the chance and then Siki turned the tables! A good article here suggests it was fixed but George may not have known. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-fight-that-wouldnt-stay-fixed-126493491/
As Siki told it, he had agreed to take a dive in the fourth round but when it came to it his pride just wouldn't let him do it. https://ibb.co/DYcsxxH
Carpentier had more excuses in his autobiography than almost anyone I've ever heard .. his story about Siki borders on the moronic .. to me maybe it was to be a fix for Georgia too win easy but then got out of control and Siki caused heavy damage .. the foul looks very hard to tell and accidental and was used to try and save the title for Carpentier to me .. thankfully if was overturned ... shame Siki was Leon Spinks like in his complete lack of self-control .. he was strong, tough, had a terrific chin and could hit ... just a wild guy ..
It looks like there was a foul of some sort on film, Siki kicks or knees Carpentier in his leg and on the canvas he's gripping the leg in pain and keeping it up. Seems like he had a point
He was also an idiot. Imagine choosing to defend your title against an Irishman, in Ireland, on St Patrick's day, with Irish officials, and then being shocked when you get robbed.
