The trainer of Australian world title hopeful Linn Sandstrom has launched a stinging spray at her opponent Clara Lescurat, branding the Argentinian’s behaviour since landing in Australia “deplorable”.
Lescurat, undefeated from ten fights, defends her WBA super flyweight title for the fourth time against Sandstrom on Wednesday night as part of the show headlined by Nikita Tszyu at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney.
However, Tony Del Vecchio believes the 35-year-old has acted like anything but a world champion in his dealings with her team.
“She’s been absolutely a nightmare,” Del Vecchio told foxsports.com.au.
“I’m telling you, she’s f***ing unbelievable. She’s a right piece of work.”
Del Vecchio has made a string of stunning claims aimed at Lescurat including that she:
. Asked to arrive in Australia 14 days ahead of the bout instead of the agreed 10 days settled on in their contract
. Requested to move out of her two-bedroom, four-bed accommodation at a four-and-a-half star Airbnb on Sussex St in Darling Harbour.
. Had an extra night at a Mantra hotel after leaving the Airbnb paid for by Del Vecchio himself
. Did not want to move to the five-star Meriton Suites in Waterloo which had a kitchen and gym, two amenities which she had requested
. Complained about using the Virgin Active gym in Waterloo
. Brought her own driver for a black van which had her name branded on the side of it
. Demanded an extra person to come on her flights, which is outside the coach and cutman allocations for international fighters
. Demanded money for food and subsequently received $1000 from Del Vecchio for five days’ worth
. Demanded different judges after being told local judges would be used
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In response to the explosive allegations from Del Vecchio, Lescurat told foxsports.com.au: “My job is to fight in the ring, I don’t do a circus.”
When asked about her allegedly difficult nature at the press conference on Monday, Lescurat brushed it off.
“What’s happened has happened,” Lescurat said.
“It’s been squashed.
“I like Australia, I’ve had a great time here. Obviously there’s going to be some things to throw me off my game. But it’s not going to happen. I’m super focused on the fight.”
The lengthy list of Lescurat’s demands also does not include the costs associated with bringing in international judges for the fight, either.
In the Argentinian’s last fight against Mexico’s Regina Chavez, Lescurat was awarded an extremely controversial unanimous decision victory to retain her title.
Chavez’s team immediately protested, forcing the WBA to Luis Pabon, the head of the governing body’s officials committee, to have neutral judges re-evaluate the fight.
In a document seen by foxsports.com.au, the committee revealed “the bout had not been scored accurately” by the judges in attendance and Chavez should have won by unanimous decision.
As a result, the winner between Lescurat and Sandstrom must fight Chavez in 120 days as a result of the scoring error.
The waters only grow murkier as Lescurat’s partner is Lautaro Moreno, an Argentinian who was appointed by the WBA as the head of the Latin American Professional Boxing Federation (Fedelatin) on April 9.
“There’s not a conflict of interest, is there,” Del Vecchio said, tongue firmly in cheek.
“We’re up against it.”
In order to mitigate any scoring controversies for the fight, Del Vecchio has even flown in a referee from Florida and judges from Texas, France and New Zealand.
According to a source placed close to negotiations for the fight, foxsports.com.au understands it has cost upwards of six figures for all of Lescurat’s demands to be met along with bringing out and accommodating international officials.
Del Vecchio understands that with world champion status, room can be afforded for a little bit of arrogance and brashness.
But he believes what Lescurat has displayed leading up to and since arriving in Australia has significantly overstepped the mark and gone outside the terms laid out in the contract for the fight.
“She is a world champion so we’ve been very respectful and very responsive in everything she’s done and everything she’s asked for,” Del Vecchio said.
“But she keeps quoting the contract for things like transfers and hotel rooms with gyms and kitchens.
“I’m sorry, that’s not in the contract. It is there, black and white. If her team has lied to her, that’s great, but that’s got nothing to do with us. We have met every single line of the contact, she’s gotten what she’s deserved and what we’ve agreed to.
“She’s been walking around town like she’s something, and fair enough, carry yourself the way you want to carry yourself as a world champion.
“But the antics and all the other things that go with it? That’s just deplorable.”