WBA Super Flyweight champ called “deplorable” in Australia

The women’s WBA Super Flyweight title will be contested in Sydney, Australia on the undercard of the Nikita Tszyu - Danilo Creati fight. Defending champion Clara Lescurat will face Aussie challenger Linn Sandstrom, and according to Sandstrom’s team, Lescurat has been out of line with her list of demands.

According to Sandstrom’s trainer Tony Del Vecchio, Lescurat has been tough to deal with. “She’s been absolutely a nightmare. I’m telling you, she’s fucking unbelievable. She’s a right piece of work.”

According to Del Vecchio, Lescurat’s list of demands included arriving in the country 14 days ahead of the bout instead of the agreed 10 days. The extra expense is to be borne by the promoter.

She also reportedly didn’t like the Airbnb that was provided for her and checked into a hotel instead. When suitable alternative accommodation was found for her, she reportedly did not like that one either, despite the fact that it was a hotel with a kitchen and a gym, two of her requested amenities.

As a result, she had to use the Virgin Active gym, which certainly did not make her happy either. Another complaint was that she brought extra people with her from Argentina, including a guest and a personal driver, insisting that they be housed and fed as well.

Her biggest complaint however was in that she demanded new judges be called for upon discovering that Australian judges were to be used in the bout. Del Vecchio was forced to fly in a referee from Florida and judges from Texas, France and New Zealand. The additional cost to placate the champ’s demands has been placed in six figures.

“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,” says Del Vecchio. “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.”

Conceding that perhaps it is a simple misunderstanding, Del Vecchio says that the biggest problem is with the Lescurat’s attitude. “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.”

Clara Lescurat is no stranger to controversy. In her last title defense against Mexican Regina Chavez, the Argentine was handed a controversial unanimous decision win. Chavez’s team immediately lodged a complaint and the WBA ordered an independent group of judges to score the fight, concluding that “the bout had not been scored accurately” at ringside and that Chavez should have won the bout.

As a result, the WBA has ordered the winner of the Lescurat - Sandstorm bout to face Chavez within 120 days.