Mustafa Ameen Statement

Statement from IBF official Mustafa Ameen released through his attorney, Michael Marley.

"

I voluntarily came forward to testify in the IBF hearing on the Amir Khan-Lamont Peterson title bout which was supposed to be conducted Wednesday in Newark.

After arriving in New Jersey, I was disappointed to hear that Khan promoter Golden Boy had withdrawn its demand for such a hearing as to the controversial Dec 9 title bout in Washington, DC.

You may recall that I was subjected to completely false allegations and innuendo as to my conduct at this event. I was ready to put the facts into the record, under oath at the hearing, but now I won't have that chance.

Briefly, here are the facts as to my involvement in this matter:

1. I never did anything illegal or even unprofessional while I was seated in the officials section at ringside.

2. I was properly admitted and credentialed for the event by the promoter after a request from the IBF. I have long been associated with the IBF in terms of assisting boxers who need a hand up and not a hand out.

My efforts on behalf of such boxers with the IBF have always been done voluntarily and I have never received a single dollar for this work. In fact, I pay all my own expenses as to air travel and anything else in this activity. I do it because I love boxing and boxers.

3. I never tampered with, changed or altered any official scorecard before, during or after the Khan--Peterson title bout.

4. The WBA supervisor, Philadelphia CPA Michael Welsh, was seated next to me in the officials or technical zone and he told me he was feeling quite ill at ringside.

He thanked me for handing scorecards over to him and helping him add them up. I merely doublechecked his addition at his request. I did this at his request but, again, I never altered or changed any marking made by any judge as to any single round or rounds or to any judge's total scoring.

5. I never communicated during the bout with any of the three judges, all of whom were seated on a completely different side of the ring than the side Mr. Welsh and I were on. I did not use hand signals, smoke signals, notes or any gestures to communicate with any judge.

6. As an IBF offical, duly credentialed and admitted, I was in the ring when it was announced that Lamont Peterson had won. I was happy for Peterson and his manager Barry Hunter.

I would have been in the ring and just as happy had Mr. Khan been named the winner. It was an excellent bout, highly competitive and good for the sport I love.

7. Allegations made by Freddie Roach, Khan's trainer, about me being "kicked out" of USA Olympic boxing training centers are completely false.

I represent USA 2012 London Olympics heavyweight hopeful Michael Hunter (no kin to Barry Hunter) and Roach has seen me with Michael many times at various training facilities.

I have never 'buzzed" any other boxer, amateur or professional. I feel that Mr. Roach has slandered me and I fully expect an apology from him for those false allegations.

8. I have been around boxing since the halcyon days of my friend, Muhammad Ali. I am quite friendly with respected people such as Manny Steward and the Klitschko Brothers.

Michael Hunter and I have been involved in training camps with the Klitschkos and great trainer Steward. Another of my longtime friends in boxing is the highly respected Larry Hazzard, the former New Jersey boxing commission leader.

9. I will continue to work diligently, honestly and in a way that brings credit to boxing as I have always done. I am no "Mystery Man." And I did nothing wrong.

Amir Khan's IBA Hearing Cancelled

Wednesday's hearing into Amir Khan's controversial December defeat by Lamont Peterson has been cancelled.

The International Boxing Federation announced that Khan's promoters, Golden Boy Promotions, withdrew its appeal without giving a reason.

An IBF statement said: "[We] received notice that Golden Boy Promotions withdrew their appeal of the Khan-Peterson bout.

"The hearing that was scheduled for tomorrow has been cancelled."

It continued: "We have not received any further information on this decision by Golden Boy Promotions."

In losing to Peterson, Khan relinquished both his IBF and WBA belts. But the WBA last week ordered that there should be a rematch between Peterson and Khan and that it should take place within 180 days.

Khan flew to the United States on Tuesday for the scheduled hearing in Newark, New Jersey, and took to social network site Twitter to announce his arrival.

"Landed safe and sound to New York. 20 minutes through customs, wow never been so quick", he wrote after arriving with his father Shah and his business manager Asif Vali.

Khan's camp were upset that referee Joe Cooper deducted the British fighter two points for pushing during the fight, alleging that the scorecards were interfered with.

They later submitted a formal appeal to the WBA and IBF.

The presence of a mystery man at ringside, later identified as Mustafa Ameen, who conducts "outreach work" for the IBF, added to the controversy.

Ameen, who was due to attend the hearing, stated that he planned to defend his actions.

The IBF previously said that scoring supervisor Michael Welsh, the man to whom Ameen was talking while the fight was in progress, would not be present to give evidence to the three-man panel.

Khan Granted Petersen WBA Rematch

Amir Khan has been granted a rematch with Lamont Peterson by the World Boxing Association, according to his promoter.

Richard Schaefer, chief executive of Golden Boy Promotions, reported overnight that the governing body have notified him of their 'official decision' to order a rematch following the controversial bout last month.

Khan lost both his WBA and IBF titles in a split decision defeat in Peterson's Washington DC hometown on December 10.

The Englishman has vociferously complained about a number of issues since then, however, and has lobbied both governing bodies - and the Washington DC commission - to change the result to a no-contest and/or force the two men to fight again.

Schaefer told RingTV they have got their wish.

'I just received, half an hour ago, a letter from the WBA on their official decision that they are going to order an immediate rematch,' Schaefer is reported as saying.

'I think that it's the right decision, and I hope that we can get the rematch done.'

Schaefer also told espn.com: 'I'm thrilled that he's getting (the rematch) and hope we can start the negotiations and get the fight done.

'Amir and Lamont are both terrific young men and athletes who fought their hearts out in Washington in December and I'm sure this decision will get applause by fight fans around the world.

'The rematch will be one of the most anticipate fights of 2012 because both guys are exciting, young and I think it's exactly the kind of fight people want to see.'

Khan's advisors initially claimed Peterson's team voluntarily agreed to a rematch in the immediate aftermath of the bout only to apparently change their minds.

And while the WBA have ordered the second fight, Peterson could still opt to relinquish that title rather than give Khan a second chance - particularly if the IBF, at a hearing on January 18, allow him to keep that belt without fighting Khan again.

Khan Alleges Bout Interference

Amir Khan has accused an unidentified man of "interfering" with officials and the judges' scorecards during his defeat by Lamont Peterson.

Khan made the claims through Twitter by posting a number of images from last month's fight in Washington.

The Bolton fighter said the pictures highlighted his concerns about the appearance of a man at ringside.

Khan, 25, claimed the man talked to WBA supervisor Michael Welsh and interfered with the judges' scorecards.

His appeal against the controversial points decision to hometown fighter Peterson, which cost him his WBA and IBF light-welterweight titles, will be held later this month.

However, the IBF told BBC Sport that "with regards to the IBF master scorecard we can assure that it has not been tampered with", while the WBA is yet to respond.

Among a string of tweets, Khan alleges that the unidentified man started to "interfere" with Welsh in round six and continued to do so until the end of the fight.

He also claims that the man talked to Welsh and handled the scorecards, which were handed to Welsh at the end of each round, and that Welsh admitted after the fight that his scorecards did not match the others.

Last month Khan had told of his unhappiness with the performance of referee Joe Cooper - who deducted Khan two points for pushing - and alleged scorecard irregularities.

Khan's trainer Freddie Roach told BBC Sport he believes his charge "got screwed".

Roach said he wanted to see Cooper suspended from officiating future world title fights and that "the fight should 100% be looked into".

"I have no knowledge of any wrong-doing but it was unusual how long it took [for the scorecards to be tallied]," said Roach, Khan's trainer since 2008.

"Wrong-doing in boxing is always hard to prove but we got screwed in that fight. I hope something is done about it.

"I'd like to see the DC Boxing and Wrestling Commission look into the fight and I think the WBA and IBF - the sanctioning bodies - should be involved also.

Asked if his suspicions were aroused on the night, Roach said: "It goes through your mind [that there may be wrongdoing]. I mean, how hard can it be to add 12 rounds of boxing up?

"And Amir had two points deducted for pushing - the first time I've ever seen that."

Khan's business manager Asif Vali said they had written to the boxing authorities about the unidentified man.

"We don't know who the official is," he said. "We've asked the question, we've written to Washington DC and we're still waiting for their response, and we've written to the IBF and they've still not responded.

"If the answers are legitimate, fine, we'll accept them. If they're not legitimate, then we hope the rematch takes place, and if the rematch takes place, all this can be squashed."

Amir Khan IBF Appeal rejected

The International Boxing Federation has rejected Amir Khan's appeal for an immediate rerun of his controversial points defeat by Lamont Peterson.

The ruling body dismissed Khan's claim that he was unfairly docked two points by referee Joseph Cooper for pushing.

"We found no discrepancies that would affect the outcome or the result of the fight," IBF championships chairman Lindsay Tucker said.

Khan's camp has until Tuesday to lodge a formal complaint against the verdict.

If they do, the IBF will convene a panel to investigate the fight.

The 25-year-old lost his WBA and IBF light-welterweight titles on 10 December as Peterson won a narrow points decision in Washington DC.

Khan had Peterson on the canvas twice in the opening round - although only one was officially counted - and his two-point penalty proved costly after judges scored the fight 113-112, 113-112, 110-115 in favour of the local fighter.

Khan wants 'neutral' venue for Peterson rematch

The Bolton-born fighter was unhappy with the referee's performance and the judges' scoring of the fight in Peterson's home town.

He called for a rematch in a neutral venue, only to be turned down the the IBF.

"We decided not to order an immediate rematch on the basis of the fact that in the rules, if the referee feels that it's a foul, then that's his call to take a point," added Tucker. "He did warn Khan several times before he actually took the first point."

Peterson welcomed the IBF verdict. He urged Khan to accept the original decision, but said he was keen for a rematch to be held in 2012.

"Let it go. He lost the fight, he might get a rematch and he'll get a chance to prove himself," Peterson told Sky Sports News, before reiterating: "Yes, I definitely want a rematch.

"I look forward to doing everything in my power inside and outside of the ring to represent the IBF and WBA as the new champion."

Khan's camp are understood to be pursuing separate appeals with the District of Columbia Boxing and Wrestling Commission and the WBA regarding the performance of the referee and ambiguities over the judges' scoring.

Although it is rare to have decisions overturned, WBC light-heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins has been successful in having October's fight against Chad Dawson changed from a loss to a technical draw.