By John F. McKenna (McJack)
Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer is not only still angry at what he describes as “home cooking” in the loss of former WBA/IBF light welterweight champion Amir Khan (26-2, 18 KO’s) to the new WBA/IBF champion Lamont Peterson (30-1-1, 15 KO’s) he will attempt to have the loss overturned.
Schaefer revealed that contrary to reports the sanctioning bodies will investigate the happenings during and after the December 10 fight between Khan and Peterson. Schaefer and Khan both believe that the fact that the fight was held in Peterson’s home town of Washington D.C. contributed to Amir’s loss.
The conduct of referee Joe Cooper in particular raised the ire of both Schaefer and Khan.
Schaefer was quoted in Sky SPORTS saying:
“We have filed an official appeal which will trigger a thorough investigation from the IBF and the WBA.
“I’ve been given an update by the IBF and the WBA. They both want the appeal on January 18 and 19.
“They will make their decision on whether the outcome should be overturned, should stand or if their needs to be a rematch.
“There is clear outrage against the officiating and something needs to be done.”
Schaefer is furious not only by the referees conduct, but by discrepancies in the way the scorecards were collected and then mysteriously disappeared. The master scorecard disappeared immediately after the fight and re appeared 48 hours after the fact. In Schaefer’s view the card that re appeared was clearly made subsequently.
Schaefer also stated:
“There’s clearly some smoke in relation to the scorecards. Where there’s smoke there’s fire.”
Schaefer also questioned why Cooper did not deduct any points from Peterson for using his head although he was warned about it several times. Schaefer said that Cooper’s inconsistency was shocking and referrered to the outcome of the fight as “home cooking.”
Immediately after the fight when questioned in the ring Peterson indicated that he would give Khan a rematch but since that time his managers have indicated that the Peterson camp would have to do what makes sense for him.
Many boxing observers felt that Khan’s performance was sub par and that the fight could have gone either way. It is understandable that Khan wants an immediate rematch. Prior to the fight Amir had been saying that the Peterson fight would be his last fight at light welterweight and that he would be moving up to the welterweight ranks. That is now clearly on hold.
