Boxing | International

Freddie Roach and Amir Khan © Reuters

Mystery Man threatens to sue



Mustafa Ameen, known as "The Mystery Man,” has threatened to sue Amir Khan and his camp.

Ameen wants Khan and his handlers to apologise for "libellous statements".

The American, who is said to help the International Boxing Federation assist financially strapped boxers, was accused of "interfering" with the scorecards during Khan's defeat by Lamont Peterson in a world title fight in Washington in December.

"Amir Khan will have to apologise because ... I will litigate in court," Ameen, wearing his trademark black hat, told Sky Sports News on Friday.

"I have been in discussion with legal firms in Britain about the slander and other libellous statements made against me by Amir Khan and other individuals.

"I'm going to fight back. Mr Khan needs to apologise and if not ... I'm going to sue. He's not alone."

Ameen said he was also angered by comments made by Khan's trainer, Freddie Roach, who had said the American "has no credentials and is not a member of any boxing organisation. There's no reason for him to be at ringside."

Ameen added: "Mr Freddie Roach has made libellous statements that are untrue and Mr Roach needs to apologise.

"If Mr Roach issues an apology, I will accept it but he needs to very, very soon as I'm in the process of sorting out my legal team."

SPLIT DECISION

Peterson surprisingly won the enthralling contest on December 10, taking Khan's WBA super-lightweight and IBF light-welterweight belts on a split decision after the Briton was docked two points.

Khan's team questioned the performance of referee Joseph Cooper, who deducted points from the Briton in the seventh and 12th rounds; one for pushing and one for hitting his opponent on the break.

The 25-year-old's camp suggested a mystery man, later identified as Ameen, had interfered with the judges' scorecards.

Khan posted a number of messages on Twitter, highlighting video footage in which a man in a black hat can be seen next to WBA supervisor Michael Welsh.

The man then appears to reach across in front of Welsh. The British boxer's camp allege it was at this point that the man interfered with the scorecards.

SEVERAL MATHEMATICAL ERRORS

Ameen said there was a logical explanation for his actions.

"At some point I looked down. I saw Michael Welsh had an incorrect score, in the second or third round. Mr Welsh had made a mathematical error and I informed him of that," Ameen said.

"That night Mr Welsh made several mathematical errors. Mr Welsh can verify or dispute what I'm saying.

"I have nothing to do with corrections on the scorecard. I was talking about corrections that needed to be made to Mr Welsh's unofficial sheet.

"Everyone is making accusations against me but video tapes vindicate me.

"Someone in the Khan camp said Mr Welsh looked threatened and was afraid as if I was intimidating him. Please go and verify with Mr Welsh.

"I have no reason to interfere in anyone's fight. I can categorically rule out any wrongdoing, criminally, in my life.

"I have a clean record. I am an honest, forthright individual. It's not in me to manipulate or cheat. I do not do that," Ameen said.

He added that he did not take any payment from the IBF for assisting needy boxers.

Khan has dropped his appeal with the IBF for a rematch because not all the fight officials involved in the bout would have been represented at the hearing.

But the World Boxing Association has already ordered a rematch.



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