Thursday, March 28, 2024  |

News

Aficianado

Peterson-Khan “Mystery Man” is an IBF philanthropist

Fighters Network
10
Jan


alt

Mustafa Ameen (right) with heavyweights Wladimir Klitschko and Michael Hunter

Mustafa Ameen, who has been dubbed, the “Mystery Man,” as a result of his role in the controversy surrounding last month’s Lamont Peterson-Amir Khan fight, works as an unpaid philanthropist for the IBF, according to a statement e-mailed to RingTV.com by the organization’s publicist, Jeanette Salazar.

“Mr. Mustafa Ameen does outreach work for the IBF’s SARB/Education Fund. This fund was initially created to financially assist retired professional boxers experiencing monetary difficulties,” read Salazar’s statement.



“Shortly over a year ago, IBF President Daryl Peoples and Mr. Ameen agreed that he would network on behalf of the organization with the purpose of connecting with these fighters in order for the IBF to provide them with some financial assistance. Mr. Ameen’s role with the organization is limited to just this.”

Neither Salazar’s statement, nor Ameen, in a separate interview, addressed the detail of his alledged rinside behavior, which was caught on video and seemed to include picking up what appears to be a yellow scoring slip near a WBA ringside scoring official during the fight in which Peterson dethroned Khan as IBF/WBA junior welterweight beltholder via split decision on Dec. 10.

It is primarily due to Ameen’s actions at ringside that WBA President Gilberto Mendoza has called for a return bout.

“I knew what role I played with the IBF, and the IBF, unbeknowst to the general public and those within the fight industry — including maybe some of the other sanctioning bodies — are unaware of the things that they do in anonymity in helping distressed fighters and former champions,” said Ameen.

“And I am taking on the role of being that trusted guy with financial matters that can identify. I go out and attend fights and I re-establish contact with fighters who have lost their apartments, who don’t have cars or who can’t pay their rent. I won’t go into specifics of who we have assisted, but the aid reaches the fighters directly. I don’t get paid, I don’t take a fee. It’s a voluntary position.”

In the video, Ameen can be spotted wearing a dark blue hat as he appears to be distracting WBA supervisor Michael Welsh and other officials at ringside during the fight.

Khan has since appealed to the IBF and the WBA to overturn Peterson’s victory or else to order an immediate rematch.

“He is not an employee or an official of the organization, nor does he receive any monetary compensation from the organization for his efforts,” wrote Salazar.

“Previous to the Khan-Peterson bout, the IBF made a request for the Washington, D.C. Boxing and Wrestling Commission to extend Mr. Ameen the courtesy of a credential to enter the arena. Mr. Ameen was not assigned by the IBF to officiate this bout.”

Ameen will address his actions during a discussion with officials representing Golden Boy Promotions, Khan’s promoter, on Jan. 18 in New Jersey.

“I’m going to allow for the dignity of the appeal process to unfold, and I refuse to respond emotionally on the internet except for vigorously continuing to defend myself against the personal attacks on my character. But out of respect for the sanctity of a civil appeal proceedings, I’m not going to comment.”

Ameen told RingTV.com in an earlier interview, “I look forward to answering the false allegations that I interfered with the WBA supervisor, and somehow tainted the scorecards.”

Organizations assign their own official scorers to bouts as backup references, and WBA representative Welsh scored it a draw, while the IBF’s rep Paul Artisst had it for Peterson. Peterson edged Khan, 113-112 on the cards of judges George Hill of New Jersey and Valerie Dorsett of North Carolina, and lost,115-110 on that of Nelson Vazquez of Puerto Rico.

Below is the entire IBF statement:


“At this point in time the IBF has decided to break its silence and provide some clarification on the matter of Mr. Mustafa Ameen’s presence at the IBF/WBA championship bout between Amir Khan and Lamont Peterson. Initially, the organization chose not to publicly address this matter to preserve the integrity of the hearing scheduled for the appeal filed by Golden Boy promotions on the ruling of the aforementioned bout.

The sole purpose in doing so was with the intentions that all parties, and most importantly, the panelists could go into this hearing with clear minds and no preconceptions or prejudices. Mr. Mustafa Ameen does outreach work for the IBF’s SARB/Education Fund. This fund was initially created to financially assist retired professional boxers experiencing monetary difficulties.

Shortly over a year ago, IBF President Daryl Peoples and Mr. Ameen agreed that he would network on behalf of the organization with the purpose of connecting with these fighters in order for the IBF to provide them with some financial assistance. Mr. Ameen’s role with the organization is limited to just this.

He is not an employee or an official of the organization, nor does he receive any monetary compensation from the organization for his efforts. Previous to the Khan- Peterson bout, the IBF made a request for the Washington, D.C. Boxing and Wrestling Commission to extend Mr. Ameen the courtesy of a credential to enter the arena.

Mr. Ameen was not assigned by the IBF to officiate this bout. Despite all that has transpired, at this point the IBF has not changed its stance and plans on moving forth with the hearing as scheduled on Wednesday, January 18, 2012. Mr. Ameen will be present at the hearing to explain his actions and what transpired during the bout between him and Mr. Welsh, the WBA supervisor.

Photo, courtesy Mustafa Ameen’s facebook page

Photo by Naoki Fukuda

Lem Satterfield can be reached at [email protected]

SIGN UP TO GET RING NEWS ALERTS