WBA announce intention to investigate Valuev win

on January 6, 2009 by Administrator

Nikolay Valuev’s win over Evander Holyfield is to be investigated by the World Boxing Association after mounting controversy surrounding the result. The match, which was contested in Zurich in December, was won by Valuev after he was handed a majority points decision.

However, Holyfield, who was hoping to become the oldest heavyweight champion in history at the age of forty-six, was not content with the result. He stated at the time that he “saw it the other way from the judges”, two of whom scored the fight at 116-112 and 115-114, whilst the third judge believed the fight to have been even.

The World Boxing Association will now allow a panel of judges to look again at the tape of the match in order to ensure the accuracy of the result.

The association has been keen to point out that it takes notice of the opinions of boxing fans and the sporting media. A decision will probably not be announced for another few weeks but certain sections of the media believe that a rematch between Valuev and Holyfield is a possibility.

This rematch has already been requested by the management company in charge of Holyfield and the American boxer’s coach, Thomas Brooks, revealed that everyone who witnessed the match knows his fighter was victorious.

The promoter responsible for Valuev has even admitted that a rematch is possible. Wilfried Sauerland revealed that “a draw might have been all right” but also stated that “Evander did not fight like a challenger”, particularly in the latter stages of the clash.