Two days ago, Ricky Hatton’s promotion company, who manage Russian boxer Sergey Rabchenko, released a statement alleging that the WBC had ordered a rematch between Rabchenko and Australian boxer Anthony Mundine.
It seems that Hatton has gone off early, with Mundine’s camp responding, saying they have not heard about the rematch, and the WBC haven’t notified them of a decision.
They’ve even told Aus-Boxing that they have already teed up Mundine’s next opponent, and it won’t be Sergey Rabchenko.
Cornelius ‘K9′ Bundrage is looming as the man Mundine’s camp will announce as his next opponent, but they will have to sort through the mess Hatton’s statement has put them in first.
Mundine’s manager and promoter, Ben Thompson and Brian Amatruda, spoke to Aus-Boxing and said that until they are told otherwise, they will be pursuing Mundine’s fight with a view to snagging a big fight against Floyd Mayweather or Saul Alvarez.
“The WBC haven’t notified us about this alleged decision,” Thompson told Aus-Boxing.
“Until then, we can only assume that Hatton are lobbying some sort of protest to overturn their poor performance.”
Hatton’s earlier words were definite, and his press release insisted the rematch was going to be negotiated early in the new year.
“I’m delighted to hear that the WBC have ordered a rematch,” said Hatton, after he attended the WBC conference in Las Vegas. This confuses the issue further, as Team Mundine were not there.
“I’ve said before that it wasn’t the worst decision ever, but Sergey definitely won the fight and he wasn’t helped by the fact that two of the judges, not affiliated to the WBC, were from Melbourne.
“It was a phenomenal performance from Mundine and I take my hat off to him, but Sergey outworked him for most of the fight and should have been given much more of the rounds.
“Sergey also inflicted a knockdown and the referee didn’t score it. Thankfully, now Sergey has a chance to set the record straight and get the win he deserved the first time around.
“I want to thank the WBC for seeing sense and giving us this opportunity.”
Mundine’s camp responded with a few punches of their own.
“Surely they can’t possibly believe Rabchenko won that fight. We have requested an official response from the WBC via Brian Amatruda. Until then this will not sidetrack our focus toward our next goal.”
“His manager Ben Thompson nor myself have heard anything from the WBC in regards to a rematch,” said Mundine’s promoter Amatruda.
“If a decision was to be made we would expect to be given a fair hearing and to be able to put our case up for not doing a rematch,”
“We are close to announcing his next opponent and it is not Sergey Rabchenko,” Amatruda continued.
“As we have not had any correspondence other than us requesting him to be made the mandatory challenger – we suggest reports may be wrong – and Hatton Promotions may have jumped the gun here with wishful thinking,”
“In any case Anthony Mundine will be fighting in April, the same cannot be said for Sergey Rabchenko,” Amatruda noted. “Everyone in Australia knows that Anthony won the fight,”
“If the WBC took this ridiculous line, it would be setting a dangerous precedent for all future fights. I doubt they would risk this,”
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