Protest after Klassen defeat

Johannesburg - Promoter Rodney Berman on Saturday revealed his Golden Gloves organisation had protested the comprehensive points defeat, suffered by Malcolm Klassen, in the IBO super featherweight title fight against Will Tomlinson at Australia's Melbourne Pavilion on Thursday night.

The three judges awarded the decision in favour of the bloodied Australian battler by runaway margins of 118-109, 118-109 and 117-110 and Berman said the extent of the decision, in favour of Tomlinson, was beyond belief.

"Even many of the Australians in the audience indicated they thought Klassen should have been declared the winner," said Berman.

"Not withstanding this, you could have knocked me down with a feather when I heard that two of the judges had awarded the fight to Tomlinson by a massive nine points and the third by seven points."

Berman said a protest against the decision had already been forwarded to the IBO organisation in the United States.

"Questionable decisions are reviewed by the organisation and I'm sure the IBO will do so on this occasion.

"We are calling for a rematch as a matter of urgency."

Berman also recalled when South Africa's IBO super flyweight champion, Gideon Buthelezi, recently gained a seemingly fortuitous win over Filipino Gideon Dapudong, the IBO had ordered a rematch - which will be staged at Emperors Palace on June 15.

Golden Gloves' website featured prominently a picture of three mice wearing black glasses - ostensibly depicting the judges who had ruled against twice former IBF champion Klassen.

Tomlinson, however, said after the fight he had fully expected to be declared the winner.

"It was the toughest bout of my career," said the Australian, who is now unbeaten in 22 bouts.

"But when you want to take the belt away from a champion, you have to earn it. Klassen never did this."

Top South African trainer Nick Durandt said hometown decisions in boxing were nothing to get excited about as "they happen so often."

"I never saw the bout on TV," he added, "but a lot of people I have spoken to reckon Tomlinson, in fact, deserved to get the decision and a show-boating Klassen was largely to blame for his own demise.

"What is more, the referee in Klassen's fight was an American. So much for the Australians being vilified."