According to promoter Rodeny Berman, the IBO had turned down Golden Gloves' request for a rematch between Malcolm Klassen and Australian Will Tomlinson. Klassen recently lost to Tomlinson in a bout for the super-featherweight title.

"It is beyond my comprehension," said Berman said. Even Australians who were at the fight in Melbourne had “inundated” him with calls saying they felt Klassen had won. He described it as “a case of rough justice".

But IBO president Ed Levine said the organization had no option but to support the unanimous decision in favour of Tomlinson.

"We secured the services of five independent and highly respected judges in considering the appeal," Levine said. All agreed it was a closely-fought contest, but that Tomlinson had won.

That means eight judges felt the Aussie had won the bout. "You simply can't rule against evidence like that," Levine said.