Monday, September 22, 2003
LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Promoter Bob Arum said Thursday that comments he made about the scoring in the Oscar De La Hoya-Shane Mosley fight could be "interpreted as inappropriate."
Arum claimed Monday that there was misconduct by a Nevada boxing commission member in helping pick the judges who worked the 154-pound title fight, which Mosley won by unanimous decision last Saturday.
"In the emotional and heated moments after his disappointing loss, I, unfortunately, reacted by making comments that might be interpreted as inappropriate to the state of Nevada and its athletic commission," Arum said.
De La Hoya has called for the public to be told how judges are selected and trained, and how scoring is done.
"I look forward to joining Oscar in structuring a boxing reform program," said Arum, who encouraged fans to watch the rebroadcast of the fight Saturday on HBO "to judge for themselves."
State athletic commission legal counsel Keith Kizer said Tuesday that Arum will be sent a letter inviting him to appear before the commission and formally lay out his charges of misconduct in the scoring.
"He has made some serious allegations. We want to hear from our licensees, and if they have a problem we want to know," Kizer said.
Attorneys for Mosley have said they want Arum before the commission -- but for different reasons.
A letter sent to the commission Tuesday by attorney Judd Burstein asks for a disciplinary hearing against Arum for making an "irresponsible attack upon the integrity of the commission" in comments made following the fight.