Khan's 'mystery man' threatens to sue boxer

Published Jan. 20, 2012 11:16 p.m. ET

foxsports

The so-called ''mystery man'' who was accused by Amir Khan of interfering during his loss to Lamont Peterson last month has threatened to sue the boxer for libel unless he receives a full apology.

Mustafa Ameen told British broadcaster Sky Sports News on Friday that he has contacted lawyers over what he called ''slander'' and ''libelous statements'' made by the Khan camp after the fight, in which the British boxer lost his IBF and WBA junior welterweight titles.

''He needs to apologize,'' Ameen said. ''If not, we will litigate this in court.''

Khan went on Twitter this month to point out video footage of Ameen sitting ringside and leaning across WBA supervisor Michael Welsh during the fight, on two occasions seeming to grab a score card.

Ameen, who does unpaid voluntary work for the IBF but was not accredited to work for the body during the Dec. 10 fight, said he was only pointing out mathematical mistakes made by Welsh on a scorecard, and insisted he did not interfere. He added that since Welsh was not a judge, his scorecard had no effect on the final outcome.

''I noticed that Mr. Welsh had made a mathematical error, and I informed him of that,'' Ameen said, adding that he hoped Welsh would confirm his story.

Welsh has not spoken publicly since the fight.

In what has become an ongoing saga following a hotly disputed bout, Khan initially appealed his split decision loss, claiming he was unfairly docked two points for pushing Peterson. He then posted pictures and video on Twitter of Ameen - whose identity was then unknown - sitting ringside and questioning what he was doing there.

The protests led to the WBA granting a rematch, but that decision has been challenged by Peterson. Khan's camp withdrew his appeal on Tuesday, the day before a scheduled IBF hearing, saying they did not expect a fair hearing.

Ameen said he felt like he was being used as a scapegoat by the Khan camp.

''If Mr. Khan had knocked out Mr. Peterson, all of this would have been a mute point,'' Ameen said. ''It sounds like just every excuse in the book.''