Team Mundine reply to Hatton claims, deny immediate rematch

 
HATTON Promotions released a statement last night, stating that the WBC has mandated an immediate rematch between WBC Silver light middleweight titlist Anthony Mundine and former champion Sergey Rabchenko.

 
However, earlier today it came to light that such announcements from Hatton Promotions appear to be premature with Team Mundine, lead by manager Ben Thompson and promoter Brian Amatruda, receiving no official correspondence from the WBC in regards to an immediate rematch.

 
In an exclusive interview with Aus-Boxing, both Thompson and Amatruda insist that no immediate rematch has been mandated.

 
“The WBC haven’t notified us about this alleged decision,” said Thompson of the alleged rematch. “Until then, we can only assume that Hatton are lobbying some sort of protest to overturn their poor performance,”

 
“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.”

 
The WBC recently held their annual convention in Las Vegas and the only relevant news in relation to light middleweight champion Floyd Mayweather and his looming mandatory defence is the suggestion of an eight man tournament to determine his next challenger.

 
“His manager Ben Thompson nor myself have heard anything from the WBC in regards to a rematch,” explained 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,”

 
Mundine (47-6, 27 KOs) edged Rabchenko (25-1, 18 KOs) in a thrilling twelve round encounter last month, with Mundine earning what most believed to be a hard fought split points decision, by scores of 116-112 and 115-113 with the third judge favouring Rabchenko by a 115-113 margin.

 
Having secured the WBC Silver light middleweight title – along with it’s lofty world rating – it appears likely that Mundine will push for world honours in his next fight.

 
With heavy speculation mounting towards a fight between Mundine and recently crowned IBF light middleweight champion Cornelius ‘K9’ Bundrage, the chances of a rematch with Rabchenko look slim.

 
“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,”

 
 
Photo: Louie Abigail/Photography by Rockfingrz