Khan plans inquiry into ref and judges after loss

WASHINGTON: Amir Khan's camp said on Sunday that the British boxer plans an inquiry with sanctioners over the performance of referee Joe Cooper and ringside judges after his controversial loss to Lamont Peterson.

Khan said after Saturday's majority decision defeat in Washington that he felt robbed of a rightful triumph and has put his plans to move up to the welterweight ranks on hold until he can fight a rematch against the American.

Hometown hero Peterson, once a homeless youth on the streets of Washington, edged Britain's Khan by majority decision on Saturday to take the International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association light-welterweight crowns.

Referee Joe Cooper deducted points from Khan for pushing in the seventh and 12th rounds and those proved the difference in a fight where two judges saw Peterson a 113-112 winner and the third gave it to Khan 115-100.