According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, the WBO found some errors in the recent Mairis Briedis – Krszytof Glowacki fight.
Briedis claimed the WBO 200-pound world title from Glowacki by third-round knockout on June 15 in the semifinals of the World Boxing Series tournament in Riga, Latvia, Briedis’ hometown, but the result was highly controversial.
Although it cannot change the result, the WBO, in a ruling issued on Friday, “strongly recommends” that the World Boxing Super Series winner defend the title against Glowacki within 120 days after the completion of the tournament, which is expected to conclude in November. Briedis is due to meet Yunier Dorticos, who won a vacant belt in the June 15 co-feature, to unify their world titles in the final of the eight-man tournament.
The WBO said that Raimond Zeps, representing Briedis, responded to Glowacki’s protest and said that the point deduction for the elbow was “satisfactory” and that Glowacki should also have been subject to a point deduction for the blow behind the head. Also, Zeps said that Briedis should not be punished for fighting after the bell because both men were doing do.
“Mr. Zeps, on behalf of Briedis, affirms and welcomes a rematch against Glowacki after the completion of the WBSS,” the WBO wrote in its ruling.
The WBO said that it lacks jurisdiction to change the result, which can only be done by the Latvia Boxing Federation, but it added that it “acknowledges that a clear misapplication of the rules of boxing occurred” and recommended the WBSS winner fight Glowacki next.
