Mustafa Ameen, who has been dubbed, the “Mystery Man,” as a result of his role in the controversy surrounding last month’s Lamont Peterson-Amir Khan fight, works as an unpaid philanthropist for the IBF, according to a statement e-mailed to RingTV.com by the organization’s publicist, Jeanette Salazar.
“Mr. Mustafa Ameen does outreach work for the IBF?s SARB/Education Fund. This fund was initially created to financially assist retired professional boxers experiencing monetary difficulties,” read Salazar’s statement.
“Shortly over a year ago, IBF President Daryl Peoples and Mr. Ameen agreed that he would network on behalf of the organization with the purpose of connecting with these fighters in order for the IBF to provide them with some financial assistance. Mr. Ameen?s role with the organization is limited to just this.”
Neither Salazar’s statement, nor Ameen, in a separate interview, addressed the detail of his alledged rinside behavior, which was caught on video and seemed to include picking up what appears to be a yellow scoring slip near a WBA ringside scoring official during the fight in which Peterson dethroned Khan as IBF/WBA junior welterweight beltholder via split decision on Dec. 10.
It is primarily due to Ameen’s actions at ringside that WBA President Gilberto Mendoza has called for a return bout.
“I knew what role I played with the IBF, and the IBF, unbeknowst to the general public and those within the fight industry — including maybe some of the other sanctioning bodies — are unaware of the things that they do in anonymity in helping distressed fighters and former champions,” said Ameen.
