• Super-middleweight

Smith denied immediate Abraham rematch

Paul Smith was beaten on points by Arthur Abraham when the pair met in Kiel last month © Getty Images

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Paul Smith's hopes of an immediate rematch with super-middleweight champion Arthur Abraham have been scuppered by a WBO decision.

Smith was beaten on points by the German in Kiel last month but the judges were widely criticised for the one-sided nature of their scoring in the result.

Smith pushed Abraham all the way but the reigning champion clung onto his belt, with scores of 117-111, 117-111 and 119-109 sparking anger in supporters and commentators alike after what many felt was a relatively close encounter.

The WBO launched an investigation into the scoring after the board publicly criticised official Fernando Laguna for his 11 rounds to one verdict, deeming it to be "outrageous".

Smith said he felt "robbed" after the defeat and called on the WBO to investigate the result.

"The scoring was shocking but I just have to get on with it," he said. "The best outcome for me is for the WBO to watch the fight, sort the judges out, get three neutral and competent judges in, make me mandatory challenger and put the fight up for purse bids. Let's do it again and have an immediate rematch,"

Smith's promoter Eddie Hearn had called for Smith to be made mandatory challenger for Abraham's belt but his appeal has been rejected.

WBO president Paco Valcarcel tweeted: "Resolution on Abraham v Smith to be notified on Monday. Rematch petition is DENIED. What caused controversy was margin of scores, not result.

"Furthermore, due to Paul Smith's inspired performance Championship Committee recommends he retain his top five position in the WBO Rankings.

"We are the first ones to condemn scoring of this fight, particularly Laguna's outrageous 119-109 for Abraham's card."

After learning of the WBO's verdict, Smith insisted he could still earn a rematch with Abraham in the ring.

"Gutted that the WBO aren't making a straight rematch," Smith tweeted. "I do believe I'll get the rematch voluntarily, though. I've proved I belong up here."

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