Probe of Klitschko Fight Is Requested

Citing a series of possible irregularities, attorney Judd Burstein has asked the U.S. Attorney’s office in Las Vegas to look into the upset loss by his client, heavyweight Wladimir Klitschko, to Lamon Brewster last month.

After dominating the first four rounds of the fight at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Events Center, Klitschko suffered a knockdown in the fifth round and collapsed after the bell. Klitschko hit the canvas seemingly from exhaustion rather than from a blow by Brewster.

Referee Robert Byrd, ruling Klitschko was unable to continue, stopped the bout.

Burstein, in a letter to U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden, based his request for an investigation on three main factors:

* A late drop in the odds favoring Klitschko from 11-1 to 3 1/2-1.

* The disappearance before the fight of an all-access credential belonging to a member of the Klitschko camp.

* The alleged disappearance of blood and urine samples taken from Klitschko after the fight.

“We are not leveling accusations against anyone in particular, and only seek an investigation to learn the truth and, if appropriate, punish the guilty,” Burstein wrote.

The U.S. attorney’s office declined to comment.

Sources in the Nevada gaming industry, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the fluctuations in the betting line were not unusual and that the late money coming in for Brewster was not out of the ordinary for an underdog.

A Nevada official said medical tests after the bout revealed nothing suspicious.

“We were concerned enough about Wladimir Klitschko’s condition to send him to the University Medical Center trauma center,” Marc Ratner, executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, said in a telephone interview Wednesday. “All the proper tests were done and nothing at all irregular or remarkable was found.”