N'dam's team objects to officials named for Lemieux bout

Hassan N'dam will be traveling to Montreal on June 20 to face David Lemieux for the vacant IBF middleweight title, but his team has some concerns about the officials appointed by the boxing commission in Quebec, as laid out by manager Gary Hyde.

"On June 2nd, I learned who the officials were for the June 20th fight at the Bell Centre. I contacted the IBF and objected to two officials who are from Montreal, Quebec, the same city Lemieux is from," Hyde said. "Referee Marlon Wright has refereed five of Lemieux' fights and the judge in question, Benoit Roussel, has worked no fewer than 12 of Lemieux' fights.

"I also objected to the Quebec Commission on the appointment of the two Canadian officials. The selection of two officials from the same city as one of the fighters in an international world championship bout indicates a flawed and unfair procedure and undermines the appearance of fairness and impartiality. In my experience in world championship bouts the officials must always be neutral.

"We are hopeful that the Quebec Boxing Commission will replace both Canadian officials with a pair of neutral officials, so that we can concentrate solely on the job at hand, to beat Lemieux."

N'dam (31-1, 18 KO) and Lemieux (33-2, 31 KO) are set to headline at the Bell Centre, a fight that will be on pay-per-view in Canada, as well as FOX Sports 2 and FOX Deportes in the United States.