Australia's Vic Darchinyan launched a verbal tirade after losing a split points decision to rising
Mexican boxing star Abner Mares in a wild, action-filled bantamweight world title fight.
Sydney-based Darchinyan said referee Robert Howard wrongly accused him of pushing and holding the unbeaten Mares throughout the bout, derailing his fight plan.
"The referee didn't let me do my fight. It was disgusting," Darchinyan complained after Saturday's (Sunday AEDT) bout at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington.
"I wasn't pushing him or holding him."
It was the third loss of 34-year-old Darchinyan's 39 bout professional career. Mares, a 25-year-old from Guadalajara, overcame plenty of adversity in the early rounds to finish strongly against Darchinyan.
In the first round Mares suffered a cut above his left eye from an accidental head clash and in the second a powerful Darchinyan left hand knocked the Mexican to the canvas.
Howard took a point off Mares in the fourth round for repeated low blows while in the seventh it was Darchinyan's turn to hit the canvas when Mares fired a left hand that caught the Australian off balance.
Judge Glen Hamada scored the fight 115-111 to Darchinyan, but Alan Krebs and Tom McDonough gave Mares the victory in 114-112 and 115-111 respectively.
"It was my hardest fight ever," said Mares, who improves to a 21 win, one draw, professional record and claims the International Boxing Organisation and World Boxing Council Silver bantamweight titles.
Darchinyan, who held the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association super flyweight titles, stepped up a weight division to take on Mares at bantamweight.
The bout was also the semi-final of a bantamweight tournament.
Ghana's Joseph Agbeko won the other semi-final at the Tacoma casino on Saturday, beating Colombia's Yohnny Perez in a unanimous points decision.
Mares will fight Agbeko in the tournament final next year.
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