Former world heavyweight champion Holyfield submitted an appeal with the WBA last Wednesday following the fight on December 20 in Switzerland. Valuev, 35, defeated the 46-year-old American on points, 114-114, 116-112, 115-114.
"The WBA Championship Committee has considered an appeal from Holyfield and decided to order a panel of judges to review a recording of the fight and make a new decision, which will be announced in several weeks," Boris Dimitrov said.
He said that if the panel decides to annul the previous results and orders a rematch, Valuev (50-1, 34 KOs) may be stripped of his champion's belt should he turn down a proposal on the rematch.
"If a rematch is proposed, we will agree," Dimitrov said.
Valuev's promoters, Team Sauerland, offered a possible rematch with the American straight after the weekend bout, but after so called insulting remarks made by Holyfield's trainer, Wilfried Sauerland said he will reconsider his offer.
Upon filing the appeal last Wednesday, Tommy Brooks said in an interview posted on the FightNews.com website that "I think it was just some home cooking for a promoter's fighter. I think somebody was just greasing somebody's palms."
Sauerland shot back at the statement from Holyfield's trainer, saying "I cannot comprehend his remarks at all. They are derisive, outrageous and absolutely untrue. I would not have expected such unsporting behavior from him. We offered Holyfield a rematch straight away but now we will have to reconsider."
Holyfield (42-10-2, 27 KOs) said it was a good fight, but expressed his disappointment and said he should have been declared the winner.
"We're filing a protest that basically says, 'we want you to overturn this.' I just want what's rightfully mine. I didn't lose. I won," Holyfield said.
