Boxing

The chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission said he is investigating the Feb. 6 Jesse Ferguson-Ray Mercer fight amid reports Mercer offered Ferguson $100,000 during the bout to lose.

Ferguson won a unanimous 10-round decision over Mercer on the undercard of the Riddick Bowe-Michael Dokes heavyweight title fight. The loss cost Mercer a $2.5-million payday as Bowe’s next opponent.

Mercer and Ferguson denied the allegations after reports surfaced last weekend that Mercer, knowing he was losing the fight, offered the payoff to Ferguson during clinches. He was warned repeatedly by referee Wayne Kelley about talking to his opponent.

Commission Chairman Randy Gordon said he will have a lip-reader with him to view a tape of the fight in an attempt to determine what Mercer was saying to Ferguson.