Matthew Macklin, an analyst for SKY SPORTS BOXING, is in agreement that Tyson Fury should have been given the opportunity to continue after the intense events of round nine on Saturday night.
The highly anticipated showdown between Fury and Oleksandr Usyk in Riyadh was a monumental heavyweight clash that witnessed momentum swings between the two fighters. However, it was in the ninth round when a crucial moment took place.
Usyk’s left hand, consistently effective, landed a powerful blow that left Fury in a precarious situation. Bombarded by a series of punches, the towering British fighter seemed destined to hit the floor but was fortunate to be saved by the ropes and ring-post in Usyk’s corner. In that critical moment, referee Mark Nelson stepped in and initiated a count.
Macklin, a former middleweight world title challenger, agreed with Nelson’s decision to give Fury the chance to carry on in the biggest heavyweight fight in a quarter century. Afterwards Boxing News asked Macklin if referee Nelson should have stopped the bout during that moment in the ninth.
“No, no way,” he answered.
You have to acknowledge that this is the undeniable heavyweight world championship. Yes, he was clearly dazed, but he managed to hold his ground and stay in the fight. He was actively evading punches and staying engaged.
It could have been more advantageous for him to go down. If he had gone down earlier and accepted the count, he might not have been subjected to as many powerful punches, mainly because he was attempting to evade them. His legs lacked stability, and he was frequently being struck.
The referee made a correct decision by awarding a 10-8 score due to the ropes preventing a knockdown. It was a fair call, and in the following round, the fighter managed to simply evade, complete the round, and regain their stability.
Meanwhile, former two-weight world champion David Haye disagreed with the referee’s call. Read what ‘The Hayemaker’ had to say here.
