Oleksandr Usyk’s historic undisputed world heavyweight title win last night was not without its controversies.
The legendary former undisputed cruiserweight champion defeated the unbeaten Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia in order to become the first four-belt champion in heavyweight history. He even overcame a 40lb weight difference to drop the massive Brit in the ninth round on route to the big win.
However, many including Usyk’s own team believe that he was robbed of a stoppage victory with that ninth round knockdown. Referee Mark Nelson opted to score a knockdown as Fury touched the canvas following a series of unanswered shots, when in other fights there may have been a TKO awarded.
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Oleksandr Usyk’s team and fans feel he was ‘robbed of a knockout’ against Tyson Fury
Usyk had struggled to deal with Fury’s monstrous advantages in weight, height and reach during the first seven rounds of their contest. But he managed to come into his own in the eighth before completely changing the fight with his onslaught at the end of the ninth.
However, many feel that had it not been for Fury’s name value and the particular occasion, the bout would have been stopped at that point. “No disrespect to the referee but I think he stopped a KO in the ninth,” Usyk’s promoter Alex Krassyuk said after the bout.
“But anyway it was a tremendous performance. It was unbelievable and I hope to see more in the rematch.”
Krassyuk wasn’t the only one who believed the theory, with former heavyweight champion David Haye adding: “If Fury was doing that to Usyk it would have been stopped.
“The referee stopped him and his opportunity, then gave him 20 seconds to completely recover. It looked really bad from ringside. Even Fury fans said ‘thanks ref’.”
A slew of fans on social media agreed with the sentiment, with one writing: “The referee stole the KO from Oleksandr Usyk against Tyson Fury. If the tables were turned, the referee would have stopped the fight.”
Another added: “I am a big fan of Tyson Fury, but fair’s fair. If Usyk wasn’t the man he is, he would have ended the big man here, possibly forever. He pulled that final punch thinking it was being stopped.”
UFC legend Daniel Cormier backs up Tyson Fury stoppage theory after Oleksandr Usyk defeat
In the MMA world, many felt that the knockdown was the deciding factor in Usyk getting a tight split decision against Fury. But legendary former UFC heavyweight and light-heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier reckons the Brit’s name value was enough to save him from the TKO.
“He had Tyson Fury hurt very bad,” Cormier told fans of Usyk in a video on his YouTube channel. “I think it was round eight or nine where he hurt Fury and guys let’s just say it and call it what it is.
“If it’s not Tyson Fury, fight would have been stopped. The reason it wasn’t stopped is because it was Tyson Fury.
But Cormier believes that the referee was in the right, even thanking him for making the call to allow the former champion back to his corner.
“It gave us a lot of intrigue going into those final rounds,” Cormier added. “Going into round ten, 11, 12 after he got hurt bad. I mean, Fury’s flailing all over the ropes, falling down.
“We have seen Tyson Fury down before, but we have never seen him that hurt and if his name was not Tyson Fury they stop that fight. He was hurt that bad. But they let him continue and honestly when you look at the judges’ scorecards the fight came down to round 12.”