Following Tyson Fury’s recent defeat at the hands of Oleksandr Usyk, controversy has erupted regarding the count administered to Fury in the ninth round. This is not the first time such controversy has surrounded a Fury fight, with previous instances of accusations of long or slow counts, bad decisions, and cheating allegations. Fury’s ability to survive the ninth round, which was described as the most torrid and damaging of his career, has sparked debate over whether he benefited from a “long count.”
After taking a severe beating in the final 30 seconds of the ninth round, Fury was held up by the ropes and was administered a standing eight-count by the referee, Mark Nelson. Critics argue that Nelson should not have issued the standing eight-count and that the subsequent count given to Fury was excessively long. Former boxer David Haye went as far as to claim that Fury received a “20-second count” during the fight. The footage reveals a visibly stunned Fury slumping into the ropes before Nelson intervenes. The period between this intervention and the resumption of the fight, just as the bell rings to end the round, is estimated to be around 15 to 16 seconds.
Several boxing personalities, including Derek Chisora, have criticized the referee’s handling of the situation. Chisora confronted Nelson at ringside, accusing him of administering the slowest count in boxing history. Haye, who was commentating on the fight, expressed his belief that the fight should have been stopped in the ninth round. He questioned Nelson’s decision to give a count to Fury, stating that the referee should have either allowed Usyk to finish him off or stop the fight altogether. Haye emphasized that the stoppage seemed justified from his perspective, given Fury’s visibly compromised state.
It is undeniable that if the roles were reversed and Fury had been inflicting the same level of punishment on Usyk, the referee might have intervened to stop the fight. The disparity in treatment raises questions about whether Fury was truly “saved” from a knockout by the referee’s actions. However, the subjective nature of such judgments makes it impossible to definitively conclude whether Fury would have been knocked out if the count had been faster. The ongoing controversies and criticisms that follow Fury’s fights highlight the polarizing nature of his boxing career, where every victory or defeat is met with skepticism and scrutiny.
The controversy surrounding Tyson Fury’s defeat by Oleksandr Usyk once again underscores the contentious nature of boxing judgments. The debate over the count administered to Fury in the ninth round sheds light on the complexities of refereeing decisions during intense boxing matches. While opinions may vary on whether Fury was truly “saved” from a knockout, it is clear that such controversies will continue to be part and parcel of Fury’s professional boxing career. As fans and critics dissect every aspect of his fights, Fury remains a polarizing figure in the boxing world, with his performances always under intense scrutiny.