Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder: Frank Warren to launch official complaint over fight scoring ahead of rematch
Fury was harshly made the winner with only one of the three ringside judges after scores of 115-111 (in Wilder's favour), 112-114, and 113-113
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Frank Warren and the British Boxing Board of Control are to complain about the scorecards for Tyson Fury's drawn WBC heavyweight title fight with Deontay Wilder after the challenger was controversially denied victory.
The 30-year-old excelled throughout, impressively recovering from two knockdowns - the second remarkably heavy - but was harshly made the winner with only one of the three ringside judges after scores of 115-111 (in Wilder's favour), 112-114, and 113-113.
Victory would have represented the completion of one of the finest comebacks in the history of the sport but, even with a rematch inevitable, Fury's promoter and the BBBC will move to protect their fighter's interests.
"I've spoken to Charlie Giles, president of the British Boxing Board of Control and they, along with us, will be writing to the WBC asking that they look at what's gone on there and to order the rematch," Warren said.
"The Mexican judge (Alejandro Rochin) got it wrong. I genuinely feel sorry for Tyson. He's been robbed and it wasn't right."
Even amid the fact that for the first time Fury did not win, the nature of the fight - significantly more entertaining than when he awkwardly defeated Wladimir Klitschko - means Fury's reputation is at its greatest.
Reflecting on what unfolded at Los Angeles' Staples Center, the 30-year-old then said: "It was a great performance, if I do say so myself.
"I'm very happy with the fight, but put it this way, if I didn't get knocked down twice in that fight, on one of the judge's scorecards I'd have still lost, so he needs banning from boxing forever because he clearly can't judge.
"Rochin, you need sacking, or to go to Specsavers, mate. Even without the knockdowns he still had me losing the fight.
"I've never seen a worse decision in my life. I don't know what fight those judges were watching; the guy who gave it 115-111, I don't know what he was watching. It ain't the first time this has happened.
"That's as bad a decision as the first Lennox Lewis-Evander Holyfield fight (in 1999), but who am I to say anything? I'm just a fighter, I'm not the judges.
"You can't take anything away from me or Wilder; we done our best. (But) it's stuff like this that gives boxing a bad name."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments